The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-29
TO GET Plans FOR
NEW FREE BRIDGE
Council Committee Calls on
Builders to File Them
Within Sixty Days.
------
TOLL SYSTEM SOON TO CEASE
General Idea Is to Have Experts
Erect Mayo Island
Structure.
TOLL SYSTEM SOON TO CEASE

Plans. specifications and bids 70,
the construction of reinforced con.
crete bridge over James River on the
site of the present Mayo's Bridge were
called for by the Council Committee on
Streets last night to be returned with.
in sixty days. Under the plan adopted
the City Engineer has drawn up a
general outline and system of blue.
prints showing what will be required
The contest will be advertised in local
papers and engineering journals, and
propositions invited from the large en-
cheering and contracting firms in all
parts of the country making a
specially of bridge and concrete work
The cost IS not to exceed $4,000
exclusive of site and abutments: the
roadbed is to be sixty feet wide, and
the height at either end four feet
above that of the present grade OF
the street, bidders to submit their
own plans for archlng and grading.
This will give the roadbed a clearance
of eighteen inches above the highest
freshet of which there is any record,
that OF 1871
Bridge Soon to De Free.
In communication to the com
mittee, the CITY Attorney reported that
condemnation proceedings to secure the
present bridge and site had been com
pleted. and that the Hastings Court
would enter an order transferring the
bridge to the city on the deposit to
the cred of the court of the amount
of condemnation with costs. a step
which the Finance Committee has al
ready recommended and which will
be passed upon at the December meet
ing of the Council
prpha Hv ~
will be entered, transferring the pres
ent bridge to the custody of the Com
mittee on Streets. II will at once be-
come free bridge. since there Is no
provision by which the city can col
lect toll. 1t is proposed to keep the
old bridge open for travel as long as
possible.
Make Emergency Repairs.
On recommendation of the City At
torney a resolution was recommended
to the Council declaring the roadway
free bridge from the date of the
decree in the Hastings Court, author
izing the City Engineer to appoint
a custodian at salary of ss5 per
month. and appropriating $4,000 fop
emergency repairs to the roadbed. and
also authorizing the temporary rental
of the present buildings on Mayo's
Island within the strip of land con-
demned
A subcommittee recommended the
outline of proposal for a new strpc-
ture drawn by the City Engineer Mr..
Gunst thought that the Engineers De-
partment should also be requested to
furnish plans and approximate esti-
mates of the cost of c new bridge,
making a hard fight for his view One
of the young engineers In the office,
he said. had prepared preliminary
sketches. and he believed that they
should be considered along with 9TH
ers. He thought 1t a reflection that
the city should have to go outside for
plans for bridge.
Mr.. Jones objected to having the
Engineers Department submit de-
sign on the ground that when all the
proposals were in, the engineers would
be called on to select the best, and
would, therefore. be In a position OF
passing on their own plans.
Could Get Up Plans Here.
Acting Chairman Pollock ruled that
the resolution of the Council under
which the committee was working di-
rected the committee to secure plans
with bids, holding that IL any young
engineer in his own time desired to
prepare drawings, he could get a con-
| .'sAS'oi W JOlIl Hlul III ludhluS d pro-
posal.
IF you want our office to get up
plan for the bridge. we can do IT,
said City Engineer Boiling. But that
is not what the Council has instruct
ed. outside engineering and contract.
ing firms would not go to the expense
OF coming here and making detailed
plans for a bridge If they knew that
the city was alsoe preparing its owr
plans. The Engmeer's office used tt
DO all the architectural work, but WE
didn't build the City Hall by plans o,
the City Engineer, though I, myself
Working under Colonel Cutshaw
checked over the plans adopted to Sc.
strength to carry the loads on the
various noorss While. as I say, W.
can get up a plan for a bridge. yet i
is fact that there are probably
not more than fifty men In this coun
try who make speciality. of concrete
bridges
| we want to get the best talent tc
/ compete. and when the designs COM
In we should have board of engineer
| to select the one best suited to on
needs For under this plan of invit
ing plans and bids it will not be the
Icheapest bid that will produce the hes
bridge"
Above High Water.
NJ. Lynch objected to the repof
4 because 1t failed to establish a grade
Mr.. Boiling said that different engi
neers had different ideas as to the arcl
or sloping of the roadway, which
might be complete crown from on,
side to the other or might be lowe
in the centre, slopng to drain waite
toward Mayo's Island.
4 Tt was decided that 1t would preju
4 dice Bidders We're the department t
/ get up independent plans, and TIL
Gunst amendment was rejected. MI
4 Jones embodied Mr.. Lynch's and TIL
A City Engineers suggestions In his mo
A ton adopting tho report of the sub
committee and instructing the sam
I subcommittee to advertise for plan
Il and bids arS receive same and repor
to the general committee, the grade Q
j the ends of the bridge te be establishe