The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1910-03-11
Whitman County Hard Hit by
the Sudden Loss.
Commissioners Have Taken Steps
to Replace Bridges as Soon as
Possible-- Temporary Structures
Ordered in a Few Places,

S~ShJ
ness which confronts them is disposed Of
Commissioner Mccoy was unable to at
tend this week, being in quarantine on
account OF sickness in his family. 1t is
understood, however, that he will be
here Monday. County Engineer McCaw
was directed to start at once to make q
tour OF the county and find out positive
ly what bridges were washed away by
the high water OF last week and what
damaged so that intelligent action may
be ta6eD. 1t may be stated, in brief,
that the following is a true statement of
affairs so far as bridges are concerned in
in the county:
The Hooper bridge is supposed to be
standing. although this must be verified.
The Winona bridge is out. This was
a steel structure.
The Fisher bridge also went the way
OF most bridges in the country and
passed down stream. 1t was a combi,
nation structure.
Allen bridge, combination affair. is
ont.
Matlock bridge is gone. Itwas an old
affair, the contract already being let for
new one to take its place.
DeLong bridge is out, combination
structure.
Terrence bridge is reported to be in
good condition.
Stipe bridge 10 likewise said to be all
right.
The new steel bridge at the county fair
grounds, built last summer, lies scattered
and torn.
Codd bridge in the north end OF Colfax
over the South PaIouse, combination
affair, passed away early in the stage.
The Cooper bridge in the south end OF
COlfax, a steel structure that has stood
for many years and was good for many
more to come, passed down stream in
dramatic fashion, with hundreds of peo-
pie from the heights above seeing it 60.
Rsbeck bridge is gone. 1t wan an old
combination affair.
The bridge at Shawnee is all right,
likewise the one at Albion.
Riverside bridge is out. 1t was a
combination.
Armstrong bridge is still doing duty.
Russell bridge is gone-a wooden affair.
The two bridges at Pullman are gone.
One was steel, the other combination. A
bridge was put in to take the place of
one of these in two days by the citizens
of Pullman.
Busbee bridge is non est. a wooden
affair.
Two small bridges at Staley are gone.
At Elberton one bridge is gone. two
standing. These are over the NJr,n
Palouse river.
The bridge at the Hamilton place on
Union fat is gone.
Kegley bridge is goDe-a combination.
Rogers bridge, wooden, is gone.
Likewise the John Peterson bridge,
wooden.
Coolidge bridge, wooden, followed suit.
Lewis bridge il no more. This Was
new steel structure, only three years
in use.
Sutton bridge is out, combination.
Commissioner Mccoy sent word that
three small bridges are out at Oakesdale.
The bridge across Rock creek, near the
town Of Rock Lake. was swept away.
- Aus1 nA
Pine City is not known at this writing.
The north end of county is not hard
hit in regard to high water as is this
part, the region drained by the South
Palouse being the heaviest loser. Tekoa
seems to have lost no bridges.
The commissioners directed Road
Supervisor John Il. Bloom to build
temporary structure at once over the
South Palouse river in the south end OF
Colfax. This place is crossed and re-
crossed more frequently by teams and
pedestrians than any place in the county,
and the loss OF a bridge there is keenly
felt. A pontoon, for pedestrians, is now
doing service at this point.
1t will thus be seen that Whitman
county has lost several valuable bridges
and several that are not so valuable, but
their loss is an inconvenience just the
same. There are probably other losses
not reported here. All bridges will be
replaced by substantial structures as
soon as possible.
Joe has returned to Colfax for the win
ter and will serve Hot Chicken Tamales