The Paducah evening sun., 1910-11-15
Committee From General
Council Considers Bridge
Question.
FAY Be Wagon and Pedestrian
Crossing.
WOULD SAVE TEN THOUSAND.

~ n tdiFu uifEtlnk ol lnt kthtitii
council lass nipht committees were
appolntcd TO confer with the Padu-
oah Traction company regarding
$4,000 extra necessary in the con-
structlon OF a permanent REINFORCED
concneie bridge spanning Island
Creek az the end OF Fourth street
TO provide Tor street car traffic.
Several members Of the committee
ere In favor OF the city building an
exclusively wagon and pedestrian
tranc bridge for several rcasons and
leaving u to the traction company.
N q wishes 10 extend It's lines TO
build IL own trestle.
From the council President Fore
men and Counciimcn Leigh and Han
min were named and Aldermen
oehlschaeger. Iackey and Farley
from the aldermen. A meeting with
Mr.. Seyail win be arranged for this
week.
Wilbur J. Watson. the engineer OF
Cleveland. o.. who arrived yesterday
viewed tn situation with City Engi-
ncer Washington and recommends
an open concrete bridge. He pre-
pared a rough drawing OF the type
lelt adapted for the trcacherous
piace The drawing gives the new
bridge an arch 80 feet from buttress
90 tuttress and a heighth OF 80 feet
nom the center OF the arch 20 the
bed OF the creek. The proposed
bridge WI be OF re-enforced con-
crcto. Whi.h will be practically inde-
s.ructAte No part OF the steel viii
be exposed and Mr. Watson says
concrete viii be better than steel
hr'dec. wh.ch VIII prove more cortiy
IN The long run Mr.. Watson recon-
mends tbs type OF bridge. which will
give 90 foot roadway and six foot
sidewalks on both sides. raised a few
inches above the roadway. The road
way Will BE of wood block, which
viii last 90 years he says.
The new bridge will BE- raised one
foot higher than the present one and
the approaches viii be much longer.
The approach on the fredericksburg
side VIII end near Farley's grocery
ani will include the councils bug
bear. the retaining wall This sort
q bridge would allow 4O-tOn trac-
ton cars 10 PASS over Il. In case an
interurbaa Zine should enter the city.
II such a bridge we're built not
providing Tor cars, Il would be
trifle narrower and would save about
$4,000. Mr.. Watson returned 20
Cleveland iast night to Cleveland
last nlsht 20 fli an appointment any
may return IN n few week. lie left
HIS drawings and figures with Mr..
Washington.
Manager SewaIl's View.
General Manager sewall OF the
traction company. said this morning
he Is interested IN the bridge, but Is
not ready TO say what his recon-
moniation wiz be TO the main offtces
at Boston. He said there has been
talk OF extending the car line into
Nechanicsbnrg. but IL would be fool
!sh to stand any part OF the expense
Of the bridge unless the company OBJ
tained a franchise from the city 20
operate in Mechanicsburg The mat
ter viii have 10 be taken up with the
headquarters and IL may be several
we1ts before a definite reply Is re-
oeivod by the general council
II IS the present intention 90 get
an immediate decision from the trac-
ton officials and then let the con-
tract tw January 1911 when the
price OF cement has dropped. Then
the city can get the contract OF its
ian-ls and II will be up TO the con-
tractor, as soon as the water in the
creek recedes, to begin work. Mr..
WStson says It will require one sea-
som to build the bridge he suggests
ami II the matter Is rushed the bridge
can be ready by the fan OF 1911.
Mr.. Washington is pleased with
the proposed bridge. One item, en-
failing large expenditure In its con-
struction, win be the foundation
work. According to Mr.. Watson
s50.0OO is a conservative estimate
for the cost Of the bridge.