The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-22
BRIDGE CONTRACT
GOES TO COUNCIL
Award 10 Smith Firm, Is Ap-
proved BY Committee ON
Finance.
BLOCK PAVING TO BE USED
Chairman .ldams Says Structure
Will Always PC Iscd for
Heavy Work.

Award of contract TO |. J. Smith y:
Company for a reinforced concrete
arch bridge over James River At the
Mayo site was approved last night by
tho Council Committee on Finance. the
contract price TO be S.si,T3i With tho
resolution confirming the award. the
Finance Committee recommended 10
the Council Il resolution appropriate
Ing Se6p,?3i, To include tho cost OF
the bridge with Belgian block paving
of the character ON Main street. be-
tween Seventh and Twelfth streets,
the cost OF approaches at either cnd
and the engineering cos, and s,ipervis-
ion of construction.
While for tho present the appro-
priation VIII hc made from current
funds, as was the item Of Sll..uou, ior
the cost of site and strip across Mayo'S
Island. ii was the general understand
ing that later the treasury would be
reimbursed by both items from an Is
sue of bonds to be sold as FUNDS Tor
the bridge construction are needed
The resolution confirms The action
of the Committee on streets In making
the award, and will be reported to the
Common Council on The first Monday
in May. If approved the contract may
" SlSueu ana lnc aCluai construction
under way by he middle OF May.
WHY Smith Plans Won.
Chairman William ii. Adams. of the
street Committee. and Acting City
Engineer p. p. Taliafcrro. explained
TO the committee the reasons which
had led to the selection Of the Smith
plans. In a competition which had mar
roweh down to five designs
Nlr. Adams explained that it WAS the
only plan proposing Il rivcted and fixed
system of rein forccment lass liable to
set out OF place i'll pouring the con
crete. The plan, lie said practically
contemplated light steel frame
bridge. over which concrete Is formed.
making solid constructions which
should stand FOR a thousand years, and
harden as the years so by
There was some debate as 10 the
character Of the roadbed. several op-
tlonal forms OF paving having been
suggested. Mr.. Adams pointed out that
the Mayo Bridge. leading from Four
teenth TO Hull street. would always
be the downtown" bridge; that it
would be used principally for heavy
hauling. while in the course of years,
when the Free Bridge, further up the
river, is replaced with Il modern
structure. the latter would naturally
take the lighter traffic and pleasure
NenlcleS. n view OF the danger from
slippery paving. dampncss and ice, he
opposed smooth paving or asphalt
blocks on the lower bridge, saying
that il would he hard IN heavy teams
Ordinary granite spall paving, on the
other hand, he thought rather cheap
and rough for a bridge of such char
acter, and he recommended the cut
granite known as Belgian block, to
be laid on concrete and with tar in
tersection. making practically in
dcstructhle roadbcd. smooth and
noiselcss but not slippery or danger
Gus.
The new bridge is TO have "a roadway
forty four feet wide. with eight foot
sidewalks on either side. IL is calcu-
lated 10 carry $50 pounds to the
square foot on the roadway, and to
carry fifty ton electric cars. Conduits
arc provided for gas and water mains
and for electric wires
The Finance Committee will meet
again next Wednesday night. as ii has
many papers pending which ii expect S
to repor, to the May meeting OF the
Cornell