Rock Island Argus., 1911-08-05

bridge will prove no obstruction 70
the navigation of the river.
The Des Moines Valley railroad is
to leave the Mississippi at Keokuk,
passing through Lee, Van Buren,
Jefferson, Wapello, Mahaska, Marion
and Jasper to Fort Des Moines, there
connecting with two east and west
lines. This is considerd by many as
being one of the most important
routes, as the Des Moines valley, IN
mineral and agricultural productions,
is the richest valley in the state.
THE construction of the several
roads reaching from Chicago towards
the Mississippi river demonstrates
that railroads may be constructed
through a country of prairie on the
line of emigration, and yield pront
as soon and as far as opened. Inc
receipts of the Chicago & Rock Is
land road from the 10th of July to
the 10th of January were Sflo'-
6Ss.s6. Running expenses for the
same time. s440,764s6. leaving a
balance of S27O,S94. The whole num-
Der of passengers passing over the
road for the five months ending Dee
l amounted to 16S,S24; total
amount of freight transported dur
ing the same time, 49,734 tons.
We give the statistics of this
road. because it was the first Whlch
reached the Mississippi, and reliable
facts could be more easily obtained.
Nor is this railroad an exception
each of the Chicago and Mississippi,
and the Galena lines, pay we'll as
far as completed.
4 The great railroad bridge cross
ing the Mississippi at Davenport is
steadily progressing, and the greater
part of the masonry is completed.
Its entire length will be 5,S32 feet,
consisting of spans of $50 feet each,
exclusive of bearings. The river Is
divided into two channels at THIS
point by the beautiful isle, Rock
Island. The main channel is on the
Iowa side, the second channel upon
the Illinois side of the river. That
portion of the bridge over the main
channel is 1888 feet in length. The
circular-shaped draw-pier, which
stands near the center of this chan
mel. is 40 feet in height, 46 feet in
diameter at the foundation, and 81
at the top.
'On each side of the draw-pier is
A draw of 12O feet, working on the
rotary principle; making in all, a
clear space of 240 feet for the pas
sage of river craft. These draws are
open at all times, save when train
is due; and even in that case, II a
boat is in sight, it will have the
preference.
The average height of the bridge
is 80 feet above the low water.
Besides the draw-pier, there are
five others. These are oblong in
shape, and measure, at their base,
81 feet by 16 to 1S; at their top, "a
feet by Z to 10.
'"There are two abutments, one
on the island and one on the Iowa
shore, containing together about
5000 yards of masonry.
This bridge connects with huge
embankment, built over the lower
point of the island, which lies very
low. containing 125,000 cubic yards
of earth, and costing $4,000. At
the west end this embankment con-
meets with another bridge, of less
dimensions, over the Illinois channel
of the Mississippi. This lesser
bridge has two piers, and three
spans, of $50 feet each, all construct
ed in the same style, and upon the
same principle as those of the bridge
over the main channel.
The entire length of the two
bridges and the intervening embank-
ment is 5,S32 feet. The cost of the
entire work will be $260,OOO. The
bridges are being built for a single
track Their wooden work will be
5. Of pine and oak. John Warner has