The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-02
County's Expert Submits a
Written Report to the
Commissioners and Advis-
es Prompt Remedies.
TRACTION CARS ARE
TOO HEAVY FOR IT
And the Structure Has Been
Damaged by Electricity,
He States-Steel Construc-
ton Menaced.

thC county commissioners today COun-
ty Engineer Mueller stated the facts
concerning the Main street bridge and
suggested remedies for the existing
conditions.
The report bears cut the facts
brought out in news article in the
Palladium a week ago, and he says
that the condition is serious and rec
ommends early consideration of the
matter.
His report in part, follows:
Following your instructions for a
complete and careful examination of
the Main Street Bridge in the city of
Richmond, l herewith hand your hon
orable Board my written report as fol-
lows:
The examination discloses the fol-
lowing conditions:
I. A disintegration of the steel con-
struction.
.. The absence Of drainage sys-
tenn under the tracks of the Electric
Railway
3. An unbalanced loading, caused
by heavy Interurban car traffic on the
extreme south edge of the roadway.
4. The presence of numerous cop
per feed wires carrying a heavy volt
age of electric currents.
The oxidation or rusting out of the
steel construction appears more seri-
GUS in members comprising the floor
system by reason of a continual state
of dampness present under the pave
ment.
This condition exists most serious
tn" tracks of the electric railway.
1t is wholly probable that one-third
of the storm water falling on tho
bridge, finds its way through the pave
ment along the rails of the car track.
The block. pavement has it's founda-
tion on steel buckle plates which are
bolted to the steel I-beam stringers
which in turn are fastened to the floor
beams. These steel buckle plates are
continuous over the entire bridge-floor
and offers the best kind of reservoir
for the water draining from the sur.
face OF the pavement
The swelling or bulging of the paw
ing blocks between the tracks, may
demonstrate to you the presence of
this water confined on the buckle
plates under the tracks.
There is only one opportunity for
this water to escape and that is
plates and the steel I-beams stringers
which is bolted connection.
1t is the continual dripping of this
water over the balance of the steel
work at the points described. that is
creating the most serious oxidation
and disintcgration.
The storm water drainage off of the
bridge pavement contains the residue
from the sweepings which is large in
percentage of ammonia and metallic
salts and acids in solution which will
readily assist in the oxidation of the
exposed steel.
Paint will not adhere to the steel as
mcnt finds is way through the tracks
and covers the structure beneath as at
present
Unbalanced Loading.
The bridge is made up of what is
known as pin connected deck trusses
supported by steel bents or towers
These trusses are in pairs and center
between a pair of trusses is also the
center of the roadway in order to pro.
perly balance the loading on the
bridge.
A stress diagram shows the bridge
was designed to carry light street car
traffic only and when loaded with the
present interurban cars which weigh
from 40 to so tons with full passenger
the bridge is carrying 50 per cent
overload under the present condition
The street railway track is now To-
Gated on the south edge Of the road.
way and the greater part of street
car load being carried by one truss on.
ly.
This condition tends to strain the
south side Of the bridge and naturally
will shorten the life of the structure.
If the track were located in the cen
ter Of roadway the loading would be
divided equally between the two lines
of trusses which make up the bridge.
The balancing of the street car load.
ing is very important and I insist that
you give it your early consideration
At the northeast corner of the
bridge. a series of three copper feed
ers carrying the electric current for
street car service, are hanging within
reaching distance from the railing OF
the bridge. The rubber covering and
insulation is in many places stripped
in sections more than feet in length.
- Continued on Page Eight.