The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-15
FEAR DAMAGE BY
HEAVY ICE FL0E
Or When 1t Melts in Mountains
River May Leave Its
Banks,

Apprehension OF damage by lea
noes In tho event of sudden thaw
coming after the prolonged cold spell
mas been expressed. there being some
fears both of sudden rise in tho river
which might do great damage 10 the
!c"er part Of the city. and Of damage
70 tho temporary supports to tho FREQ
Bridge, which might result in outing
south Richmond OF from traffic con-
neotlon with the business seouona OF
the city. Watchmon for tho city arc
Keeping close eye on the river to
prevent II possible either contingency.
towards the mountains tho streams
are frozen a foot or more thick. II
this thaws gradually, all will go out
without danger or damage. but IL q
sudden thaw should come. and the leo
come down in great blocks, the result
might be serious. Many people re-
member the Ice gorge OF 1899, which
CANNED the river and caused n sudden
Use, flooding the lower part the
town. causing fire in warehouses
where lime was stored, and doing 9TH
er damage before engineers for the
city succeeded in blasting the great
dam of ice away with heavy charges
of dynamite.
The city tug Thomas Cunning ham,
ST., has been busy ever since the freeze
In Keeping the main channel open, both
for purposes of navigation and to at
ford clear stretch so that IN tho
event of such sudden break in tie ice,
the great floe would pass out easily
May Damage Free Bridge.
Since the wreckage of olu Mayo'a
bridge By the contractors who gre at
work on the new structure. traffic be
tween Richmond ana the Soutnside Is,
limited to the old Free Bridge AT tho
foot of Ninth Street. structt.rc which
is admitted to have outllI II It's eriou
or usefulness, and which I engineers
have been recommending be rebuilt for
the past three or four years,
On account of the great Importance
of keeping traffic open until the new
Mayo Bridge is ready, City Engineer
Boiling has had the weaker spans OF
the old Free Bridge propped by wood.
or construction resting on the rock
bed OF the river. Under ordinary con-
cittons the bridge Is now as strong as
1t ever was-probably stronger than It
has been in recent years.
But 1t is predetermined whether these
wooden supports can withstand a
heavy flow OF crashing ice blocks.
grinding and twisting their way over
the falls, especially IL pushed along
by sudden freshet caused by the
melting of SHOWS in the up-country
Watchmen are kept on the bridge
Eight and day, and the structure will
NC ClObeu 10 tTulUC GnOQlu there De any
sign of weakening. But II the thaw
comes gradually. and the ice passes
cut us mere freshet. no harm may be
done
The now Mayo Bridge will not be
completed until next summer, and IL
built according to contract. should DO
solid monolith, lmpervious to freshet
and any flow of ice that mas come
against It. Already members OF the
Street Committee are urging that plans
be secured for a new bridge TO replace
the Free Bridge. that q contract
may DO awarded In the spring, work
to begin ns soon rs the Mayo Bridge is
opened to travel. The new bridge will
probably be light iron structure.
swung high In the air. and suitable
for light driving and automobile traf-
fic. leaving the heavy teaminS and
street car travel TO the heavier and
moro solidly constructed bridge be-
low,