Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-20

was illegal In width Of roadway pro-
vided. calling for only fourteen teet
and no definite plans or specifications
were provided. Mr.. Metz will be re-
membered as the man most active IN
lobbying against the present bridge
law and for his attempts to legalize
blanket contracts. The commission
refused to recognize the Hunter Iron
Works. preferring to. deaf direct with
the Standard Bridge Company as 1t Is
well known where the authority lies.
Under the new arrangement a pound
price basis Is used and the county pays
for the actual number OF pounds OF
steel in each bridge at very reason
able figure. The bridges are built on
designs furnished by the commission
and are substantial structures. strong
enough to carry n concrete floor ana
the heaviest traction engine USED.
No Contract.
THE district engineer also FOUND
payment Of S7.T49.34 to the same COM
pany for repair work this year on
wooden bridges without written con-
tract therefor. The only understanding
for this extensive expenditure was
verbol agreement between the board
and Pierce Metz that the Standard
would do the work at a cost no great
err than Mr.. Whipple would do tho
work for MIR. Whipple is @ contractor
who formerly built wooden bridges FOR
the county but 1t was disclosed that
Mr.. Whipple had no price whatever
for this class of work as he did very
little repairing. No evidence is found
that any proper check Is kept on this
loosely ordered repair work nor could
any one there explain the basis OF the
charges. The commission Is concern
ing itself with these repair charges
and expects to place them on a clear,
legal basis.
DO these facts explain why early in
July the county had ISSUED s126OOO IN
bonds to pay up back bridge DEBTS
Or that there was available for use this
year only $4,000 in the road fund and
but $4,000 in the bridge fund?
"Urstarts" Spoken OF.
again, the charge is made that up
starts fro,n Ames college have been
debating to the experienced supervis-
ors' Mr.. E. Williams. district engineer
for the commission in this part of the
state and who has handled all the work
for the commission in thsi county.
received his training in the universities
of Ohio and Michigan. has been IN
practical railroad constr uction ana
similar work for more than ten years
and was resident engineer for the Mil
Waukee railroad on construction ~hen
employed by the commission.
Some Of the bridge plans were
changed. In Green township u forty
five foot span steel bridge was ordered
to go over al draw containing only 200
acres and where a concrete culVert 6X6
feet would DO. The commission pointer
out that the less expensive structure
should be used. The wing walls on the
abutments on another bridge in Sidney
township we're ordeed not built by the
commission because not considered
necessary, thus effecting considerable
saving Another sixty foot span bridge
ordered for Sidney township was found
not to be suited to the location. con-
crete culvert being all that was neces-
sary The abutments tor fifty foot
span bridge in Green township were
modified because they were incorrect
as to height.
about Sept. II the commission sent
to the new county engineer. Mr..
Gravenkamp. a sketch showing how to
build the abutmcnts for the Horse
creek bridge. and on Sept. Is the
Standard Bridge Company started
work. The commissions plans calleS
for the use Of four steel piling IN the
wings, instead of eight, which 1t was
the intention of the Standard Bridge
Company to use, thereby saving Ere
mont county about $500"