Evening journal., 1913-08-19
LEVY COURT
HEARS OF TRIP
TO CHICAGO
Then Eliminates Vertical Lift
Type Of Bridge From
Consideration
FORM OF ROLLER LIFT
STRUCTURE FOR THE CITY

Ohleago ILL.,, made by the Levy Court
and some other county officials to in.
spect the different types or bridges in
operation in that city
Previous to the meeting Mr. Smith
spent about two hours in the court room
but was absent when the report was
read.
Mr. Burris moved the adoption of the
report. which was seconded by Mr..
Gooding and was adopted.
Upon motion OF Mr.. Burris resolu-
ton was adopted that after an inspec-
tion OF. the Waddel and Harrington
type Of bridge it was found that such
"a type Of bridge is not suitable to be
placed across the Christiana river at
Third street. The resolution was adopt.
ed unanimously.
The bridge committees report was
as follows:
To the President and Members of the
Levy Court of New Castle County,
Delaware.
Gentlemen: Your bridge commit
tee respectfully submits the follow
ing brief report of the bridge inspec-
ton trip to Chicago, Ill:
Chicago was selected as being not
only the parent city of the various
types of bridges asked for in the pro-
posals for our new Third street
bridge, but as being the city where
more of these types could be seen and
the different styles of the same types
studied. 1t was the intention at first
that only your bridge committee and
the county engineer should make the
trip, but in view of the various articles
in the daily press treating of the sub
Ject and purporting that the Levy
Court anticipated expending much
more money than was necessary, It
was unanimously agreed that all the
members that could do so should go.
so each could vote intelligently and
from his own knowledge on the new
bridge. We feel that this action was
fully warranted in view of the i'm
portance of the bridge and the ex-
penditure attached thereto. Plans
and specifications were prepared and
proposals asked for four different
types of bridges, viz: The Scherzer
Rolling Lift, The Strauss Trunion Roll
er Life, The Strobel, combination of
the other two, and a Vertical Lift
Bridge, the latter being a type in
which the whole floor of the span is
lifted vertically, and level with the
requiring for the conditions
our navigation, at least one
hundred and thirty-fve feet clearance.
Notwithstanding that no bids were re-
rnlNn0 for fhfG nF krsfa
by the present Levy Court nor by the
old Levy Court, We desire to, and did,
give especial attention to it. We had
the satisfaction of inspecting eighteen
or twenty bridges, of seeing several Of
nearly the size in span and breadth of
roadway, suitable to the conditions
governing at our Third street, and of
their first cost, and cost
of maintenance.
1t must be taken in consideration
when comparing the cost of all these
bridges that they are built on sixty
foot piling, a much cheaper substruc-
tion than our, when we are compelled
to build with solid masonry on ac-
count of having rock bottom instead of
clay or gravel. These bridges were
one hundred and sixty feet span with
a breadth of fifty-six and sixty feet,
and cost, exclusive of approaches,
from one hundred and sixty-five
thousand dollars to two hundred
thousand dollars one costing two
hundred and twenty-five thousand
dollars. Others We're larger and cost
On our arrival Thursday morning
we were taken in charge by the
Scherzer people and spent till 3
o'clock the same day with them, in
specting the different styles of their
types, the through girder style, the
half through girder, and the open
deck highway bridge with the count
er weights underneath the floor, this
kind being the one desired for Will
mington, both for its giving a clear
view of the river from its deck and !
as being the most pleasing to the eve. /
The same afternoon we we're with
the Strauss people and also the fol- I
lowing forenoon. From about IL
o'clock till 3 o'clock D. m. we were
With the Strobel people, and from 3
o'clock TIL evening with the Strauss I
people again. /
At about o'clock we went to in 4
spect the vertical lift bridge (Waddell I
and Harrington type) and by special \
permit obtained at the city engineers S [
office saw it operated Some of these I
bridges are highway bridges alone, I
others railroad bridges alone and /
lthers combination of both, some
With one deck and others with two.
Generally the span is about 165 feet, 4
)ut one R. R. bridge is 275 feet span
n two leaves, and being very close to |
he water seemed to be in continual |
operation. Many of these bridges 4
lad clearance of sixteen feet, while |
others were close to the water, but all /
If them were operated many times a
lay with the exception of the Vertical |
lift Bridge, which, being lower down
IN the drainage canal, was not re-
luired to operate so often. All these
bridges, including the Vertical Lift,
worked smoothly and quickly, requir-
ng about one minute to lift and one
Ind a half minutes to close. The
Roller Lift has the advantage bow
ever that the clearance begins the
the bridge opens, thus caus-
ng no delay TO passing vessels,
While the Vertical Lift bridge has to
each its full height before allowing
ofty vessels to pass, yet on the other
land it need only lift the height re-
Iuired by the passing boat. This
lridge was built over the Chicago
river some twenty years ago aud was
me of the first bridges other than
he swing bridges we're in operation.
Since then many of the Bascule or
Rolling Lift have been built. but no
'ther Vertical Lift. Your committee
eels that the members of Levy Court
hould now be in a position to vote
on the kind of bridge
80 --....--a tI.. .ait... l..