Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-01

One of the important factors In the
permanent Improvement of the coun
tvs highways is the large numbers OIL
bridges that have been erected by the
county under the direction OF It's
board Of supervisors. AS long ago as
| 1906 the board that was then in Office
began to invest in concrete prldSes'
generally regarded as structures thal
will last a life time, and require few,
if any, repairs.
During 1906 and 1907 the board ex-
perimented with this new type O.
bridge by having its bridge workers
build a few. In 1908 the supervisors let
the Job for the first reinforced con
crete bridge ever built in the county by
contract. Since that time no other kind
of contract bridges have been built,
and the supervisors holding office in
recent years have been adding to the
number Of concrete bridges by letting
yearly contracts and by building
bridges by day labor.
Has $ss,2e6 Invested.
Beginning with 1906 and up to toda;
the county has invested $93,296.39 in
these permanent bridges. of which II
has built seventy mine. They range in
size from the Nicholson ford bridge
over the Iowa river. which is 220 feet
long to eight-foo culverts. These are
exclusive of the small concrete bridges
and culverts built by the townships.
Neither does the money spent INCLUDE
any money used to repair wooden
1,v,i1 ynS
If reinforced concrete proves to be a !
lasting material for bridges. as the
county's experience to date shows.
eventually every one OF the county's
500 bridges will be of that material.
Regarded as Permanent Investment.
The supervisors now in office regard
money put into concrete bridges as
permanent investment. They recog-
nize the fact that without good bridges.
good roads are impossible With this
in mind it is probable that the board
will this year let the contract for several
large bridges and have its bridge gang !
build others.
By the latter method the county has /
built ffty-three concrete bridges and
culverts since 1906. that had total
overall length of 1870 feet and that
cost s2O,5so.3s.
During the years from 1908 to date !
the county has built under CONTRACT |
twenty-six bridges of a total overall |
length Of 1898 feet costing s72.766. !!
Two Of these were Iowa river bridges.
The others were smaller. the largest !
being a 140-foot span on the North |
Center street road. within the city.
Three. Fifths Of Mile Long.
If all Of these concrete bridges. ex-
elusive Of the culverts and other small
bridges built by the townships. were
placed end to end they would stretch
for three fifths Of mile.
The first concrete bridges built IN
the county were erected in 1906 in Iowa
township The first Of the larger
bridges. and the first one built under !
contract. was a thirty-five foot span,
two miles north of Green Mountain
that was erected in 1905. =.
The following is the number Of con-
crete bridges the county has bsilt IN /
each township: Bangor. 3; Green
castle, 6; Iowa s; Jefferson. 4: Liberty,
9: LeGrand. 10; Linn. 3; Liscomb. );
Logan, 2: Marietta, 8; Minerva, 5;
Marion, 4; Marshalltown city. 4: State
Center, 3: Taylor, 9: Timber Creek. 2;
Vienna, 2: Washington, 3. Total 70.
Every township but Eden is repre-
scented.
Townships Given Aid.
According to e. B. Emes. who has
been chairman OF the bridge commit
tee in 1912, an effort has been made to
distribute the new bridges around thru
the county where they were most need
ed. In addition the supervisors have
aided the township By buudinS c,dverts