The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-07-23
To Give viaduet to City.


the upper deck OF the bridge to some
position, not yet determined upon,
along the bluff leading to the business
district of the city, is to be construct
ed by the bridge company, and that
part OF it from the north line OF Water
street toward the center Of the city Is
to be- dedicated outright to the city
upon is construction.
What at present seems to be one OF
the most feasible plans OF construct
ing the viaduct is to build an over
head tressel work from the upper
deck to the north side Of Water
street. The viaduct at the crossing OF
Water street would be about thirty
feet above the street. Then an abut-
ment would be placed on the north
side OF Water street, and from this
place the viaduct would be construct
ed on fill running through the block
between Main and Blondeau street.
nearly in the same direction as Blon-
deau street. and coming out on First
street q little to the northeast of the
alley.
No Cost to City.
The viaduct on the fill would be
constructed after the same manner as
other streets in the city, about fifty
feet wide, with curb and sidewalks,
and paved with brick. The cost OF
constructing all of this must be done
by the bridge company. the council
says, and upon its completion must be
granted absolutely to the city, to be
maintained by the city In the future
as any other street.
At some time in the future the city
may extend this viaduct from the
place where it Is proposed to have 1t
come out on First street, across the
lower corner OF the next block to
Main street. This, however, Is not
likely to be done by the present coun-
Gil, and perhaps cannot be done for
ten years, the cost being too great at
present.
When the contract between the city
and the bridge company has been
drawn UP and examined by attorneys
for the city, it will be submitted to
the bridge company and their attor-
neys will also examine it. 1t Is most
probable that some changes In the
contract will be made by both par.
ties before It Is finally adopted.
Need War Department Permission.
When his negotiations with the city
have been completed for the time be-
ing, Mr.. Gilman will go at once to the
chief engineer who has been engaged
to reconstruct the bridge and have
him start to work on the specifica-
lions. Before anything can be done
toward the actual work on the bridge,
permission must be obtained from the
war department. Mr. Gilman today
called on several men influential In
the Industrial association in an effort
to induce that body to help the bridge
company get the war departments
permission to rebuild the bridge. The
city council has already written to
Senators Cummins and Kenyon and
Kennedy asking that
they do what they can in
securing speedy permission from the
secretary OF war for demonstrating
the bridge.
Although it has been promised that
work on the bridge will be started
some time this year. 1t is not believ-
ed that 1t can be gotten under way
for at least another month. The pre-
lininary work Of drawing up the con-
tracts, securing permission from the
war department, compiling speciffca-
tons, and other matters incidental to
doing such work as this, will require
quite bit Of time But. as Mr. Gill
man said this morning, 1t is evident
that the bridge company means bust
ness" and no doubt the work will be
started as soon as is practicable.