The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-06
COUNTY CONNECTS MAKING FINE PROGRESS
 ON CONSTRUCTION OF JASPER FORD BRIDGE

Some months ago the government of she United States notified the board "l revenue of Jefferson county that the bridge across the Warrior river. known as the Jasper Ford bridge, was too low for navigation and ordered the board to either raise the bridge 40 feet above high water mark convert it into draN bridge. The Jasper Ford bridge as it now stands is steel structure and one of the hest bridges in the county, and IS of recent construction. With the compile ton of lock 17 the Warrior river will be open for navigation up to Cordova, Wal ker county. making every foot of the river in Jefferson county available for steam boat travel through the Warrior coal fields.
 The order of the government is gen eral one, as it spends vast sums of money annually on it's rivers and river locks in order to make them navigable, and 1t is a requirement. of the government that all bridges across such streams shall be at least 40 feet above high water mark in order that they. be open for all classes of river vessels.
 It might be said that the order Of the government WdS liilpttdtiNt dHu Ahoe a time limit was set in which to have the new bridge constructed. namely; De- cember 1. 1914. This being the case. the board took the matter under immediate consideration and began making prepara- tions for carrying out the instructions from the government The first question considered by the board was whether 1t would be advisable to raise the present bridge. which is about two feet above the high water mark. or build a new bridge elsewhere The drawbridge, on account of it's cost, was not considered Ths ap- proach to the present bridge is low on one side and to raise the bridge some 40 feet would mean long approach mat would be inconvenient and costly i'll con struction.
 Located New Site
 Jere Gwin, county highway engineer and his assistants were instructed to mako q survey of the river and soon succeeded in locating site about mile from the present bridge, which might have been designed by nature for such purpose $ h,lilding bridge according to the gov ernment reouirements The banks are high enough without having to build ap- nroaches and at such a point that Wien the bridge is completed and joined to the county roads of that section 1t Will shorten the road to Maxine and cfner mining towns by several miles It IS l questionable if more ideal point coui' have been selected on the river. Having the site selected the board be- .or n nlan the construction of the new bridge and the county engineer was ih- structed to prepare plans ana spsrine'- lions for the purpose Of advertlslaS a'r bids. It was decided to dismantle ,he present bridge and use the steel ios ''e new one. ~ +,on +o the tentative plans of the new bridge William M Pattie, superintendent or pup lie works of the county, who mas unoe. his complete charge the county conVic. system, appeared before the board anu Suggested that it be built with the con xicts of the county. There were doubts expressed by the board as to whether bridge involving an expenditure or soo'- GOO or s40,O00 could be constructed py the county '.Do you believe that you can build the bridge with convict labor cneaper than by contract?" asked member or the board 1T know that I can" responded MT. Pattie. "I am confident that l can save the county from $5000 to $100o0 on the propostion.''
 Pattie Given the Job
 The board was reminded that Mir. Patte had built several bridges in the county at a much less cost than those by con tract, that TOT years it WAS III Shai Sc VI the construction forces of the steel mill and furnaces, and that he had handled jobs of much greater magnitude than the proposed new bridge After careful con sideration by the board it was decided that the county should build the bridge with MT. Pattie in charge
 It was difficult task that Mir Pattie imposed upon himself for the county had no equipment with which to commence work. There were no roads leading to either side of the proposed new bridge, and the nearest railroad which to ship material was about mile away. But he rose to the occasion, and the picture above will show how well he has sue ceeded in the two menths and half since the work was commenced.
 The preliminary work required the build ing of convict camp, including the cells for the prisoners. the building of tenn porary road for the passage of vehicles