The Detroit times., 1915-05-07
PILES UP
AGAINST PLAN TO BUILD
TEMPORARY B. |. BRIDGE

construction is not heavy enough
for n new bridge"
do you favor a concrete or q
steel bridge7" Mr.. Mccormick was
asked.
Il don't care TO say" he replied
We'll know n lot more about con
crete In 20 years than We do now.
They are making some very hand
some steel bridges nowadays"
Mr.. Roberts. who has done con.
siderable work for the government
In the st. Mary's river. said:
III a wooden bridge Ii to be built.
the rows OF piles must be not more
than 16 feet apart. and this gives
very little space for Ice 10 pass
through. At the proposed location.
the floating ice would have . lever
age OF about 80 feet. which makes
terrific strain on the structure.
It's not easy TO find piles OF sum
cient length for such depth OF
water. and II wouldn't surprise me
II the bridge were held up for ma
terials.
In the northwestern part OF the
city. where I live. there seems TO
be no sentiment at all in favor OF
temporary bridge. The people con.
slider II a waste Of money. They are
perfectly satisfied TO use the boats
TO get TO the island"
Mr. Curtis said:
Whatever I may say will prob
ably be set down as Influenced by
the fact that my company builds
steel bridges. but as matter OF
fact. haven't given a thought 10
the possibility OF getting q Job out
OF the situation.
at would take at least three
months TO build wooden bridge.
and about four months for a steel
bridge, using stock materials. By
that time. the summer would be
about over. and there would be little
use for a bridge. The steel spans
TO replace those In the river could
probably be sold for highway
bridges. when the city was through
with them: NJ any rate. the steel
would be worth SIS ton. But II
would be much better to take plenty
or time. and build nne new
bridge. Meanwhile. ! believe the
people would rather wait than see
100000 wasted in temporary
structure. There Isn't any demand
for temporary bridge. so far as
can discover"
Opponents OF the wooden bridge
at the head OF the island point out
that Il would benefit few but auto
mobile owners. The bulk Of the
city's population Is below the burned
structure. and will use boats rather
than ride all the way TO Parkview.
ave-. cross the bridge. and walk or
take buses TO the dover end OF the
island.
The old bridge was used extern
sively by people who use the three.
cent car lines. and who, by means
OF the Crosstown line. could arrive
at the shore end OF the bridge. Then
they walked across. had their en-.
joyment, and walked back. To get
to the island by the proposed
bridge. they would have TO travel
by the hve-cent lines. and either
purchase a bus ride or take a long
walk TO arrive at the bathhouse, the
roo, or any OF the other attractions
OF the lower end OF the island,
Commissioner renkell advertised.
Wednesday. for bids for removing
the debris Of the old bridge. They
will be opened next Tuesday.
"Tt looks now" said Engineer
Frederick r Bancroft, Thursday. "as
II only a permanent bridge viii be
constructed. and, Of course. all the
engineering fees VIII 30 to New
York. All that we local engineers
and designers will get out OF II will
be the privilege Of helping pay for
the bridge"
Francis c. McMath one OF the best
known engineers In Detroit, and an
experienced bridge builder, has Of
fered to assist Commissioner Fen
tell. OF the department OF public
works. In solving the problem OF
building a temporary bridge to Belle
Isle. II one il built. Mr.. McMath
conferred with Mayor Marx. Com