Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-10-29
THAT BRIDGE.

i
From the evidence at hand it would
appear that Marion county is at
tempting to force Polk county into
constructing new inter-county
bridge across the Willamette river at
Salem. The report of the examining
engineer would not indicate that the
closing of the structure to traffic was
necessary in the interest of public
safety, notwithstanding statements to
the contrary. If the carrying capac-
ity of the bridge has deteriorated on
ly from five to twenty per cent during
the past quarter century, under strict
traffic conditions the structure should
be abundantly able to support pro-
portionate load without danger to life
or property. This might be easily reg
ulated by the bridge superintendent,
and the structure continued in ser
vice until such time as financial con-
ditions warranted the creating Of a
fund sufficient to erect new and
more substantial span. While it must
be acknowledged that the inter-county
bridge is not what it should be, it
must also be admitted thar it never
was much Of bridge. 1t has deteri-
GRATED at most less than one per cent
per annum, and the attempt to force
its replacement when fully eighty per
cent Of its original efficiency remains
seems to be i'll advised, and especially
so when the possibility of reducing its
carrying load is so apparent.
1t is not the purpose Of The OBJ
server to take issue with the state S
engineer who made. a careful exami-
nation of the structure physical con-
dition, but merely to call attention to
means that might be adopted to
maintain the bridge in service for at
least another twelvemonth. In fact
Mr.. Holmes is not quoted as saying
that the bridge is dangerous to traffic,
but that it has outlived all practical
usefulness and that in the interest OF
public safety the present heavy traffic
should be prohibited. which leads to
the conclusion that by lessening the
load danger might be eliminated for
some considerable time to come. That
noticeable lack of rigidity throughout
the entire structure, mentioned in the
voluminous report, has manifested it
self for 10 these many years under the
very eye of the Marion county court
and the city of Salem, yet it created
no great alarm until of recent date.
And with the hereinbefore mentioned
alarm came a desire to change the
location of the bridge, the alarm be-
coming greater and greater on the
Marion county side Of the beautiful
Willamette with agitation of the prop
osition to cause an elaborate new span
to be constructed.
While Polk county is not inclined
to shirk any responsibility incumbent
upon it, and while it would not be a
stumbling block in the path of its
progressive neighbors, doubt exists as
to tile real necessity of the proposed
large expenditure at this particular
time, and also as regards the necessi-
ty for closing the bridge to traffic
while more than eighty per cent of
its original efficiency remains. Only
recently a considerable sum of money
was disbUTsed for repairs, and at that
time it was stated upon what was
deemed good authority that the struc-
ture would bear its burden for several
years to come without further eX-
pense. but with the new turn of af-
fairs it has suddenly and unexpected
ly become so dangerous to life and
limb that it must stand idly as a
monument to fear. just what action
will be taken in the premises would
be difficult to predict. There appears
to be wide difference of opinion as
to the likelihood of the bridge eollaps-
ing; Polk county is without the need
full to erect a new bridge and knows
not where or how to secure it; Marion
county is excited over the matter and
would resort to subterfuges to make
its point. In the meantime traffic is
obstructed because of the closing of
the bridge, and an inadequate ferry
system is being operated for the ae-
commodation of those who would go
to and fro while anxiously awaiting
the outcome of the ENHANCEMENT.
GOOD HEALTH.