The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-08-06
BRIDGE PLANS AWARDED
TO A new YORK FIRM
From Tuesdays DAILY.

Plans for the new bridge. to be
erected over the Minnesota river at
Main street. will he prepared by the
Concrete Steel Engineering compan!
of New York This was determined
by the city council in secret session
late yesterday afternoon.
Ii is understood that this selection
was made by the vote of four mem
bers of the council. all except the ma
yor voting tor this company. The
mayor il is understood. was inclined
to favor j. y. Marsh, consulting en-
ginccr of Des Moines. who has done
such work for this county. The may
or claimed that Mr.. Marshs bid was
really the lowest il is said. Mr.. Marsh
agreed to do the work for a lump
sum The New York company that
gets the job charges three and .
half per cent of the total cost for pro
ducing the plans and having general
supervision bat the city is 10 pay ior
the inspector Some OF the Compel
ing companies bid five per cent of the
total cost for the plans. supervisors
inspection and all.
I'm the debate over the matter Of
the concrete construction. which will
compose the bridge. was brought mp
Some declared for wire reinforcement
and others for heavier reinforcement
Some said that if large pieces OF iron
were To he used why would ii not
do inst To enrasc the old iron bridge
in concrete II was stated also that
large bodies Of iron. embedded in con
crete had the effect OF causing the
concrete 10 chip on This was be-
cause the iron in hot weather eX
panded more than the concrete did
and made the concrete break of on
the outside.
II is intended 10 have reinforced
concrete arch bridge. with roadway
thirty -SiN feet wide. and sidewalks o.
siN feet on each side. II is planned
10 have floor on the bridge Of crco
sole blocks II is not intended Ia put
the new bridge just where the old one
stands but 10 shift the Mankato end
OF it Il lew feet To the north, down
stream This will make the street ca
tracks when any are laid. come at
righ, angles with the railroad tracks
and il is believed that this viii he
safer II is not probable that there
will be much fancy work about the
bridge Something durable and serv-
iceable is wanted
H. II. Henley. manager of the sup
py department OF the Sterling Flee
tric company OF Minneapolis. which
has the contract 10 install the new
way OF light on Front street. appeared
before the secret session of the CITY
council held Yesterday. and explain
ed why the company had failed to
fulfill lis contract To get the work
finished by the first of August he
said the company had been handi
capped in getting its orders for the
supplies filled by an Eastern house
This was true esecially OF the large
supply cable that must he laid
On Mr. Henlev's representations
the council granted the company an
other month 10 get the job done II
is believed that il will be completed
within that time. and that the big
iron posts. which have so long been
lying on the sidewalks. and obstruct
ing traffic. will be placed where they
belong
The Concrete Steel Engineering
company. which has the contract for
the planning and general supcrin
tcndencc OF the neW bridge. also pro
duced the plans tor the fine new
bridge over the Mississippi river AZ
Minneapolis between the old union
depot and the old Exposition building
The company was represented at tbs
council meeting by Charles F. Borne
ield of Minneapolis
Explains Low Price For Plans
Mr. Bornefeld said his company was
able to make a somewhat lower bic
fy reason of the fact that the new
bridge was not to go just where the
old one is now. but the east end of
this bridge is to be a few feet to the
north of the east end OF the present
bridge This will enable the public
TO use the old bridge just where il
is during the time of the construction
of the new one. though one span viii
have To be taken ont of the old bridge
at the west end. 10 make room for the
west end of the new bridge. Mr. Borne
field remarked today that by placin?
the new bridge in the position that
mad been chosen. there would he an
advantage in getting the current di-
Icctly at right angles. Furthermore
he said il would divide the traffic Al
the foot of Main street. part of it 60
ing to and from the depot and part OF
it TO and from the bridge and III.
congestion would be somewhat re-
licvcd