The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-04-08

ished by the bridge companies, and
at letting of single bridge con-
tract, it was not unusual for half-a-
dozen different plans to be submitted
! by as many different companies.
There is no question but what, bridge
companies prefer this plan, or that
it works to the disadvantage of the
purchasers of bridges. 1t leads to
confusion, as plans and specifications
presented by the bridge companies
are often indefinite, loosely drawn
and uncertain. We believe, too, that
the highway commission has been
insisting upon the construction OF a
better class of bridge than were
formerly built. This has somewhat
increased the price paid for bridges,
and has subjected the commission to
criticism, and the bridge contractors
have not been slow to take advant-
age of it. In fact, there is some
evidence that much of the agitation
against the state highway commits
sion has been fostered, encouraged
and prompted by interested bridge
contractors. Formerly, there was no
adequate inspection of bridge work
while under construction. We be-
lieve the inspection made by the
state is in the interest of the tax
payers of the state, and should be
continued. Where the interest of
the taxpayers and contractors con-
fict, it is easy to understand why
the public official, who stands for the
taxpayers, gains the enmity of the
contractor.
These bridge contractors or their
representa- tives are constantly COM
ing in contact with village, township
and county boards, and with the
public generally, and it is an easy
matter for them to suggest that the
plans of the highway commission are
too elaborate, that they call for the
expenditure of too much money, that
too much power has been taken from
the local boards and is vested in the
state commission, and that it would
be fine thing to return to the old
system, and do away with all state
control or supervision. There has
been an opportunity to work up
sentiment along this line, and it has
not been neglected.
Bridges constructed under the
supervision of the state highway
commission during the last three or
four years have cost more money than
formerly, and are worth it. They
are designed and planned to last and
stand for many years to come.
Bridge contractors have nothing par
ticular to lose by the construction of
bridges that will require to be re-
placed within a few years. One
reason why bridges constructed
under plans, specifications and in
spection of the state highway com
mission have cost more, is because in
some cases longer bridges have been
required, than we're the old bridges
that were replaced, or than local
boards considered necessary. Whether
a bridge is 40-foot or 6O-foot does
not make a very great difference in
the cost of the bridge but it does
make large difference in the
amount of water that can pass away
underneath. During the heavy
freshets of 1914, there were a large
number of bridges in Rock, Stevens
and other counties that were washed
away and largely because tile spans
we're too short and insufficient vent
given the water. 1t is interesting to
note in passing, that of the bridges
damaged by the floods of that year,
there were but three bridges that
had been constructed under the plans
and specifications of the state high
way commission.
The Remedy-Recommendations.
| To assist in remedying the evil
which We believe exists this commit.
tee has had and has introduced II.
F. No. ll30 and H. f. No. 113l, te
which we invite your attention.
| House File No. 113O permits town
village, city and county boards by
resolution duly adopted, to make the
| cfo To nj
agent for the purchase of bridge
material. There are several reason!
for this. 1t is fair to suppose tha'
steel and cement for several hundred
bridges can be purchased at lowe
price if purchased under one con
tract by the state, than it can b'
purchased in small quantities by tn
different counties and municipalities
4L.o.o ,oo