The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-12-21

~ itftstIt IdlluliN the
heavy sections were laid in place. The
rlVeters began their metallic song.
The towering three bent traveller ran
smoothly OF its track. and under it
grew a Network of metal. braccd and
REINFORCED TO withstand. In addition to
ordinary strains, the pressure of a hun
dred mile an hour wind. To those who
looked on the structure appeared to
build itself. like some dream cdifice.
1t seemed a miracle that human hands
could work that stubborn metal 50
swiftly and with so little effort. But
every piece had been cut and fitted
carefully, then checked and placed
whore it was accessible.
Now that winter had broken spring
came with u rush. The SHOWS began
to shrink aud the drifts to settle. The
air grew baImier with every day. IT,
drip from caves as answered by the
%gurgling laughter of hidden waters
Here and there the holdeSt mountain
sides began to show, and the tops of
alder thickctS thrust themselves into
sight. Where wood or metal caught
the u rays the snow rctreated. Pools
of ice water began to form ut noon.
The days were long, too. and no
frozen winds charged out of the north.
As the daylight heightened 50 did the
working hours Of the toilers.
On April IS the span was completed.
In thirteen days MeIlcn's crew had
laid 400 feet OF the heaviest steel ever
used IN a bridge Of this type. But
there was no halt. The material for
the second section had been assembled
meanwhile. ana the Traveller began to
swing it into place.
The din was ~unceasing. The clash Of
riyeters. the creak and rattle of hoiStS,
the shouts Of men. mingled in a per
sistent, ear splitting clamor, and foot
by foot the Orders reached out toward
the second monolith which rose from
the river bed. The we'll adjusted hu
man machine vas running smoothly.
Every man knew his place and the Nu-
ties that went with it: the hands of
each worker were capable and skilled.
ld ION iht IlliNlANo NNli SlON lh-
bare. rillS gaShed the Sloping noW
fields, the upper gullies began TO rum
bic to MISUNDERSTANDING of the
process that would strip the earth of
snow ana ice and free the river in all
its fury. In six days 800 feet more of
plcte section, and span No. , was in
place. But the surface of the Salmon
was no longer white and pure; it was
dirty and discolored now. for the de
bris which had collected during the
past winter was exposing itself. The
icy covering was partially inundated
also. Shallow ponds formed upon it
and were rippled by the south breeze.
Running waters ON every side sang a
menace to the workers.
Then progress ceased abruptly. 1t
became known that a part Of the mate
rial for the third span had gone astray
in its long journey across the CONT
nent. There had been a delay at the
Pittsburgh mills, then a blockade in
the Sierras: O'Ncil was In Omar at the
end Of the cable straining every nerve
TO have the shipment rushed through
Mellen broodcd over his uncomplcted
work; Parker studied the dripping hills
and measured the melting SHOWS. lie
still smiled, but he showed his anxiety
I'm a constant nervous unrest, and he
could not sleep.
At length news came that Johnny
Brennan had the steel aboard his ship
and had sailed. A record run was pre-
dicted. but meanwhile the south wind
brought havoc on its breath. The sun
shone holly into the valley OF the Sal
mon. and instead Of warmth 1t brought
a chill to the hearts Of those who
watched and waited.
Twelve endless, idle days crawled by.
Winter no longer gave battle; she was
routed and In her mad retreat she
threatened to overwhelm O'Neils for
tunes.
On Nav 6 the needed bridge mem
hers were assembled, and the erection
Of span 3 began. The original plan
had been to build this section on the
cantilever principle, SO as TO gam III
dependence of the river ice. but to DO
so would have meant slow work and
much delay-an expenditure OF time
which the terms Of the option made
impossible. Arrangements had been
made, therefore, to lay 1t on false
work. as the other spans had been
laid. risking everything upon the
weather.
AS a matter Of precaution the south
ern half Of the span was connected to
the completed portion. but before the
connection could be fully made the re-
mainder Of the jam in front Of Jack
son glacier. which had caused SO much
trouble heretofore, went out suddenly.
and the river ice moved downstream
about a foot, carrying with 1t the
whole intricate system OF supporting
timhers beneath the uncOmpleted span