The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-30
COST OF NEW BRIDGE
APPEARS APPALLING
ture VIII Cost More Than
Half q Million.
QUESTION BEFORE CoUl
Southsiders Urge the Bridge as
Necessity to Those Living In Wood
land Heights and Forest Hill May
Meet With Opposition.

City Engineer Boiling yesterday, as
had been forecast by The Virgtnian.
su omitted his report as to the prob
able cost OF the erection of a bridge
across the James, connecting Laurel
Street with Cowardin Avenue. His
figures appeared appalling to members
of the board, who had thought about
half the sum would have been suf-
ficient
At the meeting of the Streets Com
mittee on Thursday. resolution call
ing upon Council to authorize the Ad-
ministrative Board to look into the
situation. was adopted and sent to
Council. The resolution will be acted
upon at the meeting Of Council Mon
day night
Opposition Suggested
There will probably be opposition
to the construction Of such q bridge
at the meeting Of Council. Members
will advocate the rehabilitation Of the
Ninth Street bridge and an improved
street car service, which. they will
say. may relieve any congestion which
may be apparent on the Southside.
Representatives of several organiza-
tons apd members of Council from
the Southside will advocate the erec-
ton OF the bridge. The resolution
was introduced in Common Council by
Mr.. Jones, representing the people OF
Forest Hill and Woodland Heights.
The figures presented by City En-
gineer boiling yesterday are:
The cost Of the bridge itself Is esti-
mated at $574.227.23 and the APP
proaches at $130.32s.55. The total
cost is considerably higher than the
original cost estimated by Engineer
Scarborough. who drew the plans. He
estimated the cost about 1850, 900. The
price Of steel has advanced consider
ably since that time and this accounts
for most of the difference between the
estimate OF the engineer who drew the
plans and that Of the city engineer.
The cost of the bridge Is appor-
toned by the city engineer as follows:
Excavation. $25.624.5o.
Concrete foundation. $500.
Superstructure. s36S,420.
Ratings $l4.o25.
Durax paving, $50,8s525.
Ornamental lights and trolley poles,
$3.50.
Contingencies. s52,2I24s
Ready to Start Work.
The board received a letter from
President Wheelwright, OF the vir-
Sinia Railway and Power Company,
stating that rails for the improve
tiAVfil VI LA0IA1 Ala = IL 81 OIL GcL anu Oh
Floyd Avenue. had been ordered, but
would probably not be here before
November /. The company is ready to
do the work as soon as 1t can get the
material.
Without modification OF It's original
order that the company must proceed
with the work on Floyd Avenue on
october l. which u Sunday. Commits
sioner Beck. suggested that the COM
pany might proceed with the work OF
changing the grade. and reconstruct
later. when the material arrived. The
company VIII not be required to re-
pave the avenue, until the city is pre-
pared to proceed with its portion OF
the work.
The question Will come before the
board again on Monday. It was said
yesterday that the street car company
would accept the suggestions OF Mr.
Beck and begin the grading. and take
the city at its word, that as soon as the
rails could be secured they would be
laid