The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-01-05

Ienough to put on the new bridge. Look
ing down at the water one gets pref
Ity fair idea Of the height Of the bridge.
incidentally. any one who has the
idea Of suiciding by leaping over the
bridge railing, had better leave his will
before he jumps. It's sure thing
he'll be fshed out and put in box.
/ Between every span there is wide
lcrack left. This is to allow for ex-
Ipansion. 1t Is said that the fir timber
will expand as much or more than the
steel
| The big crane passing over the
bridge created hardly any vibration on
the upper deck. This gives some idea
/ of the solidity Of the structure. All
Of the piers are being capped with con-
icrete and are reinforced. A diver
has been inspecting the piers at the
bottom for any damage that may have
been done by the blasting for the dam.
View 10 Excellent.
The second deck OF the bridge will.
be fine scenic route. The view from
the bridge in any direction is a won
derful one. 1t is possible to look
across the top of the dam into Lake
Cooper and from the middle Of the
bridge the view up Lake Cooper will
be unsurpassed. The Iowa and Illi-
|nois bluffs stand out wonderfully from
this viewpoint. To the south, down
the river there Is clear sweep and o.
white point standing out in relief
against the sky as one looks towards
the land on the Illinois side IL made
out to be the Fl. Edwards shaft.
Keokuk buildings stand out promin-
ent from this vantage point. and It
seems as II one can look directly into
Main street and the point where the
viaduct will start is easily seen.
Melting Away Orders.
There Is plenty of activity on the
lower level Of the bridge The draw
span is being wrecked now, the west
half having already been torn down.
Linemen yesterday were taking down !
the cross arms Of the two huge poles |
which marked the beginning Of the |
draw span. These poles will be pick |
ed up by the big cranes and set over
Up on the Orders are workmen |
equipped with apparatus containing |
acetylene gas tanks. These huge
torches creating tremendous heat. |
melt away the bolts and connecting |
rods as II they were only of tin or |
paper. The big crane then picks this
iron up, and moves 1t out of the way /
for the new steel Orders.
In Temporary Quarters.
The engineers house which was a |
figure on the old draw has
been torn down, and temporary
house has been built about six piers
put. The house is anchored on one
Of the piers and Is large enough for
quarters for the engineer and his help
er, and carries all of the apparatus
Tor signalling. Although only temper
airy, the bridge men are snug as the
proverbia1 bug in the rug. Charles II.
r. James. engineer. e. 8. Cushman.
engineer, Howard Barnett and Charles
A. Harmon, firemen,. are occupants of /;
he temporary quarters.
The new house will be modern
affair, and will be four stories high, 4
according to the plans.
Painters are at work now giving the
bridge the first coat of paint On
windy days the painters get more of
he paint on themselves than on the {
OBJ, but they are making fine looking E
OBJ OF It in spite Of weather handicaps. 4
To Lower Floor.
The present level OF the bridge will
,e lowered somewhat. The floor will
,e made only Of railroad ties, as Ia
usual in double deck bridges. There
S a long sheet of iron running under ,
he floor OF the second deck This is
o protect the floor from engine
parks. or from any chance fire. Ninety :
'ound rails and guard rail will be
aid
The engineers are making very ,
lose inspections of the job, and the ,
Of their work is showing /,
n the splendid dob being secured
Wherever riyet is. found loose, it is
marked and the rivetters must replace I
his one with perfect rivet
Where does all of the old iron from .
he present structure go? 1t is being ,
old. presumably to some of the am
1unition plants, and will be used in
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