Grand Forks herald., 1916-08-16
MISSOURI RIVER
Can Be BR|DGED
Turner Says this can b<
Done at a Cost Not to Ex-
ceed Quarter Of Million.

Bismarck. N. D.. Aug. 16-That the
Missouri river can be spanned with
q rigid, substantial cantilever type Of
bridge for not to exceed q quarter
million is the opinion of c. A. p. Tur-
ner of Minneapolis, Chicago and New
York. designer of some of Americas
most famous bridges, and who spent
into the possibility of spanning the
Big Muddy. ....
Mr.. Turner's figures are from $780,
900 to $150,0O0 lower than other esti-
mates received to date. He regards
his estimate as very conservative and
10 Of the opinion that the maximum
named will serve not only to complete
the bridge, but may care for the ap-
proaches at either side.
The big bridge engineer does not
favor a suspension type for the Mis-
souri,. He admits that it would be
cheaper than any other form Of con-
struction. At the same time, he has
found It to lack the stability and per-
manency of the cantilever type.
Mr.. Turner is thoroughly familiar
with the Missouri. As consulting en-
signed all Of the companys spans for
the last sixteen years, and recently
prepared plans for the 500 bridge
over the Missouri which is to link the
proposed extension west and north
from Sanish. One Of his late struc-
lures is the half -million-d dollar bridge
over the st. Croix river at Somerset.
The famous aerial bridge at Duluth is
q Turner creation, and his plans were
accepted just before the war depres-
sion reached northwestern Canada for
q 100000 bridge across the Mar
rows at Vancouver.
The bridge architect believes that If
contracts for the Missouri span could
be let next year and an allowance Of
at least two years provided for the
delivery of steel, a saving Of $4,000
to 100000 over present prices of
structural fabric could be effected. He
does not believe it feasible to endeav-
or to complete such project within
less than two years after the begin
ming of operations
Should Burleigh and Morton coun-
ties decide to bond for the erection OF
this bridge, as they are permitted to
do by special acts Of legislature, it is
probable that state and federal aid
might be procured. under the terms of
| the Shackelford good roads bill,
which recently became law. There
would also be bare possibility of as
sistance from the war department.
Barring any assistance from these
sources, it is said that the interest
charges on the bonds would be but
$4,000 per annum for each county, or
less than the city of Bismarck alone
now pays annually into the Burleigh
county road fund. If the bridge were
operated on toll basis and only a
nominal fee charged, such as has been
exacted for years on the Fades bridge
over the Mississippi at St. Louis
those familiar with such projects
claim that the interest charges and
something to apply on the principal
easily could be earned.
Mr.. Turner is much interested in
the possibility of a wagon bridge be-
ing built here, and he believes that he
could easily procure bids within the
maximum cost which he has named
Both the Mandan and the Bismarck
Commercial clubs have bridge com.
mittees which have had this impor.
tant problem under consideration for
some time, and there is some proba-
bility of an active campaign being
opened on the Mandan side.