Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-05
ENGINEERS DEAL BODY
BLOW TO RESIDENTS :,
or TWO TOWNS
DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL
REPORT EXPRESSES SURPRISE
THAT STRUCTURE HAS NOT
GIVEN WAY BEFORE NOW
TWO SPANS NEED RECON
STRUCTlON.

sTRuCTloN.
County Superintendent of Roads
George Farnsworth today ISSUED an
order directing that the bridge over
the Illinois river at Utica be closed
until provisions OF some kind made
for its immediate repair or the recon
struction at once of two complete see
tions. This unexpected action on the
part of superintendent of highways
comes as q direct result Of the exam
ination of the bridge by the engineer
ing department Of the state highwa,
commission and the report and recon-
mendations upon this investigation
was received by Mr.. Farnsworth 20
day.
The order of Mr. Farnsworth comes
like a thunder bolt to the residents ol
Utica and Deer Park and the patrons
OF the State Park who have been tieC
up with bad roads for the last thre(
or four years.
The failure of the state highway
commission to complete the Dlmmcl
hill Improvement will again bar en-
trance to the state park from the cas-
unless immediate pressure is brough
TO bear on Governor I.owden and thu
state highway commissioner to star
work on the Improvement immediate
ly.
Chairman A. l.. Cash OF the stat
highway commission informed tn
State Aid Road Committee OF tn
Board OF Supervisors and the Otta
wa Rotary club that the completion
of the Dlmmlck hill improvement
would be started early this sprin
under the direction of the bondln
company of w. ]. Brennan, bankrupt
This promise has been made SO man
times that the people do not hay
much confidence in any assuranc
that the state highway commissio
hands out.
At any rate The closing OF tn
bridge will be tremendous loss dul
ing the summer months. but it Is be
ter to sustain the loss in propcrt
than to place The lives OF those WI
use the bridge in jeopardy. The n
port of Clifford Older, bridge eneinee
for the state highway department
as follows
I'VE have completed our inyestis
ton Of the two north approach span
of the Illinois river bridge at ltie
The results of our Investigation are
follows:
For the rs foot span, the result
are as follows:
"The floor joists not making any
lowance for rust are capable OF carr
ing ton engine load. The Hot
beams are good for d IA ton engil
load.
"For the 149 foot span, the resul
are as follows.
"The floor joists are good for a
ton engine load The floor beams a
good for a 13R engine load. T
strength of the various truss membe
OF AS pounds per LO-U1 Is good for
uniform load of AZ pounds per squa
foot of roadway surface.
Il wish to call your particular
tentiOn to the vertical posts on Il
span. These members are not capal
of carrying any live loads whatsoey
and appear to be standing and car
ing loads through some special disp'
sation of providence. Neither Of the
two spans are safe for ordinary traf
and | would recommend that tae sa
be reconstructed at once.
"The uniform low efficiency of pr
tically all of the members In th,
two spans indicate that 1t would
be feasible to attempt any repairs.
these two spans are not safe for {
rying ordinary traffic, | would not C
slider it advisable to grant franch
for the hauling of any heavy loads
er this bridge.
"A number of years ago, we m;
an investigation of these two spa
and at that time, the same were io'
to be in such weak condition t
their replacement wHs recommends
Farnsworth's Letter.
Today Mr.. Farnsworth sent the
lowing letter to J. j. lIornung, dir
ing that the bridge be closed;
April 8, 19l
J. j. Hornung.
r. +. ID. 33, Ottawa, III.
Dear Sir
Enclosed please find copy of lie
from the State Highway Iepartn
In regard to the strength OF the y
bridge.
During the December meeting, !
Of the Board OF Supervisors, q peti
was presented from the Utica