Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1917-01-12
BRIDGE is NOW USELESS
SALEM STRUCTURE HAS sERv.
ED PEOPLE FOR 26 YEARS.
New One Will Replace It-Motor Ser
vice on S. P. To Accommodate
West Salem People.

aoiono tAC w llldHlcItc river dG OdltIu
was closed at noon yesterday. Bar
ricades were erected on both ends of
the bridge at that time, the watchmen
were withdrawn, and not even foot
passenger is now allowed to cross
On the 11th Of January, 1891, Just
twenty-six years ago to day, the
structure was first thrown open to
use. In those early days the traf-
! fic was light, but after the auto be-
came popular, it was called upon to
carry a greatly increased load. In
the past few years, since the. bridge
has been declared unsafe, the traffic
figures have grown by leaps and
bounds, and in recent months it has
had an average travel Of more than
5000 persons a day, and an auto traf-
fie OF one car for every minute Of
ten hours of each day. This despite
the fact that strictest regulation has
been in effect for some time past.
For more than year several move
ments have been made to close the
bridge completely to use, based up
on reports showing the unsafe condi.
tion Of the structure. Because OF
strenuous objection, however, on the
part Of the venturesome public, the
courts had gone no further than a
stringent regulation Of the traffic.
| The last official report declaring the
bridge utterly unsafe for use came
from the state engineers Office, which
made an inspection on December %
at the request of the two county
courts. On the basis of this last re-
port the county courts closed the
bridge yesterday. And it was with no
misgivings that members of the
courts saw the old structure placed
lin disuse. Its rickety, shaking
groaning condition for months past
thas caused them no little worry, and
now that it has completed its mis-
sion without loss of life, or damage
to property, their restlessness has
given way to an easier feeling. II
is said the old structure was as Ii
able to fall with one person on II
as with heavy load, so precarious
was its condition.
To relieve the Inconvenience which
residents of the east part Of the coun
ty are put to with the closing OF tht
bridge, the Commercial club Of Salen
has made arrangements for use OF thu
S. P. steel bridge across the river
A jitney motor will run from Com
: mercial street, Salem, to Kingwoo'
Park, on this side Of the river OF
| which five-cent fare will be charged II
; each direction. The motor will max
the run on approximately 3O-min
! ute schedule, or "a round trips eacl
! day The first train will leave Sa
: lem Commercial street) at 6:25 q
, M. and the last one at 1923 p. N
The first morning train will leav
Kingwood Park at $40 and the las
+ evening train at 1O:l5.
The club also proposes to plank tn
: railroad bridge for vehicle trath'
pending the building Of new bridg
e ON the site of the present condemne
: one It is estimated that it will COS
;, 50 900 to do the planking, and MAJ
e ion county and the city of Salem WI
v he asked to divide the cost with IL
e club. The club first proposed a ferf
e service. but an investigation OF tn
J. nroiect showed it would be entlrel
inadequate and would cost $l5oo
% month to operate, so the scheme W. y,
l. abandoned. The planking OF u
\. bridge will require about a mont
d The cost of this work is to be al
t, sorbed by charging a small toll
ia autos and other vehicles. The Sont
i ern Pacific has granted free use
n its bridge for the purposes desire
e, and in return has asked the oa,e
l. Commercial club to insure its freedo
T, against any suits for indemnity Il
Id accident.
Now that the old bridge matter b
n beeu settled the county courts e1pe
n TO get busy on the new bridge at q
IN earliest possible moment. Prelimi
he arv plans will be gone over ey =
re two boards at Salem next Mono'
tie or The cost of three classes Of bridg'
two steel structures and one high L
81 concrete bridge. 1t is estimsted
new bridge across the river viii e e
an in the neighborbood Of s25o'ooc. P'
tol;s 70 paw one-third Of its cost a
n-lW.,;on two-thirds- Whether the y
We lb-;aoe will be of steel Of concrete y
roI;s as vet undecided. but it IS e.
av m.tsa that ,he cost of steel, "
AL present high 7Tses, would be ab
'rel sbe same as the cost OF perman
concrete bridge. Sentiment IN r