Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-30
STORY OF 8 BRIDGES
[Continued dfrom page onel

the building of the bridge as United
States engineers had a lot of require
ments that might have delayed the
work. However, while the engineers
were making inquiries, the work Of
building was going on and when the
engineers finally did arrive, they were
convinced that boats could go around
the Polk county end in case of high
water. The first bridge was all wood
excepting connecting rods.
Second Bridge. -.
The first bridge went ont in the big
floods of carly February, 1890. At a
meeting of the city council held Feb.
!, 1890 mention was made of the need
of bridge and on March 20, 1890 the
council voted to issue bonds for $4,000
in payment of its share in the building
of the second bridge.
An election was called for March
81, 1890 in which the people were
asked to vote for or against the issu-
ing of $4,000. The vote stood 5S2 in
favor of the bonds and 81 against.
At the February term of the county
court committee consisting of A.
Bush, W. H. Byars and P. H. D. Arcy
was appointed to secure an estimate
for the rebuilding of the second bridge.
At the March, 1890 term of the
court, the county agreed to pay $4,000
for a new bridge providing Polk county
would pay like amount and the city
of Salem the balance, provided the
bridge did not cost more than $4,000.
If it cost more, each of the three con-
tracing parties was to pay an equal
amount of the excess.
At the May term, 1890, of the county
court there seemed to be an agreement
that if the bridge cost 100000 that
Marion and Polk counties and Saem
would each pay $4,000. A bid of
S47 900 was accepted but the expense
was soon run up to $59,557S7. And
before the bridge was finally COM
pleted, with all sorts of trouble and
charges and counter charges, the sec
ond bridge cost a total of $S3,402.99.
And within few months after its com
pletion, the county was spending money
keeping it in repairs.
The records of Marion county show
that Polk county made two payments
On the bridge amounting to $l4,66S.4O
The city of Salem paid 100000 and it
seems the balance was up to Marion
The piers of this second bridge were
hardly completed when they began to
sag and it was necessary to blow them
Up and substitute an iron cylinder with
cement formation. From the very be-
ginning, when the central pier built on
he Mccoy plan showed signs of set
tling, trouble never ended for this
)rnlge 1t seems to have been hoo
loo from the start. -
Viewers were appointed from time to
ime and in few years after compile
ion it was declared unsafe. On the
west approach, $2095 was spent in
1902. In 1914 the Highway commission
mder H. L. Bobby declared it should be
'cplaced. In October of 1915, Howard
Holmes, an engineer Of the Highway
commission after a careful examina-
ion, declared the bridge had outlived
is usefulness.
On Dec. 8, 1916, State Highway en-
gineers again examined the bridge and
declared it unsafe and it was closed
or traffic Jan. IL, 1917 and remained
losed unit after the state fair Of 1917.
The State Highway commission at
he request of the county courts OF
Polk and Marion counties drew plans
or low level bridge in 1915. The
Marion county court with Judge Bush
~ approved, but the Polk county court
efused to consider.
On Dee 8, 1916 again the two county
ourts requested the State Highway
commission to recommend a proper type
# bridge. This time the engineers rec
mmended a high level deck truss steel
,ridge, at an estimated cost of $780,
100. Marion county accepted in jan
lary Of 1917 but Polk county took no
.ction.
Finally to secure some action, man.
lamus proceedings were brought in
he Supreme court to compel Polk coun'
y to build. Before the case was tried
Polk county agreed to the plans as sub
nitted. which is the new bridge, and
greed to pay $41, ,270.79 and pay 80 per
ent Of its maintenance.
The highway commission submitted
,lans for a concrete bridge in 1914 at
he request of the counties but no ac-
ion was taken. California engineers
wanted six per cent of the total cost
Or supervision.
To the credit of the State Highway
commission, it may be said that it has
ad full supervision of the new bridge,
Without charging the county dollar,
hus saving it from $4,000 to $4,000.
hanks are also due the Highway COM
Mission as it was repeatedly consulted
n all bridge propositions and gave the
erviees of its engineers at all times.
!. w. Metzger, bridge designer for the
and who assisted in the
rawing of the plans, has been on the
Oh of supervision. And for the past
i've or six years, Judge W. NJ. Bushey
as been conserving the funds of the
ounty and when the Highway COM
lission accepts the bridge and certifies
D the county court that the contracts
ave been carried out, the bridge build
rs will be paid the last dollar that is
ue on the $3.50, 1000 Marion-Polk county
ridge.
9 X X X X X X X X X X X X X