Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-10-05
some FIGURES AS TO
MATERIAL USED AND
COST OF new BRIDGE
Total Cost $24l, 1928 And
Final Payment Was Made
Thursday

With the payment of $14,S97.6e by
the county court Of Marion county to
the Coast Bridge company, and Robert
Wakefield, the check bearing date Oct
3, 1913, the final payment was made on
the third bridge across the willamette
River at Salem.
The actual cost of construction of the
bridge was $233, ,486.23. To this must be
added $4,000 for paving and $1,000
for the fill on the Marion county ap-
proach. There was an additional cost
Of $4,000 for wiring and lighting fix
lures, bringing the final total cost up
to $a41, ,121.23 as it now stands.
If the bridge had been built one year
earlier it would have cost about $l75,-
100000. But there was unavoidable diff
ficulties, although the Marion county
court was willing to commence work in
1914, when the two county courts first
met to consider the bridge proposition.
If its construction had been delayed
one year, it would have cost-pro. iding
the material could be secured, the sum
of $300,000.00.
Bids Were Reduced.
The bridge was built on bids for Ger
tain quantities Of materials and not on
lump sum bid. On the basis of the ma
.terials to be used as estimated by the
bridge department Of the State High
way commission, there was two bids,
one for $266,771.10 and that of the
Coast Bridge company and Robert
Wakefield for $247 ,901.00. BY extending
the time Of construction a few months,
ting company reduced its bids 100000.
There was change made wherein it
was found unnecessary to dig quite so
deep for the foundation of one Of the
piers, so that at the final settlement the
company received for the bridge to-
tai of $233, ,486.23
. Polk county pays 80 per cent Of the
maintenance, but nothing for the light
ling. The two bills to be rendered Polk
county are: $41, ,270.79 for its share Of
the bridge according to the agreement
of April "a, 1917, and bill for $4,000
for its share of the cost of maintaining
a free ferry and temporary bridge, ac-
ross the river during the construction
Of the new bridge, according to the ag-
reement of April "a, 1917.
Highway Engineers Helped.
The State Highway commission en-
gineers department, drew the plans fol-
the bridge, superintended construction
and did everything possible to aid the
Marion county officials from the time
the bridge was proposed to the final
payment was made Thursday.
L. w. Metzger, bridge engineer fol
the state highway department drew the
plans and the county is under deep OBJ
| legation to him for his work in super
intending the structure as well as ad
vising the Marion county court from
time to time. To Judge Bushey and the
county court cooperating with HIM foi
the past four years, is due the fact that
the county had the money on hand tC
| pay for the bridge, without borrowing
a dollar. While there is $4,000 due OF
the first bridge, and $4,000 on the sec
ond, the third bridge starts with cleal
title with not dollar owing.
Some figures on this-one of the fin
est bridges in the northwest are al
/ follows:
There are four steel spans, each Of
1j2 feet, 3 inches, one span of III fee
sss one of l55 feet.
Including the two approaches thi
length Of the bridge is 2005 feet.
The Polk county approach is 780 fee
in length. The Marion county approach
is $50 feet.
The Materials Used.
1855 cubic yards Of material was use,
in the shafts to the top of the bases.
i 10000 pounds Of metal reinforcing
was ased in the foundations.
2535 cubic yards of concrete were use,
in the piers.
! 10000 feet Of piles were driven a