The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-29
VICTORY BRIDGE
FAR FROM BUILT
Chattahoochee River Will Not BE
Bridged For Many Months.

In the early part Of 1919 when the
Victory bridge crossing the Apalachi-
cola river was dedicated. it was thought
by those present and by thousands OF
Florida citizens that they would be
crossing the bridge before the early
part of 1921. The legislators had hoped
to be able to cross the bridge by the
time the 1921 legislature convened, but
hopes for passage over the bridge by
this time has banished.
1t is thought by those in charge OF
the erection of the bridge that the main
spans crossing the river will be I'm
ished by April, 1921. When this is done.
however, the bridge is far from being
ready to use. There will have to be
approaches on both the Jackson and
Gadsden county sides If temporary apE
proaehes are built it will require about
200 feet on the Jackson county side ana
about 500 feet on the Gadsden county
side. The permanent approaches, which
will eventually be built, will require
$500 feet on the Jackson county side
and $50 feet on the Gadsden county
side. While the approaches on the
Gadsden county side will be only about
one-fifth of that required on the jack
son county side, there will be consid-
erably excavation and Regarding OF the
Spanish trail on this side, which Will
make the cost nearer the same.
OF the nine piers being built, five
are practically completed, and some
excavation done on others The forms
for one of the arches is completed and
work started on another. The work is
progressing at this time at pleasing
rate. There il on the ground 80 per
cent of the enforcement steel and 60
per cent of cement which will be re-
CURED to complete the job. The re-
mainder of the material is bought and |
a great deal of it en- route. The sand
and gravel Which is used in the work
is taken from the river bed. The en-
gineers in charge say they can secure
this material from the river at about
the same rate it could be shipped into
this place. They say also that material
of this kind would be hard to find and
if they could not get it from the river
the work would go along more sliwly.
The river yet gives them trouble as
it often takes rising spells and goes
tically to suspend operation. There is
four feet of water at this time. i
Had this bridge been dedicated and
named on its completion instead of at
the beginning, it would surely have
had another name. At the tims il was
dedicated, Victory was in the mind of
he people. If it were to be dedicated
al this time the cost would be the
object and it would probably be called
the Million-DoFar Bridge. Il is now
estimated that the cost. including the
approaches. will be near a million dol
lars, and probably more.
When this bridge was first propose
the two counties, Jackson and Gadsden,
We're to pay certain part of ire cost. |
the state road department and The
United States government were to pay
line balance. Arrangements arc made
anu the counties bonded for $4,000 each !
fc2 their pro rata. Since this time It |
IS found that the cost will be about |
or four times the original esti-
OF this increased cost there has |
81 / some difference Of opinion aS 20 |
>, - would pay lie f,e1ght" The mat
ter seems to have been definitely set |!
tied and the st. te read department and /
Id United States styernment will bIild |
the brid :, including the approaches.
There are something like hundred |
men employed on This work. A casual |
observer would wonder where this many ,
men are housed in place with 10 mere |
houses. than Chattahooehee has. A
number of these men stay in the camp
Which is located near the work; others
stay in private homes in and about I
Chattahoochee, While others with auto !
mobiles come from miles in different
directions TO the work The living ,
conditions seem to be perfectly satis- /
factory to the men EMPLOYED.