Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-11-20
lift SPAN ACROSS
RIVER TO COST CITY
CLOSE TO $4,000
COMPLETION OF DEEP WATER.
WAY WILL FORCE CITY TO
SPEND LARGE SUMS ON ILL.
NOiS RIVER BRIDGE.

Under the building program, which
calls for completion of major Tea.
lures Of the deep waterway within
two years. Ottawa, before 1922, will
be forced to spend between $50 600
and $4,000 TO equip the Illinois river
bridge with machinery for lit span.
This important matter which has
been given little attention III official
circles, is one that cannot be
lodged Means for raising the large
sum necessary to install the m1chhr
cry will have to be decided upon be
core the present city council goes out
Of existence. The lift span, which
was placed in the bridge at the time
If its erection, is shy all the maChln-
cry necessary to the bascule type.
The machinery, engineers said, could
be secured at any time the city found
it necessary to comply with a gov
ernment ruling made before permits
for constructing the bridge were is
sued by the war department.
Cost $4,000 to 10000
thrown open to traffic it was claimed
h0isting machines would cost approx
imately $50 600 Since then, it is
Olntel out that materials and labor
have doubled in cost. bringing the
expenditures nearer $4,000 than the
first estimate OF $4,000 The installa-
tiOn, experts aver, rests entirely with
the city, and cannot be straddled up
on the state. once the hOiSting de.
vices are installed an operator will
have to be employed day and night
to permit passage of boats through
the bridge. burdening the city with
added maintenance expense.
Besides the Illinois river bridge
outlay there is the possibility, water
way boosters claim, of Ottawa being
forced to install a bridge across IN,
Fox river which will permit navga-
tion up that stream as far as boats
can travel. Should dockage be Sc
cured by any concern near the Rock
the city then would be compelled to
provide means for permitting crafts
to pass on up the Fox without any
bridge ohstructi0ns. In that event
he aQueduCt bridge would have TO be
equipped with a movable span,
Fox To Be NavigabIe.
Before any plans for the new $50
lJO Fox river structure are adopted
the city will look into every possible
ngle Of the waterway requirements
tud insist on guarantees from the
tate department OF public works that
70 changes Will be demanded after
he proposed new aMin street bridge
installed.
What is true of bridges owned by
he city applies to the G., 3. " Q. rail
-ay bridge which stands three blocks
vest of the vehicle structure. The
e. will be compelled to install a
whole new span equipped with lifting
apparatus before any navigation can
tart on the waterway.
Hits Utilities Companies.
Utilities companies using the city
bridge will be compelled to find
)they means of connecting UP their
outh side property At the present
lllt Lli' titliN 1NfI ' u Z A'lliI ItllN Iti@
large gas main extending across
be bridge The city has water
main and the telephone company anC
Northern Illinois Light Il Traction
company have their wires extended
'ver the bridge to South Ottawa. Al
hese will have to be removed anc
sent across the river in some Other
manner as soon as the lift span is pu
, into operation