Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-08-25
ABOUT THB CHAPMAN BRIDGE
State Highway Commission Gives
Its Record

The Reflector has received IRON
NJ. w. Watson, state highway engi
neer, statement concerning the
commissions relation to the Chap
man bridge which It has been
charged was approved by the COM
mission before 1t collapsed. In fair
ness TO the commission Its statement
is given below. The first section Is
a report to the commission by +. W.
Epps, bridge engineer, which says
Bridge Engineers Report
Mr.. Watson: Referring TO the
article in the Abilene Daily Chroni
Gle, regarding the Chapman bridge.
on July 26, 1913, plans for the
Chairman bridge were submitted 10
this office for approval by Mr. Karl
Riddle, the county engineer, with
the request that we check the
strength OF the truss and advise
whether an asphaltic concrete floor
could be placed on the structure
without affecting its safety. On
July 81 we wrote to Mr.. Riddle as
follows:
Dear Mr.. Riddle: Referring tC
the plans sent us recently on bridge
No. 4 Chapman birdge), l would
saw that we have checked over the
strength Of some Of the main mem
bers of this bridge and find that the
bridge Is good for live load OF %
hounds per square foot. This Is about
one half of our standard specined
loading and unless the traffic over
this bridge is very light would not
advise putting on an asphaltic coat
ing.
"As the bridge stands l would not
allow any heavy trucks or traction
engines to cross 1t unless the steel
is in excellent condition. would
also advise replacing the bridge
some time in the near future
II am returning herewith the
| plans which you sent for this bridge.
"If we can be Of any further aid
to you in this matter kindly let us
know. Yours very truly. W..
Epps, Bridge Engineer"
Some time after this letter was
written learned through other
sources that Mr.. Riddle had con-
tracted with the Midland Bridge
Company to strengthen the bridge
and while this contract was not
handled in accordance with the state
law regarding bridge construction,
the matter was never taken up pub
licly as Mr. Riddle claimed ignorance
of the law in regard to this matter.
On October II we wrote MI
Riddle, telling him that we under
stood that the tarvia covering was
to be placed on the bridge, and Mr.
Epps would arrange to be there when
it was put on. The advice OF this
department had not been followed in
putting on this covering and we
were not requested to recheck the
strength of the truss after repairs
had been made by the Midland
Bridge Company. Mr. Epps was
present when the work of covering
the bridge floor was first started,
and at that time objected to the use
Of chats for this purpose. However,
as these were on the ground and the
tarvia company was certain that
they would be satisfactory, the work
was allowed to proceed.
1t is our opinion that repairs made
on the bridge were not of sufficient
magnitude to properly take care or
the additional dead load imposed
upon the bridge by the tarvia cover
ing and that the final collapse of the
bridge was due partially to the ex-
ira load imposed by the covering.
A letter from the Midland Bridge
Company under date of July ~,
1918, informed us that the contract
for the tarvia surface was let TO
them at the same time as the con-
tract for the repairing.
The article states that the bridge
was repaired under the direction OF
the state engineer, which Is In error
as the state Highway department
knew nothing Of the repair work I'M
til the repairs on the steel had been
entirely completed and work on the
taryia floor was ready to be started.
At that time the department was
notified through he Barrett Com
pany, who requested the presence OF
the bridge engineer. l think our let
ter checking stresses on this bridge
will show definitely that the state
had no idea Of compelling the coun-
ty to repair the bridge as we speci-
fically stated that it should be recon-
structed in the near future.
In regard to the other three
bridges which were mentioned In the
article, the bridge engineer from the
State Highway Commission inspect
ed these bridges in June OF 1920
and advised replacing them at the
earliest convenient date. The En-
terprise bridge was closed to all but
very light traffic, owing to brok-
en- bar in the bottom cord which de-
creased the strength Of the bridge
about 40 per cent. This bar was
afterward repaired and the county
commissioners allowed heavier loads
to go over this bridge.
The bridge engineer also advised
closing the bridges near Solomon to
all traffic over FIVE tons. This Is
given In detail in a report submitted
after this inspection. Respectfully
submtted-F. w. Epps, Bridge En-
gineer.
Report on the Bridges
Made to the commission June Z.
1920: On May 9th in company