The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1921-12-16
BelVidere Bridge
Rapidly Being
Completed

vitation of Chairman Frank Coye
of the Board of County Commiss-
toner's, the Press man had the pr
ivilege and pleasure of visiting the
big steel bridge that is being bu
lit to span White River south OF
Belvidere. While we had receiv
ed many reports as TO the progre
SIS that was being made on thC
construction of this bridge it wa.
certainly a surprise to us on on
visit down there to see the worl
that had been done, and the rap
idity with which this structure i
nearing completion.
For many years the people o
Belvidere and the south river CO
untry have been working diligen,
ly to secure this bridge which ma
kes possible the crossing of the II
yer at all seasons Of the year, anC
gives advantage of twelve month
markets to the people south
town, and the realization of thei
, efforts at this time is pleasing t
ourneighbors on the east-ant
not only to them but to the fol
ks throughout the various part
of the county. This bridge is b.
ing built jointly by Jackson ant
Mellette counties, Jackson Coun
ty having charge of the constru
ction work which has been unde
the direction Of Highway Super
intendent j. L. Buckmaster, ant
the total cost Of the bridge Wi
be divided equally between th
two counties.
At the time of our visit dow
there last week Che teams ant
cars were crossing regularly an
had been for about two week
previous to that time, and man
expressed their satisfaction at tn
possibility of having such cross
ing. The preliminary work o
building the bridge was starte'
on the 18th of last April, and il
spite of the handicaps encountere'
with the high waters Of the spring
the piers were erected in recort
time and the work then laid of
awaiting the arrival of the stee
for the super-structure. AT th'
starting of the work on the pier
Mr. Buckmaster organized crev
of home boys to do the work ano
these have stayed with him throu
gh the entire work and are still
busily engaged every day, eacf
and everyone of them putting II
a full days time working hare
and endeavoring to push the worl
to completion as rapidly as possib
le.
The steel super-structurc OF thu
bridge consists of two spans of IL
feet in length each, with twent!
foot approach on each end. max
ing total length of 27S feet
The super-structurc is solid steel
with every appearance of its last
ing qualities and makes an impos
ing sight to view when driving
down the road to cross. Support
ing the two spans of steel are tn
rec huge cement piers, one at eacf
side of the river and one in the
middle, these containing $50 SOU
are yards of cement used in Their
construction. These piers are
built of concrete and are 81 feet
thick, "a feet and 10 inches wide
and stand twenty eight feet abo
We solid shale, and in the three
piers there is 67S0 pounds of re
inforcing steel. Into the Golfer
dams erected for the piers and be
fore the beginning of the pouring
of cement four huge pilings were
driven into the solid shale about
eight feet in each pier. These
piers are smooth of finish and st
and true and plumb and show the
most careful work in their constr
uction.
The steel structure is Of the We.
ry latest type and at the time Of
our visit to the bridge the south
span was completely riveted and
swung into place, resting on the
piers with the rocker joints, and
the construction crew were busy
with the work of completing the
riveting on the north span, having
all of the lower beams completed
and were returning across the sp-
an completing the riveting of the
top beams. This work of riveting
was a most interesting sight and
the boys were making rapid head