Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 180, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1912 — BURKS’ BRIDGE BAD HAS BEEN CONDEMNED. [ARTICLE]

BURKS’ BRIDGE BAD HAS BEEN CONDEMNED.

Many Refuse to Go Over It While Others Take a Chance—Should be Without Delay. For many years Burks’ bridge has been a trouble maker. With the demolition of much of the old bridge and the establishing of approaches by means of grading it was thought the big part of the trouble was at an end. For some time, however, the old bridge over the ditch channel has been in a bad way and the west side of .he bridge has sunk down until the bridge is at an angle of about 30 degrees. Road Supervisor Charles Battleday called the attention of Trustee Parkison and Commissioner Stackhouse to the condition of the bridge and they condemned it and -notices declaring it “unsafe” were posted. But a lot of people have paid no attention jto this warning and have continued to use the bridge. Tourist autmobiles have passed over it and it has continued, to sink. Saturday a number of farmers who need the bridge badly in coming to Rensselaer and in returning home talked freely about it They generally said that they would not go over it but were going a mile or two out of the way to avoid it. Sunday E. L. Hollingsworth went across the bridge with his automobile. The bridge swayed perceptibly and for an instant Mr. Hollingsworth thought it was going to sink beneath his machine. He hastened to the bank, however, and escaped injury. Probably' others have had a similar experience. So far no movement has been begun to have a new bridge installed. As it will have to be advertised, a contract can not be let before the September meeting of the commissioners. That will mean that it will be the last of September or the first of October before a bridge can be built. It will mean that farmers north of the river will be placed to a great inconvenience in the marketing of thei” grain and in coming to Rensselaer. Supervisor Battleday says it would be impracticable to try to repair the bridge. It is a great pity that the public Is thus Inconvenienced for so long a time. It would seem best, in view of the very dangerous condition of the bridge, to fence the road so that crossing could not be attempted.