I spent some time today looking for a record of an action by the County Commissioners on a road whose status as public way has been questioned. It's like panning for gold. You look at lots of leads and see some odd things. For example, where did a bridge over the Colorado River near Austin, Texas go when it was replaced by a new bridge before 1913? Here's a clue found in communications to our Commissioners Court:
Lawton, Oklahoma Feb 10th 1913
County Judge, Travis Co., Austin, Texas
Dear Sir:
Myself and others interested with me are going to build a bridge. Knowing that you had replaced the bridge there with a new one, I had Mr. Gary of your town inquire as to the old one. His reply indicates that you would sell the one you have or that part of it left on hand. I thought there was one more section, six of the 150 foot spans, one of 160 feet.
The bridge that we are to build will be about 4000 feet long and can all be built of pile, but we thought that if we could get hold of some thing like you have that we might use about a thousand feet of suspension over the main channel, provided we could get it cheap.
The original cost of this bridge to you cannot be taken as a basis by us for its worth. In fact, we would not pay anything near its real worth based on first cost, nor do we think you will ever be able to realize on it along that line. The cost of loading there, shipping, and the unloading and putting in place is so very great compared to the cost of building a pile bridge that your price would have to be very low in order that we might use it.
If you will get the Commissioners to name the very lowest price they will take for it and give me time to put the proposition up to our folks, then it would be possible to answer definitely as to whether we could use it.
The fact that the bridge is lying there on the low boggy bank of the river and not painted. I imagine that it has deteriorated some since it was taken down.
Please let me hear from you as soon as possible in order that we may consider the purchase of it.
Very truly,
W.H. Clift
Where did it end up?
Here's a photo I found of a couple of the spans from the old Congress Avenue bridge that the feller from Oklahoma was asking about:
Where did it end up?
I enjoy many of your post, especially ones like this! The emphasis on research and appreciation of history is inspiring; potentially great fodder for a seminar!
;-)
CV
p.s. Respectfully, I am serious but I couldn't resist the temptation of having some fun with it.
Where did it end up?
> I enjoy many of your post, especially ones like this! The emphasis on research and appreciation of history is inspiring;
Well, you might have wanted to revise that opinion if you had looked at as much microfilm as I have in the last few days. Particularly the low-contrast, poorly focused film is an endurance test. There is every reason to think that there is a needle in this haystack, though, and I've got a client paying my rate to have me look for it.
The Okie letter was a cheap entertainment.
The Nigerian Letter from Oklahoma
The next letter in the correspondence from the Oklahoma buyer starts to edge into Nigerian email territory:
Lawton, Okla Feb. 28th 1913
County Judge, Travis County, Austin, Texas
Dear Sir :
I wrote you sometime ago asking that your Commissioners make a price on the second hand bridge that you have there. [Edit: Notice that it is now a second-hand bridge] Thus far I have heard nothing from you.
We might buy this bridge if the price looks right and our board of Directors will meet March 3rd or 4th and we would like to have your figures for consideration.
This bridge is a stock company and we have the money already paid in and are ready to transact, hence if you care to dispose of this bridge telegraph to me at Byers, Texas Monday, March 3rd so the matter may be taken up while all concerned are together for such business. State whether price is F-O-B cars or where it now lies.
Very truly,
W.H. Clift.
The Nigerian Letter from Oklahoma
But negotiations advanced, nonetheless:
Lawton, Okla. March 3rd, 1913
Judge Wm. Von Rosenbert, Jr.
Austin, Texas
Dear Sir:
I received your telegram today at Byers, Texas stating that you want six thousand dollars for the old Colorado River bridge there at Austin, price being for same as it lies on the river bank. I wired you after conferring with the heaviest stockholders in our bridge that we were not in a position to accept finally for the reason that we must further sound the river in order to know positively that it will carry a bridge of the character.
Red River is very sandy and treacherous in these matters and it is imperative that we make more thorough soundings before buying your bridge outright. However, I tried to indicate in the message to you that it is most likely that we will take it.
It is necessary that we rearrange some of our plans worked out, hence, in going to additional expense and increasing our capital, you can see that it is imperative that we have a short option in order that such works would not be in vain should some members of the Commissioners decide not to sell the bridge.
I tried to explain fully in the telegram in order that you would appreciate our posiiton. I want to state here that we mean business, have the money paid in to build the bridge, and will not doubt take it off your hands before the expiration of the thirty days asked for.
In case you wire the option asked for, one or two of us will come down and see you as soon as the soundings on the River are finished.
This purchase is largely up to me, I have seen the bridge many times while standing and since you took it down. I am sure that we will take it within a short time and probably is the best chance that you may ever have to dispose of it.
Very truly,
W.H. Clift
