DUBUQUE PONTOON BRIDGE COMPANY

Harris sketch of a pontoon bridge.

DUBUQUE PONTOON BRIDGE COMPANY. Attracting business into Dubuque in greater numbers than could be carried by ferries led to considerations of a pontoon bridge. In 1878 a Mr. Harris submitted a sketch of his idea to the Dubuque Herald. Accompanying the sketch was the following letter:

                 I send you a plan of a pontoon bridge that can be built
                 substantially and cheap, and one that will last as long
                 as any wooden structure ever does  It will accommodate
                 the boats and rafts with separate draws. The piers, as
                 shown in the drawing, should be erected some distance
                 below the railroad bridge. The floating draws are 
                 calculated to swing from the west pier, and to be closed
                 by a steam engine to be placed upon the top of the pier.
                 The draws are to be opened by the current. The piers should
                 be built in a solid and substantial manner, by driving
                 down piling the size required for the size of the pier, say
                 thirty feet at the case and fifteen feet at the top; then
                 hoop them with heavy iron bands; then fill the inside with
                 broken stone and cement, or a concrete mass, which would
                 soon become solid. The piers, or base of them, should be
                 protected by a rip-rap wall, to prevent the current from
                 undermining them. The bridge can be built in three months
                 and at small cost. (1)

In August, 1886, the Dubuque Pontoon Bridge Company was authorized to construct and maintain a bridge suitable for the crossing of vehicles, horsemen and animals and for the ordinary public uses and purposes of a highway bridge from at or near Pine street in Dubuque across the MISSISSIPPI RIVER to East Dubuque, Illinois. (2)

The bridge was to be located below and as near as practicable to the railway bridge and the draw was to be of such dimensions and character as should be approved by the secretary of war, or if built without a draw it should be high enough at the right place to permit the free passage at all stages of water of craft navigating the Mississippi. (3)

To assist the company in the construction of this bridge, the city appropriated $25,000, to be paid in two installments, and released it conditionally from taxation. The total cost was about $133,000. The city reserved the right to take possession and control of the bridge by paying annually to the company 8 per cent on the total cost less that paid by the city. The mayor was to be an ex officio member of the board of directors. The toll was fixed by the council on December 14, 1887. (4)

The Dubuque Pontoon Bridge Company continued to exist in 1892 because it had secured the right from the federal government to build a pontoon bridge across the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. The DUBUQUE HIGH BRIDGE COMPANY had succeeded to its rights. (5)

See: DUBUQUE WAGON BRIDGE

---

Source:

1. "The Bridge Question," Dubuque Herald, February 16, 1878, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18780216&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-21-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. "Sixth Annual Meeting," Dubuque Daily Herald, May 3, 1892, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18920503&printsec=frontpage&hl=en