1914-02-14-sr-p1-lapray-bridge-moved-to-spokane
February 14, 1914 Spokesman-Review Page 1:
NEW CITY BRIDGE, OLD PIERS, FRAME
Will Span River Near Boulevard End—Soldiers to Do Moving.
Spokane ts to have another bridge across the Spokane river, near the end of the Northwest boulevard, where the rip-rapped stone piers of an old bridge of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Southern stand. In the agreement reached yesterday the Washington Water Power company donates the old LaPray bridge across the river near the Long lake dam, to the park board. The county contributes $1000, the city council $500, and the park board the rest of the $8400 that it is estimated it will cost to swing the bridge in its new location.
Soldiers to Aid Removal.
Incidentally, the commander at Fort Wright has agreed to lend the aid of some of his men and mules in the work of removing the bridge to its new location, as the Fort Wright reservation is equally interested with the city in having a bridge over tho river at this point.
The present LaPray bridge stands on the site of the historic structure erected there in 1865 by James Monoghan of Spokane, as a toll bridge, and after being operated by him for about five years, was sold to LaPray in 1870.
It continued to be operated as a toll bridge for many years, until finally taken over by Spokane and Stevens counties, which built the present bridge five years ago at a cost of $10,000, each county bearing half the cost.
Will Erect New Structure.
The counties sold the bridge to the Washington Water Power company. The water stage of Long lake will be 80 feet above the top of the present bridge. A new bridge at Long lake has been erected by the water power company to replace the one now donated to the park board. The bridge donated is a substantial wooden structure, Which is considered good enough for years in its proposed location.
