We visited Portage on Wednesday afternoon and found that men and material were arriving to prosecute the work of erecting
the new iron bridge to span the immense chasm, where the wonderful wooden bridge has stood for quarter of a century. It looks like an immense undertaking as one
stands upon the high bank on this side, and measures with his vision the great height and length the new structure must be. People who have visited the old bridge
hundreds of times, express their surprise viewing the immense chasm at the present time.
The men to do the mason work were on hand and arriving. The middle abutment is to be three times its present size and
considerably higher. Carloads of stone were being unloaded upon the west side, and forty car loads of stone were on the way from the east. The new structure is to
be ten feet higher than the old one, in order to lessen the grade. We were informed that some 500 or 600 men would be employed upon the bridge, as soon as the
material is ready to work them to advantage. This will make lively times at Portage.
The cost of the new bridge is stated from $75,000 to $80,000, but we learned nothing official on this point.
