This was the entire cost of the work (including right of way onthe east side of the river) as described in this report; it does notinclude the filling of the temporary trestle on the east approach, northe enlargement of the cut on the west approach. Included in theitem of buildings, tools, and temporary tracks, is one-third of the costof the temporary bridge which was used in the winter of 1879-80, forthe general business of the Burlington & Missouri River R. R., inNebraska ; this item is credited with the value of tools turned overto the railroad company, and stored on completion of the work, thiscredit amounting to $3,950.07.

The item of freight includes, generally, the freight on all articlesfrom Chicago to the bridge site, also the freight on stone from the

THE PLATTSMOUTH BRIDGE

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quarries to the bridge site, and the freight on the oak timber of thefloor from South-eastern Missouri , where the timber was bought, toPlattsmouth. In comparing the cost of this bridge with otherstructures, the fairest way is to exclude the freight charges, as theprices in Chicago would more nearly conform to the usual prices inAmerica than would those at the bridge site.

Excluding freight, the actual cost of the bridge proper, withoutthe approaches, but including shore protection, buildings, tools andtemporary tracks,and also engineering and incidentals,was$448,226.66,being at the rate of $149.41 per lineal foot from abutment toabutment.

The true cost of the bridge is, perhaps, best shown by dividing

the structure into three parts; the two channel spans including thethree main piers ; the three deck spans, including the three smallpiers ; and the viaducts. Distributing the items of floor and paint-ing, buildings, tools and tracks, and of engineering and incidentals,among these three classes of structure, pro rata according to cost,the cost of the channel spans and piers was $284,207.06, or at the rateof $353.49 per lineal loot; the cost of the deck spans and piers was$98,855.58, or $161.53 per lineal foot; and the cost of the viaduct$63,607.31, or $40.16 per lineal foot.