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  1. JWink
    Posted August 4, 2007 at 6:25 am | Permalink

    Random thoughts: Kudos to the EAGLE for offering a comprehensive article on “Rebuilding Greensburg after the Tornado” in this mornings paper. Looking forward to reading that at breakfast.
    *******************************Regarding the bridge collapse in Minnesota, the photos seem to show twin bridges across the Mississippi at that point.

    The bridge remained standing appears to be a concrete (with steel reinforcing) multiple barrel arch bridge similar to Wichita’s Douglas Avenue Bridge over the Arkansas River.

    However, the one that failed. probably the newer bridge of the pair, appears to have been a steel truss bridge using a modified steel arch to provide for river traffic passing below.

    Kansas had a lot of old concrete “Marsh arch” bridges, named after a man/wife team of bridge designers. Their bridges were were virtually indestructible. Unfortunately most were designed for Model T traffic so were too narrow and I believe most have been torn down … except the bridge on Broadway, south of Pawnee.

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    The National Baseball Congress (NBC) tournament is wrapping up the first night of its 48 hour “Around the Clock” campout by a couple hundred erstwhile baseball fans. About now, as the sun rises, they are catching their last minutes of rest before reporting to the table behind the Hardball Cafe to check in for today’s games. Those haggard fans, carrying their blankets and pillows, after a few hours sleeping on bleachers shows dedication? to that historic NBC tradition.

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    Well, its off to breakfast. Have a nice Saturday morning.