100 years ago in Spokane: Cause emerges for Division Street Bridge collapse

From our archives, 100 years ago

Four experts examined the wreckage of the Division Street bridge, in which five people were killed, and blamed “granulation or crystallization of one of the chord bars,” or what would today be termed metal fatigue.

The bridge had passed an inspection not long before the collapse. The experts said that even if it had been inspected the day before, the problems would not have been visually evident and “they would have reported the (bridge) entirely safe for the duty it was fulfilling.”

They said that no one yet knew what caused “granulation or crystallization” of metal, but one theory was that it was a progressive condition caused by vibration.

The collapse had also severed the water, power, telephone and natural gas lines, cutting service to a large portion of downtown. However, most of the service was being restored.

Meanwhile, the salvage and repair operations were still attracting huge crowds to the riverbank, “and the motion picture shows were nearly deserted.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1945: The Office of Price Administration announced the end of tire rationing, effective Jan. 1, 1946.

1946: The Frank Capra film “It’s A Wonderful Life,” starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, had a preview showing for charity at New York’s Globe Theatre, a day before its official world premiere.