WC - Manitowoc River Bridge
Hinged lift bridge no longer exist
Photo taken by Douglas Butler in February 2015
BH Photo #314934
Are you sure that is the correct location?
1) The current railroad bridge at this location spans a deep valley, with the deck about 80 feet above the river. There would be no way to get this part of the rail line down to the lower level of the lift bridge.
2) The river at this point is no more than two or three feet deep, and there were no industries this far upriver.
I would suggest that this bridge was one of the many further downriver, where the river was improved for navigation and extensively used by shipping.
To add to questions for Douglas, these are interesting advertisements, ones I haven't come across in my research. Curious what date they are, and what publication they were in.