The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-09-18
MORE ABOUT BRIDGES.

the bridges, and have them nOtc. We
ought to have vote on the subject this
fall and have the bridges put up by next
spring. We can just Us well have the
bridges this winter as to wait year or
two.
In discussing this matter we hope none
of our readers will be so uncharitable as
to say we are actuated by desire to
benefit Emporia solely. We feel just as
much interest in the growth and devel-
opment of the arhole county and every |
part Of it as We do in the growth and /
of this town. We are |
just as glad TO hear of substantial i'm
provements in Americas or jackson or
Fremont or Waterloo, as in Emporia,
and i'll urging this bridge matter we are
not urging the interests of Emporia any
more than other points in the county.
Our efforts will be used in behalf of
needed public improvements in all por-
tons of the county.
This county occupies position of too
much importance to be longer without
bridges across the Neosho and Cotton
wood at points where they are absolute
" needed. We have two daily mails
into and through the county. We are
on the thoroughfare of an immense tray
el and freighting business, and it ought
to be q matter of county pride with ev-
cry resident of the county to see that
bridges are provided to accommodate
the mails and the business of the county.
Most of the time for the past three
weeks the Neosho and Cottonwood have
been past fording. People have endan-
gered their lives and property by cross
ing in rickety canoes and on dangerous
boats. We have heard of some instances
of teams being carried away. Last year
| there was nearly three months that these
streams could not be forded. Several
teams were washed away and lost. One
of the finest young women in the county
was drowned at Hartford, and citizen
of Greenwood county was drowned al
the ford on the Cottonwood south Of
town. Can life be estimated by
bound to provide for the safetyzof hui
man life? What is the cost of two OF
three good bridges compared with thG
life of one citizen?
We presume as matter of conven'
fence to the business of the county the
Emporia than at any other one point
but it has been felt by hundreds in al
parts of the county. We would vii
lingly have paid our proportion of thu
tax for the bridges needed rather thar
havo suffered the delay in our paper this
week. We presume hundreds of citi
zens of the county have suffered delays
and vexations enough during the pres
ent rise to make them feel willing t
pay all the taxes that would be required
of them for bridges.
! We have these bridges to build sooner
or later. 1t is only question of time
We are out of debt. We have over tive
millions of taxable property. We ma!
have Railroad taxes in few years, an(
therefore we maintain that we can bet
ter afford to undertake to build bridge
now than at any other time.
Three or four years ago we talked
good deal about the county buildings
There was a strong opposition to thei
construction. Now they are up ant
paid for, and what citizen would desir
, their removal. Who would vote for tn
removal of the court house and Jail an
take back the money they cost, them
Not many. They are a monument t
the enterprise and thrift of the peopl
y of Lyon county. They add stability t
the county. We point strangers to on
county house and tell them it is paid fol
and they say this is the county the
want to settle in. That building ha
= added to the value of every acre of Ian
: in the county. Three years ago W
q talked with pride about our $1,000 an
8 $500 farms; now 5000 and 5000
IS farms are not as scarce as hens teeu
: Public improvements have helped t
= put up the figures. Every dollar inves
Il ed in public improvements returns te
fold interest to property holders. Thre
y or four good bridges in the count
! would do more to bring in goo
: farmers, merchants and mechanics tina
2, anything we can do except to build
"a Railroad.
= For the convenience of the mails; fc
II the convenience of the public and pr
vate business; for the safety of life an
e property; as matter of county pride
y as a matter Of economy; as an induce
: ment to immigrants, we need the brids
It es, and we believe it is every citizen
d duty to help get them.