Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-09-29
The Bridge Question.

The Waterloo Courier of last week
In answer to questions asked regard
ing the location of the new bridge
across the Cedar at that point, gives
the following view of the situation.
After defining the powers of the
Board, the Courier says:
At the extra session of the Board,
held Aug. 10th, the Supervisors pur-
suant to the powers above enumerat-
ed, appropriated 5 $1,000 for the con-
struction of piers for a bridge across
the Cedar in this city. They receiv-
Ned and entertained the proposition OF
certain gentlemen to locate the
bridge on 9Th street, in which case
they agreed to contribute something
over $1,000, but as no law in the stat
ute books allowed the erection of
bridges by the county, except on es-
tablished county roads and as the
only established county road crossing
the river within the city limits was
on the site of the present bridge, the
Board had no more right to act upon
the proposition of these gentlemen,
and appropriate money for q bridge
on 9Th street, than they would have
to build n over the Mississippi
The only alternative left them-even
If the members were all individually
inclined to adopt the proposition
was to provide for the erection of
the bridge on nhe site of the old one.
This consideration alone chained
them against the exercise of any dis
erection or choice whatever. But
there are other good reasons for de-
clining the proposition. The river
on 9Th street is about 100 feet wider ;
at that place two abutments must
be built entire, and n more pier
than at the old one. The abutments
extra pier and additional hundred
feet of bridge Ia estimated to cost a
sum fully equal to the proposed con-
tribution so the county would gain
nothing. The question of good faith
In changing the location, we viii not
now discuss.
On examination of the old bridge,
their oath bound duty, no more than
good policy, constrained the Board
to provide for q new bridge at the
earliest day possible. Mr.. Van Saun
of Cedar Falls. and Mr.. Close of Ce-
dar, united with Mr.. Weatherwax
of the city, in a common Judgment
that the work of q new bridge must
not be delayed, and all voted for it.
They saw, what all must see, that it
was better to build a new bridge at
once rather than run the risk of pay
ing thousaudsupon thousands as dam
ages to persons and property that
might be injured or DESTROYED by rs
failure. But 1t is said that this city
corporation ought to build the bridge
The answer to this is a part of Sec
ton, of chapter 179, of the Laws of
the 18th General Assembly, which
reads /:
All public bridges exceeding forty
feet In length, over any stream cross
ing a County or SKATE road, shall be
constructed and kept in Repair by the
county.
BY the terms of the law, the city
is barred from building the bridge F.;
the county only having the authors
ty. Besides, shall Waterloo be asked
to build her Owl bridge, when these
two townships probably pay tro
ffths Of the costs of all the bridges
built in the county.
Now look at this summing up:
The old bridge is about to fall.
A new bridge must be built.
The Supervisors are the sworn of.
fetal agents of the county, and are
compelled by law to "erect and keen
in repair all bridges that may be
necessary, and which the public con.
veyance may require.
They must build them on county
roads. Only one county road crosses
the river within the city limits, and
that Is the one on the site of the pres
ent bridge.
Having followed their sense of duty
the strict letter Of the law, and, az
agents of the county, having con.
tracted for the piers, and the work
being already under way. what Is
the part of wisdom with every goot
citizen?
La Porte wants q bridge, Cedar
Falls will want one ere many years,
other localities in the county wan
them /; and when 1.-THE public conve
nience requires them" is Ii not every
mans duty to render bis proportion
OF aid? The opposite course Is mere
welding of q sword that is sure Il
cut both ways. A safe bridge I'm Wa
terloo is q public necessity"-one in
which every good citizen has NOR,
or less interest, and The erection o
bridges all over the county, wher,
needed. 10 a question that ought T.
enlist the aid Of every enterprising
good citizen. Local jealousy and OBJ
position never yet built a bridge o
accomplished any other good.