Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-05
COUNTY COURT.
Fonrth par,s Proeeedings.

l
The Court met at 10 A. NJ, Judge Smiley
in the chair.
THE FREE BRIDGE QUESTION.
Ex-Gov. Brown appeared before the
| Court, and presented The claims Of Edge
field on the county for free bridge over
the Cumberland. He cOn,enced that the
work was a county necessity, as well as of
local importance. Edgefeld was unable to
build the bridge alone, but Was willing to
contribute all in her power towards its con-
structiOn. BE submitted statements Of en-
gineerS as to the probable cost Of building
the bridge and roughly estimated the to-
tai expenditure at one hundred thousand
| dollars.
Mr.. j. G. Stubbleield followed with an
able argument in favor Of the bridge.
Justice Meacham argued that the fnan-
cial condition of the county did not war
| rant such an expenditure as the building of
this bridge would entail upon the people.
Justice Ewing was opposed to taxing real
| estate alone for carrying out the project.
He would give his support to it fIeal eS-
tate and privileges were taxed alike.
Justice Joseph Bigley opposed the pro
| ject, aud commended that an appropriation
of $1,000 for constructing a ridge over
/ "
Judge Maxey spoke in support of the
project.
Judge Whitworth spoke against the con-
| struction Of the bridge, on the ground that
there was no necessity for it.
Justice Harvey Campbell said he saw the
stock of the Bridge Company quoted at so
cents on the dollar, which wOUld make the
total value Of the bridge 100000. He
suggested that the county should spprOpri-
ate certain amount, and Edgefield and the
people of Nashville sufficient sum in adj
ditiOn to purchase the bridge.
Justice Lee Bigley said the people living
in the south of the county had long wished
to have bridge, but in the present condi-
ton Of the finances they were too modest
to ask for one.
Justice Maxey replied to the arguments
against the project.
Justice Meacham offered a resolution de-
claring that there was no public necessity
for another bridge across the Cumberland
at Nashville, except it be built by private
company.
A motion to lay the resolution on the table
was lost, ayes Is, noes SO.
The Judge ruled that the resolution was
out of order, being irrelevant to the qUes-
ton before the Court, viz: whether the
people should vote on the question of i'm
posing county tax for the construction of
free bridge.
Justice Meacham appealed from the de-
cision Of the chair.
The decision was sustained, ayes "a,
noes 20.
Mr.. Stephen Childress was in favor of a
free bridge because he was opposed to a
s I'll -
stock in the Bridge Company he would not
oppose this great movement of the people.
They demanded this bridge and would
have it.
After some discussion the motion offered
by Justice Baskette at former meeting was
read. 1t was as follows:
"Be it ordered that special tax for five
years be levied as follows: For the pur-
pose Of building free bridge across the
Cumberland connecting Nashville and
Edgefeld, as follows: On capital, license
tax of mill, advalOrem tax on merchants
mill, on privileges I of the county tax, on
real and personal estate I mill; provided,
however, that Edgefeld and other cor
porations, make subscriptions to an
amount sufficient to build said contemplate
ed bridge, this proposition to be submitted
for the ratification of the people,"
Justice J. W. Bigley offered the following
amendment: That the County Court
submit to a vote Of the people whether the
County Court of Davidson county make an
appropriation Of one Thousand dollars to
bnild free bridge upon the waters of Mill
Greek, Immediately below the site of Good
wins mill, upon the county road leading
from Smithville by Bakers station in the |
direction Of the Asylum for the insane, and
that b. G. Eel, B. II. Wilkinson, and II. J. |
Baker be appointed a committee of CON
struction and supervision at the next regu- |
lar election for county officers. Accepted. |
The resolution, as amended, was adopted |
on the following division:
Ayes-AberDashy, Baskstte, j. ". Big
ley, L. b. Bigley, Brantley, Cassetty, Chill |
dress, Curtis, Harvey Campbell, K. D. |
Campbell, Davidson, Everett, Gleaves, |
Hsynie, Hardy, Howell, Kerrigan, Knight, |
Marshall, Maxey, Neylan, Paul, PEBBLES, |
Phelan, Rucker, Read, Saunders, Sizemore,
Wade, WherTy, WhitwOrth-31.
Noes-Bush, Chandler, Chickering, Dill |
iahunty, Hows, Hynes, Meacham, Newly, |
Spain, Simpkins, Sullivan, Taylor, Walsh, |
Williams, Wyatt and Wright-l6.
The court then adjourned till 10 O'Clock, |
a. N. tomorrow.