Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-03-28
FREE BRIDGES.
CLEAnrInLp, Pa. March 26. 1871

doubts expressed OF the perpetulty Of
our republican institutions, and con.
iess that | have at times myself felt a
vague uneasiness as ] contemplated the
reckless extravaganza OF our rulers
have Of lite, however, become more
hopeful, and quite treasured, since read.
ing All article IN the Osceola Rerehe
signed "GoOly." Our county, at least
is safe, so long as we have such bold.
sagaciOus, and disinterested sentinel on
the wateh-towor as "Gooly" has dem.
onstrated himself to be. Ills zeal for
the public welfare Is certainly com.
mcndablc; but il is TO be very much
regretted that his knowledge OF the
facts IN the ease is not commensurate
with his zeal As be evidently has no
little axe to grind, must exonerate
him from intentional misrepresentation
and chnriiably suppose that be would
have told the truth il he had known
how. How near he came to doing so
will be apparent upon examining few
of his statements. He says
Itisa notorious fact that niue-tenihs OF The
money of The county expended for public ian.
Z proyomcuts within the last ten years at least,
outside Of the building Of the jail has gone to
the upper, or southern eud Of the county
Now, within the last ten years the
county has paid for bridges erected
within its borders, s2i50O, Exclusive
of the Goodie.low bridge. OF this
sum SIT 900 has been expended in the
upper end, and $1,000 in the lower end
Of the county. Unless my arithmetic
is at fault, 1910 does not go into H..
900 ten times. Again he says:
within the last ten year, there have beeu at
lea,, that many free bridges built by the county
across the river and clearhrli Greek Ia the upper
rnl.
During the ten years named tile
county has built no bridges, free or 9Th.
erwise, but has aided BY subscription in
the erection OF less than ten bridges,
built in the upper end by the enterprise
Of the citizens of that locality. Ibe
county, like Providence, helps those
who help themselves.
Not including the iron bridge at carwsnssille.
the cost Of whirh alone was over ten tbouiand
dollars % the county.
The county paid towards the erection
of the CurwensviIe Iron Bridge s6,02l
which is, if mistake not, under, in
stead of cover" $4,000
During which time the whole lover or eastern,
western and northern ends OF the county have re-
eeivel in all less than the cost Of The iron bdlge
at Curuensvil.e.
If 81 800 is less than s6,021, then
Cody Is correct, not otherwise.
Tten to cap the climax, they purchased the old
dilapidatcd structure known as Guodi,llug's
Bridge. across the river about two miles south Of
town, at an exorbitant price.
The Goodfellow bridge was built
when labor and material were cheap,
and cost about $4,000. The Commis.
sloners recently bought the same for
81 ,260. and | am credibly informed
that two responsible gentlemen stand
ready to pay the Cor missioners their
money back and 81 ,260 for their bar
gain. So much for "exorbitant prices"
and "squandering the peoples money"
The one acros. Clearheld creek could be pur-
chased for at least half the price paid for the
Goodfelow bridge, and is better bridge.
The creek bridge cost about 5000,
and no doubt could be purchased very
cheap; but the expression "is better
bridge" unconsciously reveals the ex-
tent of what "Gooly" knows about
bridges.
Why it is that one side or end Of the county
gets all or almost all, the benefit of the taxes in
public improvements, aud the balance nothing
cannot tell, unless It IL because our Commission
are all fron that end, and are looking out for
home interests or home Improvements.
He cannot tell; but heimagines that
the Commissioners are actuated by the
same motives that would influence him
under similar circumstances. But !
would suggest to the gentleman that
be might proftably employ some rainy
day in studying the map Of Clearfeld
county. He will probably find that
bat one Of the Commissioners-Mr.
McGhee lives in "the upper end. =
Mr.. Brown occupies almost the exact
centre OF the county, while Mr.. Hoover
lives in the lower end, geographically
considered. Besides, would remind
hlm that s2l, 10 out of the s24 500
was paid out before the present board
of Commissioners were elected and
had that sagacious statesman been as
intent on telling the truth us con-
cealing IL, he might perhaps have dis.
covered that fact. And had his mem.
ory been as retentive us his scent was
keen, he might not have forgotten, or
overlooked, the Trout Run bridge, to
which the county contributed $3.50 or
the Mosquito Creek bridge, $500 or
the river bridge ut Deer Greek, which
took si,6l6 ont of the county trcasu.
ury.
Clear6eld and The lower end Of the county
should haye free trijgcs, A. we'll as Curwrnsyille
and the upper end.
Just sol The County Commissioners
are of the opinion tina, all the bridges
in the county should be free, but as
Rome was not built in one day, and in
view Of the hard times, they think It
best to move slow in the matter But
no sooner do they take one step in the
direction of free bridges, than they are
beset on all sides with importunitics to
"buy our bridge, no less than six
bridges beng ofiered,-each demand.
ing TO be next on the list. Now, it the
Commissioners had n bank of their
own. or owned a paper mill ,bey might
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