Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-31

If ever eharlatan and arrant humbug
begged for votes it is Warren q. Mead, candi-
date for the Legislature from the Fourth ward.
He is going from house to house, begging
piteously for votes, on the ground that he Sc
cured the Fort Smelling bridge. There never
was clearer OF a foul bird strntting in
borrowed plumage. The Fort Smelling bridge
bill was introduced and its passage
secured by Hon. James Smith, Jr., two
years before Mead went to the Legislature.
That there may be no question relative to this
we quote Mr.. Smiths bill as fellows:
An act to authorize and provide for the con-
struction Of free bridge across the Mississippi
river at or near Fort Smelling, and to lay out
suitable roads and approaches thereto.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State
of Minnesota:
Section /. That Tracy NJ. Metcalf, William
Dawson and William Lindeke, of Ramsey
county, be and they are hereby appointed and
constituted commissioners, whose duty it shall
be to select suitable site and place of CROSS
ing the Mississippi river at or near Fort Smell
ling for suitable suspension or other bridge,
and to adopt plans and specifications for the
construction of such bridge at the point so to
be selected, with estimates of the probable cost
thereof.
Sec 2. That said commissioners, or ma
jority of them. are hereby empowered to view,
locate and establish from some convenient
point upon the Fort street road, in Ramsey
county, public road and highway to such
site for said bridge and over the same, and
thence to and into the county of Hennepin to
suitable connection with The public highways
leading from Fort Smelling to the city Of Min
neapolis and Bloomington. That such high
way shall be at least one hundred feet in
width. That said commissioners shall, in adj
dition to the location of said highway, deter
mine and appraise to the owner or
owners of any real estate included
within said highway, and appropriated
therefor. the value thereof and injury arising
to them respectively from the condemnation
thereof which shall be awarded to such own
ers respectively, az damages, after maxim g due
allowance and deduction therefrom for any
benefits which such owners may respectively
derive from such highway and improvement.
which said assessment of compensation and
damages, together with plat of the survey
and location of said road shall be made and
certified by said commissioners, one copy of
which shall be filed in the register of deed s
office in the county of Hennepin, and another
copy thereof in the Office Of tho register of
deeds of Ramsey county, which copies
SO certified shall be conclusive evidence
of the establishment Of said highway and OF
the property necessary therefor. Provided,
ho'Oeee', That any person aggrievcd by the de-
pointed. relative to damages to property, may
appeal to the district court at the county where
In such property is situated, in the same man-
ner and with like effect is provided by
chapter 81 of the general laws relating to con-
-don1uatou ut properly Tor railroad purposes.
Sec. 3. THAI said commissioners shall have
power to receive and collect donations, sui
scriptions, and other aid that may be given
subscribed or pledged in aid of the construction
of said bridge: and shall have power toexpend
the same and such other aid as may be given
by said county of Ramsey, or by the United
in ofc ri bri1o
Sec. 4. That said bridge, when constructed,
be free of any toll or charge to tho United
States, or any citizen thereof. or other person,
and, when constructed, shall be kept in good
order and repair by the county Of Ramsey as
free bridge, and the said county of Hennepin
shall never be liable to any expense in main
tenance or repair of said bridge.
Sec. s.. That said commissioners may meet
at any time or times hereafter as they may
deem advisable, and in case of the death, re-
fusal to serve, er disability of either of SAID
commissioners, the Governor of this State may
fill such vacancy by the appointment OF some
suitable person to act as such.
Sec. 6. That said commissioners, upon the
completion of said bridge, and when the same
is opened for public travel, shall surrender the
same to the commissioners of said r msey
county, and thereupon the same shall be con-
sidered in charge Of said county for repair and
Sec. Z. This act to take effect and be in
force from and after It's passage.
Approved March 2, 1916.
Last winter tho bill passed was merely to
authorize Ramsey county to issue bonds to
build the bridge. The bill was to be submitted
to the people and there was not particle of
opposition to it. Mead did not want to
have it provide for mure than $4,000 in
bo:ds while 100000 was necessary to build
the bridge, and he stood as an opponent of the
he hill ;rfo
sion.
The real work on the Fort Smelling bridge
matter was done in carrying it before the peo-
pie and in securing Congressional aid. In
neither of these cases was Mead heard from.
He took no part whatever. His bridge services
are a humbug and a fraud.
J. Hon James Smith Jr., is the man to be remem-
bered for the bridge, and Mead should be exc
rated for stealing credit where he is not enti-
tied to it.