Daily globe., 1882-04-15
: 4.O34 SC
The Proposed New Bridge.

To the Editor of the GLOBE:
The proposition to constructlanother bridge
over the Mississippi river at St. Paul is one
that must command itself to all good citizens
who desire to favor Improvements as well as
add to the general welfare and prosperity OF
the whole city. That such bri dge as the
one proposed to be constructed at some point
east of the present Wabashaw bridge is really
needed, can hardly be refutea upon any rea-
sonable grounds, and it is to that
end that we desire to invite the
attention of our citizens to the fact
that at the city election next month they will
have the opportunity to vote yea or nay upon
the proposition to authorize the city council
to issue the bonds of the city in aid of the con-
struction of the proposed new bridge. 1t GER
tainly cannot be denied that in order to foster
and encourage the rapidly increasing business
interests of the city, aspirit of liberality regu
lated by 9 wise and judicious economy,
must be exercised IN order to meet the
demands growing out of this progressive con-
dition of our material interests. In the his
tory of the rise and progress of all cities in the
new or old world, the greatest and most i'm
portant factor has been the encouragement by
the government, or the municipality, of the
opening and establishing permanent routes
Oh travel 30 dS lO iuNltc lEdut auu 10
come within its borders and aid in the
ing territory. And where this liberal hand
has best shown itself the results have been
correspondingly great in population and ma
terial prosperity. We hold to the faith that
herein st. Paul we cannot have too many thor
oughfares or avenues of trade, the more the
better. Each one centering at this point is a
feeder to the whole business interests of the
city, the benefits of which are realized and
felt by the entire community. It cannot be
otherwise. Believing as we do in these prln-
ciples, we would be false to our honest con-
victions did we not favor the construction of
this bridge, and earnestly advise our fellow
citizens to do the same by their votes and in
fuence on election day.
It may be that some well. meaning persons
may raise the question of taxes in connection
with these bridge bonds, but 1t should not be
forgotten that the period for their payment is
provided in the act to run for twenty or
twenty-five years, SO that the annual tax to be
levied to pay for the principal and interest on
the same will be light in comparison to
the great benefits derived by way
of increased business prosperity, additional
values and consequent increase in taxa
bly, property, thereby adding largely to the
city revenue.
It is true we have heard of some objections
to the construction of the bridge upon the
ground that it is little too early, that two
or three years from now will be time enough;
to which we cannot agree: To be forewarned
is forearmed. Already the present tottering
condition of the Wabashaw street bridge ad-
monishes us that it Is not minute too early
to "set our house in order" and prepare the
way at once for another bridge.
And even if it were not SO, the vastly in
creasing travel over the brldge'is such that it
is frequently so crowded as to impede travel,
and render the same dangerous to those cross
ing the same; and in this connection it must
be remembered that if the proposed new bridge
was really commenced building now, it will
take two and probably three years before the
same would be open for travel, and who can
predict what the fate of the old bridge may be
by that time?
Instead of waiting longer we hope to see,
not only this new bridge commenced and COM
pleted, as early as possible, but we hope to
see third bridge in upper town started and
completed as quickly as time and circum-
stances will permit. The citizens in that To-
callty, like those in lower town, are certainly
entitled to like facilities of travel, and we
trust some of the public spirited men of the
Third and Fourth wards will not "look
through glass darklY" at the proposed low
er town bridge, but initiate the example of
their fellow-citizens in lower town and go
and do likewise, to which purpose lower town
joins hands with them mostaheartily.