Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-03-29

Ii is generally concluded that a ne"
bridge will be built by the Levy Court
across The ChriStiana, somewhere De-
tween Third and Fourth streets, ana
somtime during the coming summer
and fall. OF course the bridge Is
needed. but there are some things tlat
need looking after before it is com
menced, that the friction and annoy
ance caused by the building OF the
Eleventh street bridge may be avoided
In the first place the bridge is needed.
The South side has grown 80 in popuIa'
ton and manufactures, that a bridge
much str onger than the old one and
with twice the capacity for travel
will I've required. From present
appearances the south side of the
Christiaua will ia very few years be
lined with manufactures from the
Third Street Crossing to the Delaware.
Some of these that are already CON
structed and put in operation, notaplythe
Lobdell car wheel works, ARE of the most
extensive character and the business
and increase of travel in consequence,
will demand the services OF more than
an ordinary bridge.
In the second place the bridge should
be built with every modern convent
snce, with foot walks at each iide di-
vided off from the arriage way, if this
can possibly be one with an iron
bridge, without interfering with the
draw to admit the passage OF vessels.
The want of these passage ways is
sadly felt already on the Eleventh
street bridge and whatever improve
ment can be made on the building of
that bridge should be made. The great
number of heavy teams and vehicles OF
all descriptions, which will be COM
PEELED TO cross the new bridge over the
Christiana, will render foot travel eX
tremely unsafe, unless proper safe
guards, such as we have recon. mended
are provided
In the third place, the building of the
bridge should be let out by contract tt
the lowest and best bidder. There i.
nothing lost in doing this. 1t will give
the building committee of the Levy
Court ample scope to make compari
sons with the different proposals and
they will be enabled to arrive at cor.
rect concl uslon Of the true cost. They
will not necessarily be compelled tc
give the contract TO the lowest bidder, i
he is not responsible bidder, but they
will still have sufficient latitude left
for the exercise Of proper discretion
In ali probability there is not a manu-
factory Of bridges in the country that
can compete with the Edge Moor Iron
Company in making the cheapest, best
and most durable bridges, but letting
out the building Of the bridge by con.
tract, need in no case shut out the Edge
Moor Iron Company, as whoever may
estimate for the building of an iron
bridge will want the estimate of the
Edge Moor Company. The onl y differ
snce between this plan and the plan
adopted by the committee that built
the Eleventh street bridge, will be that
the committee will choose from
amongst those who propose to build
the bridge, the one they think will dc
it the best and the cheapest and in TIE
least time instead of directly entering
into a contract for building the bridge
without inviting competition.
In the fourth place, the bridge should
be conveniently located TO suit the
great increasing trade of the South side.
Third street bridge in the estimation OF
man y business men is too high up the
stream. Fourth street is more direct
route to the south side, but bridge at
that point would materially interfere
with the landing Of steamboats, at the
Fourth street wharf A point between
Third ard Fourth streets might answer
The purpose better. In no case shoul d
The old Third street bridge be torn away
until the new ole is ready for travel.
A repetition Of crossing in row boats is
not desirable, and there is not even a
railroad bridge to cross on, should the
old bridge be torn away.
To sum up, the bridge is needed, the
old one having become unfit for use.
The best bridge is wanted with every
VA fe guard and convenience for foot as
well as other passengers. The build.
ing of the bridge should be let out by
contract aud it should be finished before
the cold weather sets in.