The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-04-15
The yarres River Free Bridge Bug.
bcor.

bccr.
RICHMOND. Va, April II, 1882.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
On Wednesday the commissioners OF the
James River Free Bridge Company met
and decided TO close the bridge after the
1st OF May, this action being made neces-
sary by the penny-wise and pound-fool-
| ish" policy OF the Councils Of Richmond
and Manchester, who, it would appear,
think that the bridge having once been
| built should, like oar granite hills, stand
| forever without further repairs. Other
wise, the bridge must have been con-
structed TO add TO the already great natural
picturesqucness OF the James river, or rs
an ornamental appendage OF the city as
viewed from CANDLES Hill Park; and
really il does excite the admiration OF tOu-
/ rists.
The whole history OF legislation upon the
bridge by the Councils OF Richmond and
| Manchester, from the issuing OF its charter
/ to the present time, would indicate that the
| bridge never was intended for useful pur-
poses, but solely for the aesthetic purpose
/ Of adding to the beauty OF the river scenery.
Ii was one OF the interventons OF Provi-
dence that upon the day OF the great fire at
the northern end OF the bridge the fire was
not allowed to reach and consume so fruit
| ful a source OF discord between two sister
cities rs well rs thing that, instead
OF being a useful medium OF trade
/ between Richmond and Manchester, is
made by the pcurile management Of the
| Councils hindrance TO commerce, an OBJ
| struction to enterprise, and " snare and
delusion TO persons who have started and
are intending businesses, which are entirely
dependent upon free passage over il, as Is
promised them in is charter. The bridge,
as mt present managed, is not serving 4
practical purpose, a. il Is closed at intervals.
Ii is a standing menace to enterprising per-
sons, who would, il il were out OF the way.
build a bridge that would be open the year
round for a small toll. The proprietors OF
Mayo's bridge, for instance, would put their
bridge in repair but for the standing
nuisance OF the Jamcs-Riyer Free bridge,
so called. The writer knows OF enter
prses that would be started in less than
sixty days that would employ hundreds OF
hands-businesses that would depend en-
tirey upon free bridge-but these busi-
nesses are kept in an embryo state by the
uncertain status OF this bridge. Ii is use
less to argue whose business IL is to
keep this bridge in order. Not one
inch Of it is in Chesterfield or Pow
hatan counties, not one inch In Man
chester. II is entirely withip the corpora
ton and jurisdiction OF the city OF Rich
mond. As well might Montreal be called
upon to keep it in order because Charles
Whitlock is hauling box lumber over II
that came from Canada. While 1t Is a
bone Of contention between Richmond ana
Manchester and Chesterfield county, we
; never hear Of Henrico and Ashland being
: called upon to keep the bridge over Ba-
cons Quarter branch i'm order because peo-
! pie living IN those localities are necessltated
= to cross it in getting to Richmond.
r III any statesman OF the Council would
r to-day post himself upon this bridge he
; would see that the licenses OF 80 out ol
! every 100 vehicles were Issued from the
! city OF Richmond. The pity Is that the
: Commissioners did not order the bridge
which Is such nuisance to enterprise, tc
be closed at once. Now rather than th'
! ,st OF May Is the accepted time. The ne
[ cessities OF the Richmond and Petersburg
| Railroad Company are such that they nigh
! be bulldozed into repairing II. SO COLDER
e an opportunity OF squeezing should not b'
C lost. The buldozing process has beer
!, tried on Chesterfield and Manchester, bu
I such n necessity as now exists with th'
y railroad company did not exist. By al
(; means come down on "thc bloated rsilroa'
: corporation"
t In addition to the localoptlon interroga
: tories, let voters ask candidates for th
s Council mt the next election: " Are you i
!, favor Of making the Richmond and Peter
i burg Railroad Company repair the jane
n River bridge!" Also, " Are You In favo
!, of making Hanover aud Henrico eountie
5 renir the bridge across Bacon's Quartz
y branch?" Again, "Are you In favor
It making the city Of Petersburg pave Byr
70 IsIand5v 'sECONOMY."