The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-06-12
PIKE ToWKsaIP BRIDGE.
PLYNOUTH, June Q, 1884

understand Lyon counsy proposes to
erect bridge across the Cottonwood
river somewhere In Pike township this
year Two places have been petitioned
for, one at or t1sar the Stout BIOS. q
Co.'s mill; the Othsr Gt or near the
Chase county line. Az signed the petit
ton for bridge In the upper end OF the
township and am using ny influence
that way propose 70 set forth few
reasons why We ought 70 have bridge.
LIST, the Lockermsn bridge is located IN
lower end of the township. I'd, Stout
Bros. & Co.'S mill is only ~ miles west
of the LockermAn bridge. We think
that is too close for another bridge, d
least for the present. We think best to
scatter them at present and build IN be-
tween by and by. Sd. the ford ct the
mill is the shallowest and best IN Pike
township, while all the other lords are
deep, caused by the back water from the
mill dam. The so-callOd mill faction
is demanding the county TO, erect
bridge one and three fOurths miles west
Of Lockerman bridge, and right over the
shallowest orOssingln the township. We
admit that II IL big thing, but fail to
see 1t from their standpoint. Some of
US have been swimming the old Cotton
wood for nearly twenty-five yeara, or
else had ID 60 eight or ten miles out OF
our way to bridge, or boat oyer and 60
on foot, which is neither very pleasant
nor interesting. IhAys sWum It often
BY taking . Wash-tub and putting my
clothes in acd pushing the tub ahead OF
me across the river. can do that very
comfortably In the summer season but
it wears on the constitution in winter
weather.
The mill faction seems TO desire that
as long as We have our hand. In swim
ing We had better swim on eight or ten
years longer at least, and then, perhaps,
we will get bridge. That il not very
consohng. F0Eebears&nCe will cease
to be virtue sometime. They say, "Oh,
there is not enough travel on your road
to justify the county in erecting a
bridge" g..
Please let me inform the readers Of
THE NEWS the reason why we don't
have the travel. Il is because the river
is past fordIDg from one half to two
thirds of the time. Furnish us with q
bridge and then you will see where the
travel comes In.
They claim We used deception In Or
der to induce voters to sign our petition,
by representing that Chase county
would assist in building said bridge.
We deny the charge. Chase county is
not mentioned Il our petition. Where
Chase county was mentioned at ali in
connection with the bridge, We told
them that she had proposed some time
ago to pay her proportion provided said
bridge should be located on the county
line. We supposed Chase would still
do what they had proposed to do. pro-
vided it could be done legally.
The mill faction have remarked to
US that they can't comprehend why
prominent men and heavy taxpayers
living in the lower end of the township
would sign a petition for bridge in
the upper end Of said township. They
do It upon the broad principles Of
right and justice. They realizs
that they are enjeyiDs
the conyeniences OF 9 bridge that We
helped pay for. They are now Wiling
to return the compliment by helping &c
pay fer bridge for our convenience.
1 have been informed that quite .
number Of persons signed both petitions
4 man who has no more mind Of MI
own than that had better apply to thG
probate court and have q guardian ap
pointed. a-t-H
We now propose to leave this bridge
question for the county commissioners d
determine, IN whom We hsve the utmOs
confidence. We don't propose 60 kicl
II they see ft % locate said bridge mill
or two below Chase county line.
Respectfully, OLD GRANGER.