The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-12-08
FREE TRAVEL ACROSS THE
MISSOURI.

The Intelligencer some two weeks
ago stated that one of the best things
the people of Lexington could DO tor
themselves would be to build q pontoon
bridge across the Missouri river, and to
keep it open for passage at a merely
nominal price.
Since then we printed a paragraph
which pointed to the probability OF the
early building of a bridge at this point
by the Atchison, Topeka u Santa Fe
railroad company.
We desire here to show that even II
the latter mentioned bridge should be
made, that the city of Lexington Is
fully as much interested in the con-
struction of the former.
We have nothing here to say against
building the railroad bridge; indeed we
have said much in its. favor in the past,
aud hope to have occasion to advocate
it again in the near future. Certainly,
1t the Santa Fe desires to cross the
river at all 10 make It's st. Louis and
st. Joseph connection, this is the place
at which to do it. But our people
particularly need a wagon bridge across
the river. As a rule railroad compa-
MES do not like to have wagon ways
on their bridges. To put them above
or below the track Is very expensive,
to place them on the same level Is both
dangerous and inconvenient.
These things being true it will be seen
that eveu If we shall secure the Santa
Fe bridge there is grave doubt about
our being able to get a wagon bridge
| with It. This we ascertained when we
were e~ndeavoring to secure the b. q
s. W. bridge. But there is a plan by
| which we q get a wagon bridge, a
good and reliable one and at a reasons
BILE cost, /. O., in a pontoon bridge. AT
! first blush this seems a visionary idea.
| We confess that when it was originally
suggested to US we thought so. Familiar
as we were with the convenience,
strength durability and practicability OF
sven long pontoon bridges in military
| service, still when we heard them spoken
of for the turbulent and rapid Missouri
we had grave doubts. Investigation
aud inquiry has almost If not quite
| removed them from BUR mind, and we
desire to enlist the interest of our people
In the matter.
Is 1t desirable that we should have a
wagon bridge across the rivera We
think the asking of this question
furnishes the reply. For mercantile
purposes Lexington's territory is too
much limited. The semi circle on the
south could, by a free bridge, be duph
Gated on the north. Travel would be
attracted and greatly augmented, aud
every branch of industry or commerce..
and all u professional avocations,
would receive new aid and encourage
ment. We believe this of so much i'm
portanoe rs to justify a very considera-
BILE outlay on the part of our citizens,
but as a matter of fact the expense
would be, comparatively speaking, a
moderate n
Is such a bridge safe and p~raetioable7
Experience. the best teacher, Indicates
that it is. A pontoon bridge has for
years been successfully Iopsrated across
the Rhine between Coblentz and
| Ehrenbreitstein. There il also In oper.
alton a bridge Of the sktnd in question
across the Mississippi river at Prairie In
Chen. More recently, and the occasion
of our writing upon the matter at all,
there has been successfully built and
operated over the Missouri river, at
| Nebraska City, q pontoon bridge which
meets and answers all objections, in
the most convincing way, by proving
to be in everything successful. This
bridge, to bear put our observations at
the beginning of this article. is within a
few yards Of a railroad bridge. 1t has
the largest draw In the world, and is
consequently unobjectionable to steam.
boats; it permits drift to pass easily
and without trouble; the draw Is
opened and closed by the current; the
bridge has two side paths for fooI
travellers, and a sixteen foot roadway
for vehicles; it's substantiabllity Is al
that could be asked.
A crib bridge was made TO v 9
good portion of. the distance; this is
1850 feet long; the pontoon bridge
proper being 1,074 feet. This is
greater stretch than would be necessary
at this point. Both the crib and pom
toon bridges were built within twenty
eight days, and the entire cost of tn
structure was about $4,000.
At Leavenworth and at Liberty thu
people are agitating the matter OF pom
: toon bridges, and so successful has bee
the one at Nebraska City that q som
pany has been formed for the purpos
t of building such bridges across tn
Missouri river. We invite the attention
of the people of Lexington to the sub
! ject, which seems 10 US full OF interes
/. from a business as well as scientifi
: standpoint.
: st. Louis Post. Dispatch 1t Is no,
oarta;p Of. least that CleveIand's Qai