Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-16
NEW BRIDGE IDEAS.
Something Regarding the History Of
Free Toll Movements.
DIFFERENT PLANS ONCE TRIED.
The Matter Carried Into the Courts but
Suddenly Dropped.
A MASS MEETING is NOW SUGGESTED

The old question of free bridge for the
Southside is being again agitated, il is
hoped by its friends, with more prospect OF
success than attended the efforts Of those
who have heretofore labored in vain to ae-
complish the end desired. In this regard
it may be interesting to note what has al
ready been done with a view Of giving the
Southside free bridges, and the result Of the
different moves in that direction that the
present agitators may profit by the ex-
| perience OF the past and not 60 over the
same ground. There is probably no other
man on the Southside 50 fully acquainted
with the bridge question in all its details as
ex-Couneilman Terrence Murphy, Of the
TEenty-eighth ward. Mr.. Murphy has q
book at his home containing clippings from
the papers. which give full account Of the
campaign he championed in the interest Of
free bridges in 1856.
THE FIRST MOVE MADE.
The subject was FIRST preached in
"a letter written by Mr.. Murphy to the
Mail Pouch department of The DISPATCH.
1t appeared October %, 1885, and reads a.
follows:
To the Editor OF The Dispatch;
There is no city in the United States divided
Dy river Wnero the cltlZen mas 70 pay 70 travel
from one part Of the city TO another exceps
PIttsburg. In no other would such an imposi-
rion be allowed to continue. The city Of C1eve-
land, at an expense Of IS, 10000 built its large
viaduet uniting East Cleveland with the city
proper Chicago is cut In two BY streams Of
water, but all the bridges are free. Only in
Pittsburg, which has so large population Of
Workin0men, is there . tax imposed on
foot passengers within the city limits.
Parties to secure votes have promised free
bridges. Candidates for city office have asked
,IoIr hat H..
righted Yet when the election was over, all
such promises remained unfulhlled 4belieVe
it is possible to compel the Panhandle Bridge
Company to comply with the ordinance Of the
city and put on a footway for free travel
also believe that the law will give to the city
of Pittsburg the right TO take possession Of
and open to public travel the foosSays
street bridges by paying fair price for such
privilege am told this is the law and pro-
pose, by the aid Of all interested In the ques--
ton, to test it fully in the courts. 1t is Ger
tainiy shame that this should continue lon
ger. If the city authorities had not been sub
servient to corporation influences. this unjust
tax would long since have been re- rem2Tsd; %Ts61
P1TTsBURG, October "a 1885.
A FREE BRIDGE COMMITTEE.
Following this letter, with its promises,
a Free Bridge Committee was appointed by
Councils to see what could be done in the
matter. In turn an opinion was asked nom
CITY Solicitor Moreland as to the power Of
Councils to compel the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company to put free foot walk over
the Panhandle bridge. The Solicitor de-
cided against such action, on the ground
that section of the ordinance provided for
the acceptance Of the terms by the COM
pany, which was never done. He further
said that the bridge was entirely out of the
HANDS of the city, and as much private
rropartv anw mqn,a dWalliuo-
A conference was arranged, 70 have met
August %, 1885, TO ask the directors Of the
several bridges to allow passage free to pc
destrians from 5 to o'clock mornings and
evenings.
COULD GET no QUORUM.
A quorum Of the committee could not be
obtained, and this move fell through, with
nothing but talk as the result
In January, 1886, Mr.. Murphy carried
the agitation into the Court of Quarter ses-
sions, presenting bill for the eondemna-
ton Of the Smithfeld street and other
bridges within the city limits. The plan
recited in the bill was that
the southside should pay $4,000
annually to the Emithkeld street
corporation as rental for the bridge When
Mr. Murphy ran again for Councils he was
defeated, and here the agitation ended
THE COST OF ONE BRIDGE
DIR. Hostetter, speaking at that time Of
the Smithfeld street bridge, said it had cost
$3.50, 900. This company was not the only
one fought; the Point, Tenth street ana all
of the bridges across the Allegheny and
rivers have been like bones
Of contention at different times.
A prominent resident Of the Southside,
speaking of the free bridge question to .
DISPATCH reporter, said: 'iIf this talk
would not end in nothing more, I might
have some faith in the move. This idea Of
. little blow ard bluster to no end does not
help matters II people would bear this
talk in mind when Councilmen were elected,
and
MAKE IT AN ISSUE,
we should soon see something definite. /
zee by an evening paper that one man says
the East End has always had the
lions share in the benefits acoru.
ing from. annexation. In my mind
The Southside is good deal to blame itself
for this. They don't ask for what they want
and stick to it until they get it, like other
portions of the city. Let something definite
be done. Let mass meeting be called and
! free bridge committee appointed TO stick
% the question until . solution Of Il d
iound."