The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-30
THE NEW BRIDGE PROJECT,
About It's Lucation-ThS Free Toll idea,
..-. II Means business.


II Means business.
A great deal OF public interest Is ex'
pressed in regard to the projected new
steel bridge over the river, Everywhere
yesterday 1t was one Of the leading top,
les Of conversation, and on the Island,
especially, 1t was discussed with eager
interest The hope was very generally
expressed that the free toll proposition
might DO carried into effect, There Is a
great deal Of curiosity about the bridge,
Everywhere questions as 10 Its location,
the outlook for its construction, the aim
Of its projectors, were heard.
One Of the leading spirits In the pro-
jeCt said yesterday that the bridge would
be built, and that, too, before any great
lapse Of time. II there are no draw.
backs, said he, the structure will be com.
pleted ready for use by January /, 1890.
The bridge Is 10 be located at the alley
known as Market alley, north Of
Eleventh street. The company has an
option on the building next north Of
this alley, which Is expected to be used
as the starting point. On the Island the
bridge will not occupy Ohio street, as
the plans originally proposed, but mere
ly the north sidwalk on Ohio street, the
bridge occupying the property next
north Of Ohio street.
The Company's proposition ag TO free
toll for foot passengers, TO be submitted
to the Council committee, Is that the
city guarantee q lump sum, say $1,000
per annum, In return for which all foot
passengers would beallowed to pass over
free. They have proposition from the
two street car companies to pay for the
crossing Of cars, $4,000 per annum, for
a period OF thirty years. II the city
would guarantee $1,000 a year, this
would make an assured INCOME at the
start OF $lS,Q09, which Is the interest at
| Q per cent on 100000. Besides this, the
company would haYe the income from
YehjlleS Of all kinds. With prosperity
thus assured the bridge could easily be
bonded, II necessary but tho stock
would be taken with such ayldity as to
make II unnecessary to issue bonds,
Col. Merrill, U. s. Engineer In Calef
In charge OF the Ohio river and its
tributaries, has been consulted by the
company as 10 the Back river bridge 10
Etnayille, aud he informed the repre-.
sentatives who called on him thatthe
law as to tho elevation and length Of
span Of bridges over the Ohio did not an,
ply TO thatpart Of the rlyeH
The law requires the channel span 10
he at least 800 feet long, and 10 be al
least forty feet above high water. The
Government has always taken the high
water marks OF '32 as extreme high
water, but to be absolutely beyond cavil,
the bridge company has designed and
figured on a briHge forty feet above the
high water marks OF 1884.
Capt. John Mcclure told an INTELLl.
GINGER reporter last evening that some
time ago leading officials Of the Cleye.
land, Lorain 4 Wheeling Railroad Com.
pany consulted him ID relation to q
bridge to the Island, and said II the peo.
ple OF Wheeling would build a bridge To
the Island, his company would bridge
the Back river at the lower end Of tho
Island and secure station In the Sey-
entA ward Of the cIty. The Company
was willing TO agree to build wagon,
foot and railroad bridge combined, In
consideration Of SECURING cheap, re-.
liable and convenient access to the city
for their freight and passengers.
Whether this plan could now be carried
out, Capt. Mcclure would not express an
opinion.
Surveyors were busy yesterday sound.
ing the river bottom all along the city
front from the water works bar To q
point opposite tho foot OF the Island.
There Is evidently a good deal Of money
being spent in prellminaries, and II, as
many people still profess to believe, this
Is "a grand bluff" 1t Is hard to conceive
why the men whose names are gssoCi.
atel with the enterprise are needlesSly
sluandering funds,
Captain Mcclure said last evening that
II he were interested In the Wheeling &
Belmont Bridge Company, he would
Jump into Council with q proposal TO
accept a lump sum from the city annu.
ally, In lieu Of tolls now received from
the people who cross on foot. Such a
course would DO an extremely popular
step with the Island people.