The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-08-31
Two New BrIdges Needed.

The wooden bridge across the canal on
Columbus street was built about fifteen years
ago. Mr.. John Hoban was then an alder
man and opposed the present bridge, because
he thought it poor one and predicted that
it would be inadequate to the public wants
and soon wear oat. He preferred the Can
ton, Ohio, make of bridges, Us being lighter
stronger and more durable than any other
iron bridge then In use, His predictions
have been verified as to the Columbus street
bridge. II WAS too narrow had no side
walks; was clumsy and cheap, and without,
ornamentation. 1t was as plain and shabby
as some of the cheap structures built here
and there over country sloughs, and gave
the stranger who crossed it from the Rock
Island railroad depot an Idea that Ottawa
was q cheap, one-horse sort Of village.
Recently it has developed its inherent weak.
nesses, FASTENED on by old age and decay.
1t Is wholly inadequate to the wants Of the
public in the way Of room for wagons car
riages, omnibuses, street car travel, and
foot passengers can no longer use it except
at intervals A new and substantial bridge
should be erected in the place Of that old
rattle-trap as soon as possible.
Another bridge is also needed across Fox
river. The structure on Main street is too
Tnr 81 lapnaplo naAa
upon it by the people. East Ottawa has
grown rapidly in the past four or FIVE years,
and has nearly doubled its population since
that bridge was erected. The constant
travel of delivery teams, buggies carriages,
farmers wagons, and its use by the tram
way for hauling clay leaves but little unoc-
cupied space, and probably none for the
proposed street railway. The Main street
bridge is too far south to accommodate the
bulk Of the people Of East Ottawa, for that
street is the southern boundary of the dwell
ing district of the east side. Denizens of
the northern limits of our eastern suburb
are more than half mile north of Main
street, which they must reach in order to
cross the river. If they wish to visit the
Reddick Library, the High School or
churches, which are still nearer the present
bridge they are obliged to 60 full mile out
of direct line. There ought to be bridge
across Fox river, either on Madison street,
at the Clifton, where the space, river and all,
from bluff to bluff, is only about 600 feet, or
on Jefferson and East Pearl distance Of
100 feet more Nature has built a fine
abutment of solid rock on the west bank Of
the river on both these streets, and on the
east is a similar rock landing already made
for the bridge, but a triAe too low. A steel
suspension bridge, firm and durable as the
crock Of ages" could be thrown across the
river, on either street, from the west, at q
cost Of $4,000, and truss bridge for some
thing less. This bridge should be about
thirty feet wide, with two good inside walks
to accommodate travel for the next twenty
FIVE years. This would cause property val>
ues to greatly increase in East Ottawa and
make this delightful portion of our city q
region of beautiful residences. The Street
Car Company would then run straight
track from the Cushman place direct west to
the churches, the post Office. opera house,
and thence west past the two German
churches to the western city limits, dis
lance of over three miles, and thus give i'm
mediate facilities Of rapid and cheap transit
to and from the eastern and western limits
Of our city through the center, to nearly
one-hslf of Ottawas population. J.G.A.
The German Benevolent Society cele-
brated its thirty fifth anniversary on
Wednesday with big picnic at Eagle Grove.
The Turner's were invited and music was fur
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