The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-11-18
THE NEW BRIDGES.
Captain Mcclure makes some Statements
Hegaullnc them, HlH n

.IHaF IuL NIN | aN. |
Captain Mcclure makes, some Statements
Regarding them.
An ISTRLLldEScEE representative had
an interview yesterday with Captain
John Mcclure in reference to the status
and prospects Of the Wheeling Bridge
Company's bridgcu across thetwo rivers.
In response to tho inquiry rs to when
the bridges would probably be done,
the Captain said: 81 can only say w6
arc doing the best we can under the cir.
cumatances, You are aware OF tho draw.
backs we have had to contend with,
especially In the putting In OF a main
channel pier. We have had almost con.
tinued high water and bad weather Gince
September Last, which has prevented the
preparing OF tho foundation for this
pier, but NO hope by the first part Of
next month, weather and water per-
hitting, to have the stone work above
the danger OF ice. Further detentions
will prevent tho completion until next
summer
what has been done with the case
in court between your bridge and the
Suspension Bridge Company"
well, ms you arc aware, tho case has
been carried up TO the Supreme Court
at Washington. II it now awaiting ar.
gument Of counsel before the case can
be docketed for trial in that court. We
have no doubt that the result will be In
favor OF tho now bridge.n
"Upon what do you rely for n decision
in your tavorP May you not DO delayed
q long time2n
III this case should fnally be dock.
eted fol. trial, we would simply prepare
for temporary structure by goingronnd
tho Suspension bridge grounds and
using Ohio street until the couttdecidcs
the case. Bythis construction We would
not materially delay thu work nor the
uaing OF the bridge. We will ask tho
Supreme Court Tor the appointment OF
q commissioner, as was done in the case
OF the State Of Pennsylvania against the
Wheeling & Belmont Bridge Company,
whosball be empowered 10 hive ftesti'
mony taken. We expect 10 be fully
able to show tho real necessity OF these
rapid transi! bridges, and ALEC tho great
benefit they win be to the entire com,
munitieg on the two aides OF tho river
We will show by the evidence OF the
government engineers, that no othel
suitable location could DO selected with
in a reasonable distance within the city
owing to the crookedness OF the rivei
channel and the many sand bars neal
the point selected. Tho general ruler
OF the government engineers is to re
qniro pier bridges to be placed in {
part Of the river where all currents run
straight. This is dono for the protection
Of river navigation. We shall expect tc
chow that the present old bridges were
not suitable nor sufficiently strong and
safe for passing owe electric motor cars
at rapid speed. This has been declared
by the old company itself and verified
by It's refusal to let electric cars run over
these bridges"
"iou do not expect 10 materially in
jure the old company, do your"
mo; we have nc such desire. These
bridges were not contemplated as oppo,
sition bridges to the Wheeling & Bel
mont Company'u bridges. nor to any
ferries. They were needed by our com
munity, and We believe We had a per
feet right in justice and law to build
them. We fully expect them to be {
profitable Investment for the stockhold'
ers, and We have Mason to believe from
the great increase OF business that viii
be attracted that the old bridges will also
be profitable to their owners All We
desire and ask is honorable competition
Our bridge grows out Of the necessity Of
the people on the two sides OF tho river
to secure adequate accommodations fol
INSTRUMENTATION, and inasmuch as
the old company could not furnish such
accommodations, We saw that the time
had come for a new and more modern
method. This is all / have to say on the
subject to-day"
Captain, it is said that il you should
be beaten in the trial OF the case your
company would ask Congress- 10 declare
your bridges a post route"
"Ot COURSE We would. Why not? That
was the course pursued by the old COM
pany when the Supreme Court of tho
United States adjudgeg it to be m OBJ.
struction to navigation and an unlawful
structure. The old company saved its
structure by the act OF Congress alluded
to. Our structure is not an obstruction
to navigatiouand has the permit Of the
government behind it as O lawful struct.
ure. Therefore, it would be easier for
us than it was for the old company to
get an &C: OF Congress declaring our
bridges q %post-roule. However, it will
never come to that. The men who in.
vested their money in the enterprise
went TO the bottom Of that Question and
have not the least fear as to tho result
in the Supreme Court. The decision OF
the Court OF Appeals Of West Virginia
will be the decision also of that court"