The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1891-01-24
THIBODAUX BRIDGE
(ConGaued.l

III AeOO s"~
Mayor was authorised to subscribe a
second sum of $50O0.0 90 in the capital
stock company. and to issue bonds for
an amount would realise that sum. Il
half payable in May, 1857, and the
other half payable in May, 1858, and a
tax of one per zen was levied for two
years to pay those bonds.
At the municipal election held in
1856 the question was submitted to
the voters whether the property in the
town should be assessed to raise the
money requisite to build a bridge,
which resulted in a vote, 143 for the
tax, and tour against the tax.
At the same time, a spirited contest
took place for the location of the
bridge.
One party with iona. c. White, at
IFS head advocated the location which
the bridge now occupies.
The other party with Valmont D.
Terrebonne as its candidate, desired
the bridge to be constructed lower
down the bayou.
The result was that White was elect
ed by a vote of 80 against 10 votes re
ceived by Terrebsnne.
The lew mayor cast his vote for the
location at the present site, which, OF
course decided the issue.
The directors of the company under
the Charter proceeded to make the
necessary preparations to build the
bridge. The Town of Thibodaux
having subscribed ten thousand dol
lars, whilst only nine thousand five
hundred dollars was subscribed out
side, had the controlling interest in
the work.
The contract for constructing the
bridge was given to E T. Durham,
who subsequently after the pillar had
been built and the work well advance
ed threw up his contract. Mr.. Sum-
ner Townsend who was his security,
completed the bridge. Mr.. Burnham
abandoned his contract because he i'm
agined that he was going to lose
money, yet Mr.. Townsend finished it,
coming out some hundreds Of dollars
ahead. The original bridge cost about
$225O0.00 and was made of wood.
Mr.. Gary, the president of the COM
pany assisted the company very mate
rally in it's finances by waiting for the
payment of all the iron work done by
his foundry, necessary to the construc-
ton Of the bridge, until the revenues
of the same were sufficient to renu-
merate him. The venerable George
Boner was bridge keeper until the
was destroyed.
1t was opened for the use Of the pub
lie in the fall of the year 1857. In Oc-
1862 when the Federal forces
General Weitzel came down the
the retreating forces of the
cunfrderat-s under Gen. Alfred Mou.
burned the bridge.
Whether it was fired under orders
of the proper officers has never been
satisfactorily established.
If SO it was a useless and foolish
deed, as the Federals brought pom
with them upon which they
could cross the bayou, being at a low
stage, with as much ease and facility
as they could have passed over on the
If it was fred by unauthorized per-
it was simply an act Of vandalism
that marks the roads ~traversed by
Ill retreating armies. War is simply
The Federals immedi-
ately proceeded to build a bridge solid
over the stream, by driving piles in
stream, between the pillars.
When the Federals were driven
from the Lafourche in 1868, they at
to burn the bridge, but were
so closely pressed by the Confederates
that they did not succeed.
In 1865 when Peace was proclaimed,
he stock holders were unable to re-
build the structure, and it remained
rec to all passers, but was not very