The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-11-17
TWOFREE BRIDGES
THE 0ATAWISSA BRIDGE PUR--
OAAsED BY THE COUNTY, AND
A NEW BRIDGE TO Be BUILT
AT BLOOMSBURY.
HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

On the a3rd of August, 1899, a pc
tition was presented to the court by
citizens, asking for a free bridge across
the river at Bloomsburg, and on the
same day the court appointed c.
II. Moore, M. c. Vance and
Simon Hons as viewers to report
on the same. On September sIst
a petition for a rule to show
cause was filed by citizens of Catawis-
sa, and the court made an order stay
ing the proceedings of the viewers un-
til September Goth, when the rule
would be disposed of in open court.
An answer was filed by the petitioners
for bridge, and depositions were
taken. Judge c. X. Savidge was
called in to decide the case, by Judge
Ikeler. and after hearing he made an
order continuing the viewers with
leave to file their report on Monday,
October Srd, 1892. On September
goth Judge Savidge filed an opinion
discharging the rule to show cause
why the proceedings should not be set
aside, and on October Srd the viewers
filed their reports IN favor of bridge.
TO this exceptions were filed by the
supervisors and inhabitants of Cata-
wlSsa township, and also a petition for
the appointment of reviewers, and
after some skirmishing between the
parties pro and con, G. W. Ewes, w.
5. Fisher, and G.. B. Hendershott were
appointed reviewers by the associate
judges in accordance with an order of
Judge Savidge. On May I, 1905. the
report of viewers was filed in favor of
bridge, and was confirmed nisi, and
ordered by the court to be laid before
the Grand Jury on May 3rd, which
WAS done, and after hearing witnesses,
, the Grand Jury approved the report of
the reviewers, and recommended that
, the bridge be erected at the expense
Of the county.
; On May 4th, more exceptions were
! filed by opponents OF the bridge, and
r SO it went along from time to time, un.
: til last Thursday, November 9th, when
t Judge Savidge presiding in court with
, the associates, Murphy and Millard
; also on the bench, made the following
{ order
''And nov November 9th, 1903, all
1 exceptions having been Withdrawn in
= open court, and all adverse proceed
ings abandoned, the report Of the re-
! viewers and Grand Jury is approved,
: and it Is adjudged that the said bridge
= il necessary as county bridge, and
that the same is too expensive for the
S township of Catawissa and the Town
I of Bloomsburg to bear, and upon the
concurrent approval OF the same by
. the county commissioners the said
t bridge is ordered to be entered of rec
y ord as county bridge
This ends the fight, and nothing re-
: mains to be done but for the commits
sloners to raise the money and con
J. struct the bridge. 1t has been long
J. struggle, and petitions have been flee
l. before this. The first one was filec
in February 18th, 1882, on which the
y viewers reported in favor of bridge
l. but on the appointment of reviewer!
c an adverse report was made. The
e erection OF the bridge will undoubtedl,
,t be an advantage to Bloornsburg, ano
n it will also be a benefit Indirectly tC
/ the whole county
$ When proceedings were started fo
II free bridge at Bloomsburg, the stock
i holders of the Catawissa toll bridge
n became alarmed, fearful that thei
n property would be deprecated there
d by, and the people Of Catawissa feareC
T. that a free bridge at Bloom and tol
bridge at their place would draw trade
S from there and divert it to the county
n seat. They therefore filed a petition
6 in court last December asking fol
x viewers to report on the expediency o
n taking the Catawissa toll bridge for ;
y free county bridge The court ap
C pointed H. II. Hume, J. w. Hoff
Il man, White Snyder, James Sponen
< berg, A. X. Smith and Peter Hippen
y steel, who filed their report on Sept
a 27th in favor Of taking the bridge, anC
70 fixed the damages to the company a
9 $4,000. On Sept. s7th the Crane
/ Jury approved the report. There
were exceptions filed to the report o
viewers, and the approval Of th'
Grand Jury, and thus it stood unit
November Sth, when the court, Judg'
r, Ikeler presiding, made the following
ii order
lie "And now November 9TH 1898, al
S. the exceptions of the citizens and tax
IS payers and commissioners of SAT-
le county to the report of viewers an
he Grand Jury, and all adverse proceed
ings having been withdrawn and aban