The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-11
THE NEW BRIDGE.
We VIII Probably Have One but Worh
VIII Not Begin for q Year.

We VIII Probably Have One but Work
VIII Not Begin for Year.
On account of the rain the attendance
at the meeting called to discuss the new
bridge Saturday night was not large
as hoped for. The time was consumed
in discussing the sort of bridge desir able
to build.
Jonathan Thomas presided at the
meeting and George d. Hale was secre-
tary.
Edward Wilder, who is at the lead in
the movement, arose and explained the
object of the meeting and advanced his
ideas that a Milan bridge, built of steel
frame and covered with concrete, was
just the thing needed
This called forth a reply from ames
Marshall, who was present with several
objections to the Milan bridge which he
referred to as "a Iath and plaster af-
fair" Mr.. Marshall believed in pat
rOnizing home institutions and thought
that as the best building stone in
the world could be obtained west of US
about thirty-five miles and we had plenty
of unemployed men right here, the best
thing to do was to build stone arch
bridge ninety feet wide, that would cost
100000, and pay for it on the INSTALL
ment plan, fevying a tax to meet the OBJ
legations as they became due.
Mr.. Wilder's bridge was to cost only
$150,O0O, and was to be constructed on an
issue of bonds.
Mr.. Marshall, who had figued some on
a bridge before, Declared that the Milan
bridge would not be safe because the
steel would be incased in concrete and it
would be impossible to get at it to tighten
bolts, as would be necessary at times, and
that some day the entire structure would
go into the river without any warning.
Mr.. Geo. ID. Hale then took the floor
and talked in favor of steel bridge, and
after he had finished S. B. Bradford
rather staggered the meeting by pro-
claiming that neither the city nor the
county were legally able to build a
bridge as both were now bonded to their
fullest limit City Attorney Tillotson
knew this too, and supported Mr.. Brad
ford. MIR. FOUGHT was an objector too.
He paid more taxes now than he could
afford to he said, and while he admitted
that new bridge was needed, he did not
think we could afford to build one now.
The meeting had been called to dis
cuss a bridge, however, and no amount
of legal objection could stop it, SO the
argument went on.
County Treasurer Rodgers was there,
and offered a proposition that if the
county would give him a franchise and
allow him to collect tolls for twenty five
years. he would build them the finest
bridge in the world. Mr.. Rodgers propo-
sitiOn was not accepted.
]. Lee Knight produced figures to show
the city wanted new bridge, and that
twenty per cent of the remaining resi-
dents were with them.
Mayor Harrison then spoke in favor of
a bridge. and Fred Fensky, who is lay
ing the foundation for an addition to To
peka in the bed of the river, endeavored
to head him off by declaring that fhe old
one could be fixed up and made to do.
All this did not accomplish a great
deal, however, and it was finally decided
that Chairman Thomas should himself
be chairman and appoint four others of a
committee to investigate thoroughly and
call another meeting. The meeting then
adjourned
The sense of the meeting was that we
need bridge, that the bonded condition
of the city and county is now such that
no more bonds can be issued without an
enactment of the legislature, and that the
old bridge is a menace to the life of
every person that passes over it