The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-12-27
THE BRIDGE.
The Amendments Passed the House
and Senate.
Bridge VIII be in Process of Con-
struction by June I, 1895.

SlTUCli0n Dy June I, fo0o.
The people Of Jefferson City have
indeed received a Christmas present
of no small proportion in the pass
age of the amendments TO the bridge
charter through congress, by the ef-
forts of Senator Vest and Congress.
man Bland. 1t is now one year and
six months since the construction OF
this great public enterprise has been
uppermost in the minds OF the pso.
pie, and nothing can be more graft.
flying to the friends OF Jefferson City
than the realization at this day that
the construction Of the bridge is no
longer doubtful. The passage of
the amendments to the bridge char
ter absolutely assures to the people
of jefferson City and the state gen
orally the construction Of a highway
bridge across the Missouri river at
the capital of the state. With its
completion the state will no longer
be divided by this stream that has
been a menace to the stranger who
has visited jefferson City for years.
The bridge will land all visitors in
Jefferson City as quickly as if there
were no river.
Under the charter granted it is
imperative that the work should be
commenced by the first day of June,
1895. There is no reason why work
should not be commenced by the first
day of March Of next year. There
is now no further reason for delay
in the matter, and for one we hope
to see it pushed with all possible
speed and vigor. The amendments
to this charter were introduced in
congress on the 10th of December.
On the 18th day of the ssme month
j. c, Fisher left for Washington in
the interest of the bill. On the
10Th of the same month it passed
the senate and on the 22d it passed
the house. The rapidity with which
the bill moved from introduction to
passage is almost unparalleled in the
history Of national Legislation.
The conditions surrounding the
construction OF this bridge, the great
demand for it not only by people
locally interested, but by the entire
state, presented such strong reasons
for its consideration that all obstacles
to the passage of the bill were re.
moved. The opposition of the IA
department and the Missouri river
commission that has heretofore pre-
vented the passage Of this bill, were
forced to get out of the way aud the
result is one that must certainly be
gratifying to every citizen of the
capital. There are many things
that are yet to be done by the peo-
pie, however, before active work can
be commenced. The bonus fund
must be speedily gotten into such
shape where it will be acceptable to
the company that constructs this
bridge. 1t is now one year and a
half since the bonus fund was raised,
and since that time several of the
large subscribers have died and a
few others have removed, while some
have failed. All of this must be
made good, and made good at once.
A public enterprise of such magni-
tude as the construction Of u bridge
across the Missouri river at the capt.
tai of Missouri, hat has been looked
upon heretofore as a task herculean
in its proportions, is still not an
easy one. When it is realized that
ono and II half years have passed
since the enterprise var launched, it
can be easily understood that the
work will have to be pushed with all
possible vigor,in order that tho bridge
will be under active construction by
the first day of June. We have no
doubt whatever that such will be the
case, but we admonish every citizen
who has not yet contributed thut it
is his duty to do so speedily, and
thereby lend his aid and support TO
n movement that will create II new
era in the history of Jefferson City.
When the bridge is built jefferson
c. can be spoken Of as "New
Jefferson City," because, in om judg-
mont, from the time of its compile
ton there will be new life, new
spirit, new enterprise, and greater
prosperity than has ever been known
within the confines Of our city.
When we consider for a moment
that the construction of a Lrilge
across tho Missouri river connecting