The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-03-27
The Confluence Bridge.

From the Uniontown News-Stancard
Squire Butler and T. Show, of Henry
Clay township, were in town Tuesday in
search of information concerning the pro-
posed bridge over the Yough river at
Confluence. They are of the opinion
that the bridge should be bnilt imnedi-
ately and claim this view is held by all
residents in the vicinity of Confluence.
both on the Fayei;e and Somerset sides.
Ii now appears that Somerset county is
SO anxious to have the bridge built that
they are willing to concede the disputed
point about the portion of the work 10 be
performed by each county. They first
maintained that the statutes prevented
them from building farther than the
county side at Confluence, and at the
meeting of the two boards of commits
sioners at Confluence To consider the mat
ter the Somerset commissioners held that
they could not build more than the abui-
ment on their side of the river. The Fay
cite commissioners, unwilling to enter
into any such arrangement. decided to
let the matter drop. The matter was car
ried into the courts of Somerset county
and il was finally agreed that Somerset
county could build half the ge.
Squire Batter and Mr.. Show say the
court of that county has made an order
directing that the commissioners buiid
their share OF the bridge as soon as an ar
rangement can be made with Faye;te
county.
The question of the construction of the
bridge passed The courts of both counties
several years ago. The petitions were
presented and the grand juries and courts
passed fsvorably upon them. Somerset
refused 10 build more than the abutment
and the matter was dropped. Several
times since attempts have been made TO
revive the question bat nothing was done
beyond the action OF the courts until this
year when Somerset county ordered the
commissioners 10 proceed with the con-
straction Of the bridge
The residents on both sides Of the riv-
er think the Fayette commissioners
should proceed with their part OF the
work and Squire Butler and Mr.. Show
came over to see what was going To he
done. They consulted attorneys rs to the
law ON the subject. They think the com-
miss;oners should be compelled 10 act,
bat the attorneys cannot find anything
in the Law TO compel them to do 50.
The commissioners are willing TO act
but they claim they can do nothing until
the matter goes through the courts again.
The old petition which was fIvorably act
ed upon several years ago is of 10 force
because the site for the bridge has been
changed. The residents on the Fayette
county side of the river VIII prepare
petition which will be presented 10 the
June grand jury and if approved the
court viii appoint viewers. They can
get their report ready for the September
court.
:. L. Shober, county commissioner, and
Attorney J. q. Oglo were over from Som
erset yesterday in consultation with the
county commissioners on the Confluence
bridge matter. They examined the court
records bat failed % find az order OF court
instructing the commissioners to build
the bridge. They finally agreed that the
best plan 10 be pursued is that adopted
by the Fayctte commissioners of a new
view. Somerset county will likely adopt
this method of solving the problem. II
is altogether likely that petitions will be
presented 10 the courts of both counties
in June.