Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-02-26
WANT A TOLL BRIDGE NOW
OWNERS OF THE WINNER PROPERTIES
APrEAL FOR LEGIsLATioS.
Having Induced Congress to Repeal the
Free Roadway CLAUSE, They Now
Ask the state to Give
Them Toll Rights

Attorney Thomas II. Morrow. who is
| the legal representative Of Theodore c.
| Bates, OF Boston and the other suc-
cossors of the old Winner Bridge Com
pany is In jefferson City lobbying for
the law regulating the construction and
maintenance of bridges across rivers in
Missouri In such a way that bridge cor
porations. or other corporations connect
cd herewith, may build and operate toll
bridges across the Missouri or other
streams in the state. OF course 1t is
proposed that the navigation Of the Mis-
souri, and other rivers. which is appar-
entity thing of the past, shall not be
interfered with.
In order To- induce the members of the
legislature to adopt the desired amend
ment Mr. Morrow has been telling them
that Just as soon as authority is given
by the legislature to the men who own
the bridge piers In the river between
this city and Harlem and the rights of
way for the bridge and railroad that
has existed for number of years on
paper to construct and operate = toll
road. work upon the bridge will begin
and 1t will be finished within six
months.
Many people in Kansas City and Clay
county will remember Mr.. Bates visits
to this city, which began about two
years ago and ended after congress was
induced to strike the free bridge clause
from the bridge charter MIR. Bates was
accompanied on two of his visits to
Washington by number of well known
Kansas Cityans. While in this city he
attended meeting of the city council
and went to another meeting In Clay
county. These meetings were held for
the purpose of protesting against the
elimination of the free bridge clause,
While the protest of the city council
was rather weak, the sturdy yeomanry
of Clay county protested vigorously.
They declared that had it not been for
the representation made to them that
free wagon and foot passenger bridge
would be forever maintained the right
of way for the approach to the bridge in
Clay county and for the proposed rail-
road would not have been granted.
The attorneys for Bates and the other
successors of Mr.. Winner and his asso-
cates. in answer to the protests, de-
clared that the men who had bought the
bridge and railway bonds and equities
would build a railway bridge and moth
ing else. They also declared that a
careful examination of the piers of the
bridge had shown them that they would
not sustain free wagon and pedestrian
roadway in connection with the railway
tracks they proposed to put upon the
superstructure. The same statement
was made to the members of both houses
of congress- and 1t induced them to take
the free bridge clause out of the com
pany's charter.
Among those who We're for time
active in opposition to the proposed
elimination of the free roadway clause
was Congressman John c. Tarsney. But
he suddenly became convinced that the
free clause ought to be taken out of the
charter and voted for it's elimination.
His change of attitude toward the free
clause cost him many lawful votes in
Kansas City.