Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-05-28
THE NEW BRIDGE OPENED.
Jefferson City is Very Proud of An
Enterprise All Its Own-Built
With Local Capital.

| JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, May 21.-The
new bridge, built entirely with local
capital at cost of $3.50, 900, was for
mally opened here this afternoon.
Fully 10000 persons took part in the
exercises.
AT 1880 p. m. the lines began to form
for the march to the bridge. The line
was formed in FIVE divisions. All of
the various beneficial and benevolent
orders in the city were in line. Over
1900 school children marching with
banners and notices was an inspiring
sight. Eighteen bands from various
parts of the State furnished the music
of the march.
Arriving at the bridge the order of
march was broken, and the people
began to enjoy themselves. The best
of order was preserved and not a
drunken man has been seen on the
streets.
Judge James B. CAN'T, of the Su-
preme Court, acted as master of cere-
monies at the bridge, and introduced
the speakers. The following is brief
statement of the proceedings: Ad-
dress of welcome, Mayor Edwin Sill
yer; speeches by Judge Hockaday, of
Fulton, Major John L. Bittinger, of
st. Joseph, and ex- Attorney General
Mcintyre, of Mexico, Mo.
Ground was broken for the Jeffer-
son City bridge May %, 1895, in the
presence of both branches of the Mis-
souri, General Assembly and 10000
spectators. The contract had pre-
viously been awarded to Al. Tullock,
proprietor of the Missouri Valley
Bridge and Iron Works, of Leaven-
worth, Kas., the consideration being
100000. ]. A. l.. Waddell was select
ed as engineer. Changes in plans and
additional cost brought its cost up to
about $3.50, 700, all of which has been
paid, and the stock is all owned by
Jefferson Cityans. 1t was originally
intended to have the bridge complet-
ed by the first of last March, but the
continued unfavorable condition of
the river caused some delay, and it
was not actually opened for traffic
until some six weeks later.
The bridge is constructed entirely
of steel and is known as a low draw
bridge. On this side it is built from
the foot of Boliver street, in the east
ern part of the city, and connects
with the Galloway County side a little
below Cedar City. 1t is constructed
entirely of steel and there are four
double steel cylinder and one pivot
piers. The draw span is 440 feet long,
and the length of the bridge 1,745 feet,
exclusive of an embankment of 1900
feet. The clear roadway of the bridge
is 20 feet, and it is provided with foot
passages and ample protection from
dangers.
The company owning the bridge is
known under the corporation name
of the Jefferson Bridge and Transit
of which Fred II. Binder is
President, and the Directory Board,
all residents of Jefferson City, con-
lists of F. H. Binder, Henry w. Ewing,
Henry j. Dulle, J. w. Henry, W. F.
aoesen, j. G. Fisher, III. F. Priesmey-
'r, DIR. J. P. Porth, Hugo Naming, r.
oallmeyer, w. w. Wagner and A. P.
irimshaw.
1t was great struggle on the part
If Jefferson City to secure the bridge
Ind pay for it at time wnen Sedalia
s threatening to take the State capital
way from them, but the capital re-
noval scheme caught them soon after
hey had obtained charter from Con-
,ress for the bridge, and retreat under
uch fire was impossible. Now that
he structure is completed, it is the
ride of every citizen. 1t places JEFF
erson City in direct connection with
he Chicago g. Alton and the Missouri,
Kansas and Eastern railroads, which,
dded to the Missouri Pacific and the
efferson City, Lebanon and South
Western railroads, removes all obiec-
ions to lack of ample railroad
ABILITIES. The construction of an
iectric line across the bridge, con-
Iecting Cole and Galloway coun-
les, will be the next enterprise COM
'leted.