The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-05-21

kept clear of all distractions Of evs-
ry character.
The procession moved promptly at
8 o'clock and marched west on
High tot Washington, north on Wash
ington to Stewart, west on Stewart
to Broadway, north on Broadway y
Main, west On Main to Bolivar, nortI
on Bolivar to the great steel bridgd
where the procession vas dismissed.
HISTORY OF THE BRIDGE.
The interest manifested by The
people throughout Missouri gener-
ally in the opening Of the jefferson
City bridge, that now spans the
Missouri river, was shown. BY. The
large crowd EzT Sls "a
dozens of excursion train from
every section of Missouri. Ths
view of the bridge from tae capitol
grounds cannot be surpassed. This
new structure which is being dedi.
Gated today has been talked Of for
many years, but is now a r~e,liza-
ton. Years ago efforts were made
to induce a railroad company to
build a bridge at this placs-in fact,
a charter had once before beer put
through congress authorizing the
construction of a bride at Jefferson
City, but the hopes of the people
were repeatedly blasted in this re-
spect. Such a bridge as now spans
the Missouri river would have cost
not less than a half million dollars
if built when the bridge agitation
was first commenced. 1t was not
until the spring Of 1893 when g
few citizens of Jefferson City com.
menced to investigate the question
Of organizing a LEGAL company fol
the erection of a bridge. Jefferson
City has always been looked upon as
a political rather than "a business
town, and hence foreign money ha,
never sought this locality. The
people therefore gave up all hope o.
financial aid from abroad and wen,
to work to build a bridge with home
money. A meeting of 4 hundred
citizens was called in the spring o.
1893, at which time an address wal
delivered to them showing the gres'
advantages that would accrue by thu
construction of a bridge across thu
Missouri river, the eliminated cost al
that time being 100000. Accom-
mittee of fifteen was appointed
consisting of the leading and mos
progressive citizens for the purpos,
of raising a bonus of $4,000, which
was to be given to any company
that would build a bridge over thu
Missouri river at this point, accord
ing to plans and specifications pre-
pared. This committee entered
actively upon their work, and by. tn
middle of June, 1868, had substan
TALLY raised $4,000. At that tim
the river had never been sounded
neither had a charter been secured
from congress authorizing the don
struction Of a bridge, o had sn.
Of the preliminaries for the DON
struction Of a bridge been arranged
The next step necessary was theEor
ganization of a company, in oide
to secure a charter. This was dpn
at once, the capital stock being a
first only $4,000, but was increased
subsequently, to 100000. As sool
as the corporation was perfected tn
charter was applied for from con
gress authorizing the constructor
of a bridge v . the Missouri river
This charter was secured and sp
proved by President Cleveland Of
May 8, 1894. Prior to this time
however, ;. A. L. Waddell, bridg'
engineer from Kansas City, Mo.
was employed to make soundings 3
the river and make preliminary plan
for the bridge. Bedrock was fount
at a distance Of about 70 feet
This, of course, determined th,
depth of the piers, which wouIt
have to be sunk 10 feet undel
water in order to reach bedrock
After the soundings had been made
the engineer Of the company pro
ceeded to prepare the plans for 4
bridge structure at this point. When
these plans we're submitted, it was
found that such a bridge as the pee.
pie demanded would cost about $780,
900. Bids were received from va.
rious companies, and the contract
finally awarded to A. j. Tullock, Of
Leavenworth, Kansas, for the build
ing Of a high bridge. Later it was
discovered that il was impossible to
construct a high bridge and that q
charter for q draw bridge would have
to be secured in order to carry out
the enterprise. Through the efforts
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