The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-19
RAYMOND AVENUE BRIDGE
WILL BE REBUILT SOME TIME
DURING THE COMING
YEAR.
TO MEET BONDS AT MATURITY
They Appropriate SI5O,OOO for
Those Falling Due in ISS7-Ad-
journed TIL Monday.


estimate yesterday afternoon The
special order for the day consisted Of
the second item, appropriating $3.50, 900
for the redemption of the bonds ma
turing in 1897, and the nineteenth item,
providing $4,000 for the bridge fund.
The committee discussed the second
item for about half an hour and de-
cided to adopt it. Subsequently Presi-
dent Wheelock, of the park board,
offered resolution declaring it to be
the sense of the conference committee
that the common council should take
steps to refund the bonds. The resolu-
ton was laid over until the committee
had acted on the nineteenth item, when
vote was taken to ascertain the
sense Of the committee on the question
of paying or refunding the bonds The
resolution was lost by vote of five
to four, Messrs. Wheelock, German,
Rundlett and Mayer Doran supporting
it, and Messrs. McCardy, Bement,
Bigelow, Kerwin and Horst voting
| against it,
In the course of the discussion over
the advisability of refunding the bonds,
Mr.. Bement, the president of the water
board, said that the water board would
be willing to invest its sinking fund in
the bonds.
The committee then proceeded to the
consideration of the nineteenth item
appropTiating $4,000 for the bridge re-
pair fund. AID. Allard's resolution was
read, requesting that the sum of $30, 700
be included in the tax estimate for the
purpose Of building a steel bridge on
Raymond avenue.
City Engineer Rundlett said that the
present structure was a wooden bridge
which was patched up last summer in
order to render it safe. A new bridge
was badly needed, and the city engineer
hoped an appropriation would be made
for new bridge.
Mr.. Rundletts report recommended
that the new bridge be APT feet long
and A feet in width, containing 2S-
foot roadway and two 8-foot sidewalks
Such a bridge would cost, according
to Mr.. Rundlett's estimate. s57, 600, OF
which the railway companies share
would amount to $4,000.
President German, of the board Of
public works, in reply to Comptroller
McCardy, said that he thought property
could be found which would be bene-
flied by new bridge, and could, there
fore, be assessed
Comptroller McCardy said that the
sum of $4,000 was placed in the 1896
estimate for the Raymond avenue
bridge and that nearly that amount
had accumulated in the city treasury.
| Mr. McCardy believed that property
could be found benefited and that II
would be we'll to ascertain how much
/ 1t could be assessed,
Aid. Allard then addressed the com
m1ttee. He said that there was a
great amount of heavy teaming over
the present wooden bridge, which was
| nothing more than an aggregation of
patches. OF the sum contemplated
| there was $4,000 on hand and the
Northern Pacific and Minnesota Trans
Ter railroad companies could be as
sessed for about $4,000, making $26, 800.
ID. L. Polk, resident of ST. Anthony
Park, said that the citizens of st. An
| thony Park did not think that their
property ought to be assessed for what
they regarded as an improvement ben
| efiting the entire public.
comptroller McCardy contended that
the citizens of that locality ought to
get together and agree to stand an as
sessment.
City Engineer Rundlett then moved
that $4,000 be appropriated for a new
bridge, which, with the $4,000 on hand.
would be sufficient to build a narrow
bridge, but If the people wanted
| wider bridge, the additional cost could
be raised by assessment
Aid. Bigelow offered as an amend
ment that $15, 900 be appropriated
President Wheelock, of the narl1
board, thought it would be a great
mistake to make a small appropriation
and build a narrow bridge That mis-
take had been made in the case of
| the Como avenue bridge
| Mr.. Bement thought the railway
Ifa ~ -
| feet wide.
Aid. Bigelow then Withdrew his
| amendment, and substituted as an
| amendment that ST, 800 be appropriated
| Tor the Raymond avenue bridge.
Comptroller McCardy offered a fur
| ther amendment, providing that. if the
! bridge cost any greater sum than S27,-
! o0O plus the $4,000 for which the rail
roads will be liable that the increased
| cost shall be paid by assessment of
| the property benefited
The motion as finally amended was
| then adopted, and $17,50O appropriated
fcr the Raymond avenue bridge
City Engineer Rundlett then called
| attention to a number Of other BRIDGES
tnat require attention next, year in the
| way OF repairs. He first mentioned tha
| University avenue bridge, (which needed
painting and the floor of which should
| be renewed. The cost Of such renairs
the engineer estimated at $18 600. The
nigh bridge also needed painting and
the floor required repairing, the cost
| OF which repairs would amount to 81
zoo. The Robert street bridge ought to
| be painted, which would cost 81. 400.
| painting the Lafayette bridge would
cost $500; repairing and painting the
| Westminster street bridge. 81. 900:
repairing and painting the Rice
street bridge, $4O0; palnting Men
dota road bridge, $3.50; repairing the
| MENDOZA arch bridge, $500; repairing
| and rehooring the Decatur street
| bridge-a most necessary Improvement
| $500; repairing floor ana painting
Wabasha street bridge, $780,
| The city engineer recommended that
the Western avenue bridge be closed.
MT .Bement moved that the estimate
| of $4,000 for the bridge repair fund
be increased TO s25, 600.
| At this juncture Aid Bell dronned
In and made another plea for an appro
| priat1on for the widening of the south
END OF the Wabasha street bridge IN
| stead of asking for $4,000, Aid. Bell
| suggested that only one-third of the
| amount be placed in the estimate for
| 1897. The remainder OF the fund neces-
sa:y could be provided for in 'sS and
| 1899.
| Mayor Doran Thought that IL no lew
was made for the redemption of the
| Sl50,0 worth Of bonds that at least
| $4,000 ought to be put in the estimate
4 for the widening 0f tho Va e+~aot