The record-union., 1896-09-12
MORMON ISLAND BRIDGE,
II is Condemned and a New One
Ordered.
Residents in the Vicinity CT the New
Hope Bridge Will Obtain
Some Relief.

The Board Of Supervisors met yester-
day, all present, and Morrison preSId-
ing.
Henry Ehrhardt, Peter CLAIM and
others appeared before the board In ref
erence to the Lower Stockton read
where it crosses the Mokelunne River
at Benson's Ferry.
Mr.. CLAIM addressed the board in re-
lation to the road between the bridges
put in there last year. He stated that
the approaches to the bridges were SO
steep that loaded teams could not get
up them 1t would need 500 feet Of tres
tie in one place and 100 feet in another
and when that was put in the residents
of that portion of the country could use
the road every day in the year. The
new bridges are fine ones, both the lum-
ber and the construction being first
class, there being no finer bridges any
where In the State, but until the ap-
proaches are heightened they cannot
be used to advantage.
Chairman Morrison asked if, in case
one of the low places was fixed and
shorter trestIe put in, it would not do
for this winter, and Mr.. CLAIM said 1t
would help considerably, but would
not be exactly what they wanted. They
would like to get to the river, which is
navigable stream, to ship their grain.
He had lived there thirty-fve years
and put into the county treasury over
$50 600 in taxes, and many of his neigh
borS who We're heavier taxpayers had
done more than that, and he had been
living all that time in hopes of getting
a good road to the river. Years ago the
ferry at Bensons used to take in from
$50 to 500 a day, and if the road was
fixed now the same state of affairs
would exist.
Messrs. Ehrhardt and Christianson
spoke to the same effect. The boats
could come up within about half a mile
Of the bridge at Benson's known as the
New Hope bridge, but they could not get
to the boats very we'll with their pro-
ducts.
Morrison said he would favor doing
part of the work, but the board did not
feel able to do all that was asked as 1t
had not the money. The approaches to
the bridge should certainly be fixed, and
some more work could be done, but not
all. The road funds are getting into
better shape than they were some years
ago, and the board did not wish to get
back into shape that would be embar-
ever it could each year to help them out,
and hoped in two or three years more
to have the road in good shape.
Jenkins said the road was in his dis
trict When he became a member of the
board the district road funds were in a.
deplorable condition, and on his motion
$1,000 was transferred from the gem
eral road fund to the district road fund.
The city members instead Of combln-
ing against the country, as had often
been the case in past years, had done all
in their power to aid in putting the
country roads into condition, realizing
that whatever benefited the country
also benefited the city. Both he and
Supervisor Curtis appreciated that fact,
and felt that their thanks We're due to
the city members for all they had done
in this direction
Morrison moved that the County Sur
veyor be instructed to make a survey
of a grade to the first bridge, and also
for filing in the inclines Of the ap-
proaches. So ordered.
Frank Baumgartel asked that some
thing might be done for the road below
Freeport along the Beach ranch. 1t is in
bad condition. and is badly cut up and
dusty, and some accidents have hap
about 900 feet on which the road Is not
wide enough for two teams to pass each
other without the wheels on one side go
ing partly down the bank with great
danger of upsetting. 1t would cost, he
thought about $500 altogether to fix it.
The matter was referred to Supervisor
Jenkins. to examine into it and report
to the board.
In the afternoon a communication
was read from the Supervisors of El
Dorado County suggesting that the
board of Sacramento County advertise
for a new bridge over the South Fork of
the American River near Mormon
Island and let the two boards be pres
ent when the bids are opened.
Curtis said the first thing to do was to
condemn the bridge. He moved that
the board condemn it. Carried.
The Clerk was directed TO advertise
for bids for the construction Of a steel
or combination bridge, with plans and
specifications, strain sheets, etc, and
the FL Dorado Board of Supervisors viii
be present at the opening of the bids
and arrange for the portion of the ex-
pense each county will sustain in the
construction. The bids will be opened
on the 2Sth inst.
for assistance in making out the assess
ment roll, owing to the complications
and extra work incurred through the
five per cent. raise Of the roll by the
State Board Of Equalization. He said
the job was very complicated one and
needed thoroughly competent men. The
roll should be completed by October 9th,
but he did not think 1t could be done by
that time. He would need four assist
ants for a month. The mortgages,
money and solvent credits must all be
deducted from a mans assessment be-
fore the raise could be added, which
would result in raising the assessment
on his remaining property from I to 10
per cent. AS only qualified men can do
the work, and it will be hard, steady
labor, he throught that the salary
should be 500 a month.
Todd said he did not see how the
beard could avoid granting the Audit
or's request. as ii was necessary that
the work be done Immediately.