The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1899-01-18
A SWING BRIDGE.
RECOMMENDED BY ENGINEER Os-
BORNE, AND WAS ACCEPTED.

N~@@N@N--l
Contract Awarded to the King Bridge
Company, of Cleveland : Will Cost
,s1A5, ,OOO-The Lift Bridge Would Cost
$4,000 to $4,000 More than the Appro-
priAtiOn.
Elyria, Jan. 1.-THE county commits
si0ners were in session here Saturday
and awarded the contract for building
the bridge at Lorain.
1t will be swing bridge planted on
the east bank with one long arm swing
across the 100 foot channel and opening
by swinging down stream only, the short
arm will swing up stream and make a
part of the approach to the bridge, and
will cost $145,OOO.
The reason given for taking this style
Is that the lift bridge would cost $4,000
more than was voted for.
Civil Engineer Osborne, Of Cleveland
to whom was referred the plans bids
made his report day or two ago, He
goes over the various plans and specifica-
tions and finds some objection to the
various lift bridge plans and recon-
mended in favor of bOb-tail swing
bridge. He recommends building the
bridge in a straight line with the via
duct approach on the west side.
A leading lake captain said today 'If
this is the bridge to be put up the build
ing Of it better be deferred for time,
the advantage to the shipping will not
be sufficient to justify it, and nobody
else will be benefited to any extent"
The LOrain Times printed the fellow
ing yesterday:
The people Of Lorain have been in a
constant state Of Indignation ever since
1t was learned on Saturday that the
bridge commission had decided to build
Q swing instead of lift bridge across
the river here. The Times would be sued
for libel II it said half that its reporters
have heard said in conversation every
where upon the subject.
On Saturday word came very indirectly
that the commissioners would meet in
the afternoon to consider the matter.
In fact they met in the forenoon. Steps
were taken to secure an Injunction and
City Attorney Hughes went to Elyria to
see what could be done. The Times held
Its forms open till late hoping to get
word to that effect, but none come. Mr..
Hughs thought then that there was NO
basis on which to enjoin.
Bnt 1t Is still insisted upon by other
attorneys here and by parties who have
given the matter study that there are
still ample grounds on which to base an
injunction. Briefly stated here are q
few Of them:
The commissioners did not accept the
lowest bid, which 1t appears was for q
lift bridge. Here is sufficient reason
alone for action.
1t is said that Engineer Osborn, who
was employed by the commissioners, has
been an emplOye, and is now stock
holder in the King Iron Bridge company.
II this be true here is sufficient basis fol
action.
On the grounds Of extravaganza there
are other grounds. A commission Of 4
per cent or $1,000 is to much compensa.
tiOn to pay the engineer for his advice
and supervision. The price Of the bridge
is to high and readvertising would bring
In lower bids for the same style Of 9
bridge or for lift bridge. The reason
for assuming that this would be so il
that the bridge companies are said tt
have an agreement among themselves by
which each has its own territory and the
others do not under bid 1t in that terri
tory, provided 1t can get the contract
This Is understood to be the King Bridge
Companys territory and 1t bids to secur,
the contract on the best possible tearms
II the present bids were rejected AM
and the companies given to understand
that they must get down to the merits Of
the case, the bids would be very different
as they ought to be. For these an,
other grounds the injunction should b
served.
The taxpayers Of LOrain and LOrail
cOOuty have rights in this matter tina
they do not wish to have ignored.
The people Of Lorain do not want tn
slow swing bridge.
The lake captains do not want tn
bob-tail-swing-One-way bridge.
The vote for new bridge carrie
because 1t was understood a lift bridg
would be put in.
To the Public.