Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-01-14
SPECIAL NEE TING
Of the City Fathers Friday Evening
in the Interest of New Bridge,

to span the Musklngum river at thu
Putnam street crossing
The present structure is fast becom
ing inadequate II Hie(@ants of the in
creasing traffic andshasStles 1t is be
coming worn out and not altogethel
safe for heavy traffic. No immediate
danger is apprehended from the use o
it, but 1t is not in as good condition a:
the heavy traffic demands. 20 t..
Those of the members who were
present were Bachman, Cochlan, ,Blumt
Lambert, Marsch, Loffland. Trautmar
and Pfaff. Mr.. Tinker, of the Cantor
Bridge Co., was present and stated
that he could not give an estimate or
the bridge required unless Council
could tell him what was required. II
was also stated that the weather was
so foggy that it had been impossible
to get anything like an accurate sur
vey.
Mr.. Trautman stated that the COM
mittee did not expect an estimate, bui
wanted an explanation and some ideas
advanced as to what was the best kind
of structure for the purpose.
The opinion of the Solicitor was ask
ed and he stated that he had been in
vesUigating the matter and found that
1t would be necessary for the city tC
issue bonds, and that it would be nee
essary to have vote of the people in
order to get the bridge and Keep the
bond issue in bounds of legality.
Mr.. Tr autman says that the thing tc
do is for Council to get together as tc
tne kind of structure desired and ther
obtain an estimate of the cost.
At this point Mr.. Merydith asked tC
be heard. Permission was granted ant
he stated that he had asked Mr.. Tink
ler to come here with the understand
ing that they were to get up the pre-
liminary plans for the structure anC
that they would do this and it should
cost the city nothing for this part o
the work, but If after an understand
ing had been reached as to the kind o
bridge wanted they were to draw tht
| plans and specifications for the struc
ture they would want pay for the act
ual work they put upon that part o
the business unless they should b.
awarded the contract for building tn,
bridge, in which case they would no
charge for the plans.
that the people whose money would b
spent for the bridge would want tn
committe to furnish them an attrac
tive structure and useful one as well
In his talk he made it plain it woul,
| be well to build so that it would serv
the purpose for years, and that
should first of all be MADE wild
enough to accommodate various kind
of vehicles at ouce. Different kinds c
floors could be used, but he recon
mended that wood be used, as there
a grade at each end of the bridge a
contemplated and wood would be bet
Ter, because it would not be so slip
perry as cement, asphaltum or ston
blocks.
Mr.. Lambert said that as he saw
we are long ways from getting tn
bridge yet. According to the Solfci
tor the people will first have to be cor
vinced that the bridge is needed an
then get the sentiment of the peopl
on the question. And while we ar
about it, it would be well to make
| bridge that would be adequate for tn
needs of the people fifty or a hundre
years hence and one that would in a
probability last that long. He ais
said that it had been a mistake of tn
predecessors in building too small fo
the increasing business of the city
He asked Mr. Tinker if he thought
would be possible to get satisfactor
bridge for $4,000 or $500. The repl
was that he thought it could be had fo
that amount, but after a little consid
Grafton he said that it would probabl
cost 100000 for 32 foot roadway.
Mr.. Tinker asked if there would b
any possibility of operating the draw
with power of any kind.
Mr.. Trautman called attention to tn
fact that they would have to keep up
ferry if they first removed the presen
bridge before building the new one ant
Il at it would be quite an item of ex
pense to do so.
The fact that the people of Lowell
will have to put in draw before loni
led to the Statement that likely tn,
dwaw now in use here could be sold t.
them for the purpose, as probably
could also the iron span in the OLE
bridge here, which are practically ai
good as new.
1t was finally decided to request The
Canton Bridge company to make ap
prOXimate estimates for a bridge Of the
length required with either a "a. 80 oil
SO foot roadway with two footways oI
eight feet wide, the estimate to show
the difference in price for the differnl
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