The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-01-11

Matter Postponed Until the Feb
by large majority, upon his distinct
promise to vote for the purchase of
the Bridge. No politics entered into
the question, for the Democratic can
didate, Mr.. Mcclure, was also pledged
to free bridge.
The retiring members Of the County
Court were men of experience in the
management OF County affairs, free
from all accusation of misconduct,
and would naturally have been eiti-
tied to a second term, but each re-
fused to vote for or express himself in
favor OF the purchase of the bridge,
and each was retired to make way foi
member who represented the popu
lar judgment in favor OF a free bridge.
This process will go on till the Court
will obey the peoples will.
DELAYS WILL BE COSTLY.
If the Court allows the present term
to pass without buying, it will never
again have the opportunity of doing
SO at the present price. 1t will sim
ply repeat the folly of its refusal to
buy the Clark property at 50, $50,
which was advised, as the bridge pur-
chase is advised, by the men of best
judgment and with disinterested mo-
tives, and which sold at an advance
of 50, 500 in six months. We are as
sured and believe that the Bridge
Company will not again entertain any
proposition for sale after the ad-
tournament of this term of Court.
Is NEW BRIDGE PRACTICABLE?
We believe the talk of new bridge
to be absurd. IL was pretended that
an increase in the County levy was
made last year to create fund to buy
or to build new bridge, but at this
term the Court appropriates all the
surplus to pay off the Court House Or
ders, including that derived from the
extra levy, thus showing the insincer-
lily Of its pretense Of purpose to buy
or build new bridge.
TIE COST OF NEW BRIDGE.
Apart from the certainty that the
Court would have to pay for all dam
ages that the present bridge owners
might suffer by the building of a new
free bridge, near the present structure
(for private property cannot be taken
or damaged for public use without
just compensatory, the cost of new
bridge could not be less than $3.50, 900,
and hence entirely beyond the present
ability of the County to pay. All
plans and locations for bridges over
navigable streams must be submitted
to and approved by the Secretary of
War. The Government has paid to
make the Monongahela River free
from tolls, and contracted for the
building Of new locks and dams, at a
total cost of nearly five million dol
lars, and will never consent that any
bridge shall be built on this river that
will in the slightest degree epdanger
or impedessnavigation, including coal
fleets and barges, which require a
wide stream, free as possible from OBJ
structions, eddies and cross-currents.
The span of the Suspension Bridge is
612 feet, or from shore to shore.
Any other bridge located between
Lock No. 10 and the wharf at Morgan
town, on the opposite side of the river
must be at least as wide. Boats and
coal fleets coming out of the lock,
and boats seeking to land at the
wharf must not be interrupted or en-
dangered by piers within the channel.
No bridge plans have been approved
or bridges permitted to be built on the
Monongahela or Allegheny river since
the Act of Congress of 1890, with a
span less than from shore to shore.
The shortest was five hundred feet,
the longest seven hundred feet.
Major Powell, U. S. Engineer, is au-
thority for this statement.
Mr.. Biglow, Director of Public
Works, of Pittsburg, says, in his re.
port to the City Council, just made
that the Tenth Street bridge over the
Monongahela River, with channel
span of four hundred feet, without
masonry, will cost $3.50, 900, and if the
span Is made from shore to shore will
cost 800, 600. This includes nothing
for rights of way, masonry or APP
proaches, and is for an ordinary wagon
bridge.
THE PRESENT BRIDGE GOOD ENOUGH.
1t is in better repair, except as to
flooring, and safer to-day than when
first built. The floor beams were put
in new last fall, and a new floor
should be laid next spring. The ma
sorry is of the very best. The cables
have been cut and spliced and strength
ened by the addition of ten tons of
steele rope. 1t has carried one hun
dred and thirty head of cattle at one
time within the year, Weighing at
least 65 tons, without strain or sign
Of injury. 1t is no older than the
bridge at Fairmont bought by the
County and made free, and is in every
way incomparably better structure.
ITS VALUE INCREASING EACH YEAR.
The increase in travel and in rev.
enue is steadily adding to the value,
and consequently to the price which
the County must pay, if it ever ac-
quires title, by purchase, or condem-
nation. Delay is unwise, will prove
expensive and is unjust to clearly
expressed public sentiment. Will the
Court ignore the will of the people,
and repudiate the pledges of at least
two members Of that body?
Jan. 5th, 1899. A TAXPAYER