Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-23
TALK OVER BRIDGE MATTERS
Illinois Central Agrees to Maintain Wagon
Way Over the Missouri,
SIMPLY ASKS AN EXTENSION OF TIME
Council Inclined to Withdraw ObJec-
ton 20 Bill in II IL IL
Amended in Manner
Suggested.

With a view Of securing an expression
from the city council f~avoring an extension
OF time for the Illinois Central railroad in
which to complete the rebuilding of Its
bridge across the Missouri, J. r. Webster
Of Omaha appeared yesterday afternoon be-
fore a specially called meeting OF the alder
men sitting as a committee OF the whole.
Attorney Emmett FINLEY appeared on behalf
Of the East Omaha Land company, which
is opposed to any extension OF time being
granted by congress.
The appearance Of Messrs. Webster and
FINLEY before the committee Of the whole
was at the suggestion Of Congressman
Smith. The bill introduced by the Illinois
Central. and which aroused such opposition
here. has been killed apparently in Wash
ington through the efforts OF Congressman
Smith. This bill gave the railroad COM
pany permission to put In an additional
span. abolished the wagonway features and
extended the time for completion to July,
1904. Under it's charter the railroad had
to complete the rebuilding Of the bridge by
July, 1903.
Seeing that this bill would be defeated
Mr.. Webster, on behalf of the railroad COM
psny, suggested a compromise. He offered
to reincorporate the highway clause re-
tanning to the public the wagon road pro-
yided the company was given an extension
Of Ave years in which to complete the
bridge. In his letter to Mayor Morgan ask
ing for an expression OF opinion from the
city council Congressman Smith said:
THE bridge company consents to REIN
corporation OF highway clause OF the bill
provided I would consent to a Ave years.
extension Of time in which to complete 1t.
l was inclined to think that it was best to
accept this offer. l also fully appreciate
that there is much of force in what Mr..
Webster suggests"
After a lengthy discussion pro and con,
during which Mr.. Webster and Mr.. FINLEY
washed over considerable dirty linen, much
to the edihcstion Of the aldermen, Mr..
Webster offered as a compromise in return
for the council f~avorlng an extension Of
time to have the rebuilding Of the bridge
completed by July. 1904. an extension Of
only one year.
Mr.. Webster explained that the Illinois
Central, which now owned the bridge, had
not secured possession and control Of II
until January II of this year, and that
nrior to that time the management OF 1t
had been controlled by the East Omaha
Land company.
TIT aldermen expressed themselves in
favor of approving an extension OF time
for one year provided the railroad company
intended to act in good faith and complete
the reconstruction OF the bridge as con-
templated by the charter by July, 1904,
Mr.. Webster stated several reasons why
1t was almost impossible for the railroad
to reconstruct the bridge by July. 1903, and
limited that II IL was not given the extern
sion TO 1904 1t would in all probability aban-
don the bridge.
At the meeting Of the city council last
| nfohN a HaalIVfNo. -.
f~avoriDg the extension of time to July,
1904, in which to complete the reconstruct
tion OF the bridge, providing the vehicle
and pedestrian privilege features remained
In the bill to be passed by congress. A
copy Of the resolution was ordered for
warded to Congressman Walter 1. Smith
at Washington.