The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-19
PEOPLE ARE TIRED
E Eighth Avenue Bridge Con-
trOversy Still in Tangle.
Mayor Says He VIII Refuse to
Sign Contract.
THEY WANT TO KNOW
Residents in the Vicinity Grow
ing Impatient.
No Likelihood of the Bridge Be-
ing Built Soon.
THEY WANT TO KNOW

Unless the city council instructs him
to do so. Mayor Bergundthal will refuse
to sign the contract with the Midland
Bridge company for the rebuilding of
the East Eighth avenue bridge because
the company has inserted in it the pro-
vision that they shall have until Janu-
airy 81 to complete the work. Mayor
Bergundthal thinks this is too long a
time to give the company.
At the council meeting Monday night,
Mayor Bergundthal will ask the coun-
Gil whether it is its desire that he
should sign the contract giving 40 days
time after December 20, or whether the
council will proceed to take home legal
steps to secure the $50 forfeit which the
bridge company has posted, and let the
contract to somebody else.
1T does not seem to me the bridge
company needs until January 81 to
complete that bridge said Mayor Ber-
gundthaI today. I'VE let the contract
a long time ago, and while 1 know that
special timbers such as are needed to
do the work. are very hard to obtain,
still it seems to me that the company
might be BILE to hurry the job up lit
tie. 1t will take only a few days to do
the work when the material comes.
"On the other hand. If we declare our
contract with the Midland company for
fcited. we may be delayed even more
by the move. The man who. takes up
the work may have to go through all
the difficulty to get timbers that the
Midland company is going through"
why can't the city build a temper
airy bridge for foot passengers at Eighth
street, and thus accommodate the peo-
pie living in that part of town." was
asked.
II talked the matter over with the
street commissioner, and we decided
that If the city should build a tempo
rary crossing, it would not be safe, and
If any accident should happen, then
the city would be in for damages sure
keep people from going on the bridge
at all, we are comparatively safe from
damage suits. do not believe that Mr..
Roberts, who was hurt at the bridge,
done its part toward warning him of
the dangerous condition of the struc-
ture."
BRIDGE COMPANY'S LETTER.
The last letter from the Midland
Bridge company, enclosing the contract
signed by the officers Of the company,
sets forth its position in the matter. 1t
was written to the city clerk when he
sent the company copy of the resolu-
ton passed by the council giving the
company till December 20 to sign the
contract and until January L to COM
mence work on the structure. The let
ter is as follows:
I'VE have copy of the resolution pass
ed by your city council on December 8,
and note their action in the matter of
our repairing your Eighth avenue
bridge. If the matter of getting this
material for this bridge was within our
control we could assure you that we
would begin work on the bridge by jan
uary 1 next, but it is not. AS before
stated the order is placed and we are
promised a shipment just as soon as
cars can be gotten by the mill. There
is a great shortage Of cars all over the
country and it seems to take a long
time to get cars.
I'VE enclose contract signed in dupI-
cate by us and we will be pleased to
have you have these copies signed by
your proper city officers and return US
one copy.
I'VE have made the time of compile
ton 40 days from December 20, and will
try to complete the work within that
time, but should we fail on account Of
pect an extension of time. The iron for
this bridge was shipped few days ago
and should be in Topeka now"
PEOPLE GETTING MAD.
Naturally the people living on tho
other side Of the Eighth avenue bridge
are feeling very much aggrieved at the
delay in reODening the bridge for
traffic tt makes it necessary for them
to go several blocks out of their wav
to get to town-or else swim the creek.
For a time they were able to tear down
the barricades which the city built to
keep people off the bridge. and cross
Ine suSdIH On what remains OF Ihe
structure. This is unsafe. as was
proven by the case of Mr. Roberts. who
walked off into a hole and fell 25 feet
to the bottom of the creek bed. After
that affair the city built a couple Of
barbados which We're considerably like
forts in solidity of construction and diff
ficulty of access. This blocked the way
so effectively that all the people in that
end of town devote a certain number
Of hours each day in abusing the CITY.
The State Journal is in receipt of nu-
merous communications from these people
from which the following are selected:
state Journal: Would it be asking
too much of you to ascertain why the city
authorities do not put the East Eighth
street bridge in repair? This bridge
was put out of use shortly after the flood
not the Noah food but the 'May-June'
flood East Eighth street is an Important
thoroughfare, with pavement TO the
bridge, and the political precinct which
is Inconvenience and cut off from the