The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-31
MOVEMENT FOR FREE
BRIDGE IS REVIVED
North st. Louis Business Men
Favor Public Subscription
to Secure Funds.
SAY CHARGES ARE RUIN0US.
Declare That Transfer Rates on
Freight Handicap Trade and
Rctard Growth of
tie City.
Tho North ST. Louis Business Mems As

Tho North 81. Louis Business Mems As
soc'atton has 'akcn 4 stand against The
| bridge arbitrar.' IN defense OF IL. CITY or
the wrst bank Of the river. which tn,
members "f that organization believe il
the true solution of the problem of getting
! rid OF the dlncrca,Ial.
i'ecarnG tha: tho transfer .horrce -,
freight from Etst St Louis To St. Iori.
aIe constant handicap and hindraucc Il
me growth cf the Mound city, the asso
bridge.
Tho association even advocates dup.!.
eating tAe NorlIs Fair subscription To 60.
cure FUNDS for this purpose, il they carno,
u" oo'a!ned in any other way. ]. II. GurG.
Iach' president Of the association. La, the
.o.io"ins TO say on the question:
rr.ot iIes Ii columns have been written and a
% bring about the abo.itlun OF tbc hriig
ufs'I,;s,,.-" "at me St Luis merchant ana man.
SE .uI eE might not only he Tliccd Dr, nm n.I,l
.oo,ns n,Is as 10 freight rates win his East SiTe
s.iDu.s. Dut compete n ore stiCcess;tIIIy vyirL
t .t,ss al other points, but 70 far a. tr.c.ii..i
,ssnIis are concerned. tli. difisrcutiai ~, m q"
a,,,Ise mn go by the Terminal Association in IN
10: ,1A.'sy'As on every pound Of freight br,.,,cbt
''o i-yuis. stil! remains
rra 'I.lia pflNEs franchise secured from Con
ratertsi 's r,, E"us asy' having FOR !ts object 2
the determined ana sIlcS.s,Sti,I NJ me,
s, rs "d ,linl anies AT every step made by il %
criminals on this side VI the river. ON
phasEins tn fact thar the t5wer ~ tic ','i IA
Git,s'rs i.erneates n'arlv evory political. in.
~ u ~ ana social strurrur. Of our CITY
70 gay ut this time that tha CROWN ~ ou-
~ ,pe.snt-r on IN. East side can 10 checked hv
.ns hghi'l,n of the transfer toll would kc an
m. -, - :uirit" Wouil soon lisprore
.b n1e t-'ate Of Fast 81. Louis Is as nxed ~ is
and r!ao can only rebound t5 our my1r
I,, nut 70 say that a free bridge y III not ac-
6ani.I I1e Rr"wth OF -. l<uis would lie a
ue.ial OF a plain problem OF mathematics
AS AS 70 ihs defense made by the Terminal A.-
r... r~.aI,on mat the bridge and terminals COW
,',ai ,'.ai tnttt"ith represent an Investment ~
E,aiiS rnaiiig'hs .; t".!a.s On which IN. cltr os
~ i<puls should pay Interest charges We neei
justice IA tho railroads ccntcrlnt; In ,ni.sgg ~
MAKE the rates to and from their yarie in
some cases MANY miles from the center ~ ,be
city. ana then charge an additional fa-a Tor
deiFery downtown, there is IN the ,lairi ~
~. ~, st Louis ins- tina; should pay an ad-
ditional tarT for freight hauled from Estst :;
jective joint. 80 ''
ADVOCATES FREE BRIDGE.
The city Of Chicago some years ago deter.
mined on forcing ali Iincs running into tho
city 70 elevate their grade crossings. with the
result that millions. many more than the tota!
invested in st. Louis terminals. are being lido!
o 90 '9 9,crs cost OF hose IN Ehca9 and TO-. with
Ssr. cSs H.rrGs, charses to be paid for 10y the mer
,nn-n MneE the railroads first built tc St. louis
rivers bank and a few struggling snack and
II was matter o. nee ssj!y. II notiin: .lse for
them 20 build ilI-lr railroad yarug on that side
of me river There wcr. then no trHrscurfl-
mental ,nats llnss Or COMPILATIONS 4 such which
insde ra'es from Ia. seabOaTI common
points in the Interior. as they have since
Rates then were n combination os locals. which
lhcluhed also the transfer over rivers. tho lat
ter however in nearly, every case bat that or
81 Louis, being gradually absorbed in the
rate Of the carrying road.
Apart from tho economic question: involved
does II not appear humiliat!Hg that st. LOUIS
In having the yards Of the railroads named in
the rata sheet the bas!ns point for rates 10
and from the city?
ST Louis is and a!wavs has been tho Oh
the ratcs 10 and from East -. Louis. and the
latter city. so far the cast eide roads nre
concerned. Will for all time Tu!rlSh the yards
for these roads: but for physical and other res-
turers as rapidly as thia sds II st. louis IL
made the basing point fur rates. However all
the Attempts made to induce the raj roads TO
chalEe the conditions have thus FAR failed.
Nothing 1npossihIe''-it is time 10 call the
blum and be up and doing. II We can't have
n free railroad bridge. let us have til. next
best thing. II Ne have TO go down in our
Build free bridge for vehicles and re1.v-
trians. No better Investment for our peopln
can be made than duplicating our Worlds Fair
subscriptions toward a fund for this purpose.
ter to eecure favorable action from Congress
and work out Some practical plan for its fic-
cessful communication
Its success would reduce the transfer charges
able Ultimately cause the. entire abolition Of
the arbitrary. Nothing will contribute more to
bring us near the million mark. The results
will jurfy the cost.