The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-25
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 Digests What You Eat
BRIDGE IS PROBABLE
PROSPECTS FOR ONE ACROSS TEN- NEssEE FLATTERING.
Large and EnthusiastIc Mass Meetins Considers Project--Proposed Structure is to Cost e22B,OoO.

Decatur. March 24.-(Special.) )-The prospects are flattering for the early construction of a foot, wagon and elec- tric railroad bridge across the Tennes- see River at this city.
 Yesterday there was held one of the largest and most enthusiastic mass meetings. at the county court house in this city, that has ever been held in the county. There were present at the meetings several hundred representa- tive and influential citizens from the Decaturs. Morgan, Limstone and Law renee and Madison Counties. The purpose of the meeting was to hear propositions from eastern capitalists for the construction of the proposed bridge.
 The meeting was called to order by Jabez H. Edwards, president of the Business Mems League. of Deactur.. at o'clock in the afternoon. Colonel c. c. Harris, president of the First Na- tional Bank of Decatur. was elected and H. B. Scott. of New Decatur, was elected temporary secretary, After stating the purpose of the meeting >Colonel Harris introduced a represen- tative of Owego Iron Works of CHwego, N. r., in the person of w. B. Strong. MT. Strong said that his company was willing to build the bridge if the cit- izens would take something like s5o.- 900 worth of the bonds. He stated that his company, as yet. had been un. able to ascertain the actual cost of the bridge. but that it would be some where between $200.o00 and $225,o00. He estimated that the bridge would cost about s2o0.ooo and the approach es about $25,000. It had been estima- ted that the annual earnings of the bridge would aggregate about $2S.000.
 Henry A. Skeggs. mayor of Decatur. addressed the meeting as did also Sam Blackwell. mayor of New Decatur. Both the mayors were very much en- unused over the matter and spoke of the great advantages the Decaturs would derive from the construction of the bridge and both felt confident that the bridge would be built. &
 Judge William Richardson addressed the meeting in a speech of more than an hours duration. He grew very en- thusiastic and urged the people not to let up on this question until the bridge shall have been built.
 Judge W. H. Hayse. of Limestone County, spoke and said his people were anxious to see the bridge built and would donate to the cause liberally.
 General John H. Peebles, of Lime- stone County, made short talk and subscribed s10.000 on behalf of the people of Limestone County.
 WdlIeT NGbUilt 6OShOtaty cA Business Mems League of Deactur, ad- dressed the meeting and subscribed s2,000 on behalf of the Decatur Manu- featuring and Transportation Compa- ny. MT Nesbit said that he was in receipt of numerous letters from va rious places asking for information concerning the building of the bridge.
 Nelson Campbell subscribed $1,O00 for himself and in all a goodly sum of 5O,0O0 was subscribed at this meet ing.
 After the appointment of the fol- lowing subscription committee the meeting adjourned:
 New Decatur, Sam Blackwell, W. A. Bibb, H. B. Scott; Decatur. W. J. Nesbit, James H. Edwards, J., D. scruggs; Limestone County, General Peebies, Judge Hayse, William Rich- ardson, William Hundley; Morgan County, Judge W. F. Skeggs, Charles T. Burt, John Lille.
 Last night joint meeting of the Business Mems League, or Decatur and the Commercial Club, of New De- catur, was held and Mir. Strong, rep resentative of the owego Iron Works, being present, addressed the meeting This meeting was held for the purpose of formulating plans for the carry ing on of this undertaking and these two business bodies will leave no
 
 assured fact. The people of Limestone County are as much enthused over the matter as are the people of the Deca- turs and there is no doubt that 1t will be only question of time until the bridge is built.
 The building of this bridge would bring thousands of dollars of trade to the Decaturs that is now going to oth- CT places. Just across the river from Decatur lies Limestone County. one of the richest farming sections in the entire State of Alabama, and the Deca- turs are losing the most of this trade because it is too inconvenient for the people of that county to get their pro- duce to the Decaturs on account of crbssing the river in a small ferry boat
 The electric street car company or this city Is also interested in the build- Ing of the byidgs and if it ts built