The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-06-25
People of Spokane Want to Know Why
lettering Structure Was Left to I'm.
peril Hundreds of Lives Until 1t Prov.
identia||y Fell When But One Man
Happened to Be Endangered.

"Bridge, and Bridge Safety" Is
the sole topic of conversation IN
Spokane today wherever people are
discussing the fall of the south
central span OF the succession OF
bridges on Howard street over the
rapids at the falls yesterday AFTER
noon, when one man was injured
and two street car loads of people
were within 100 yards Of the crash.
The Fallen Span 10 $40 In Length.
The city authorities in effect
say they are not responsible.
The Washington Water Power
company points to its franchise
contract with the city to show that
no responsibility rests upon 1t.
The people stand on one side and
wonder what possible excuse have
either city authorities or trolley
experts who stood by and allowed
street cars to go over IL year
old wooden truss structure. wheth-
er strengthened or not, when the
Northern Pacific and Great North
ern place ten year limit as the
maximum life of a wooden bridge.
Yet both the city and the Wash
ington Water Power company have
allowed human lives to the num-
Der of hundreds 10 pass daily over
the bridge which fell yesterday,
after between Ia and 10 years ex-
posture to the elements.
A Little Bridge History.
There were shouts of grab and
Doodle when the city council lpassed
the ordinance giving the Washing
ton Water Power company author
ity to cross the Howard street
bridges with Its Corbin Park line.
Part Of the shouts came from the
Graves car lines, which claimed
that competition was being snuffed.
Part came from the outraged tax
payers who wanted to know why
the Washington Water Power COM
pany monopoly was presented,
without any consideration other
than influence on the city council,
the right to the bridges.
Mayor Boyd vetoed the first at
tempt of the monopoly. Mayor
Daggett allowed the gift. The peo-
pie still wonder. A little history
Is salient Just now as a solvent for
the inquiry of the people.
When the question of the Wash
ington Water Power company or
any other company crossing the
bridges became open last summer
City Engineer Mcintyre was out
spoken against using the present
bridges. He said that 1T would be
impracticable to repair the struc-
lures because they were askew and
sagged. Then the monopoly baked
because 1t did not care to build
bridges for the city. but It wanted
the franchise just the same. City
Commissioner ONO said that the
city was getting off easy by con-
tributing $500 to the repair of the
briggs.
Results Foreseen by This Paper.
At that time The Press asked
"why the city should pay single
cent toward building bridges or re-
pairing them for the added use of
the Washington Water Power COM
' pany."
The following is from The Press
OF a date current to the agitation
Just following the granting OF the
franchise:
"Why did not the city officials
know this when they gave tho
Washington Water Power company
franchise over this bridge and
provide specifically for a new one
That, the taxpayer has a right to
know.
"instead they granted q franchise
providing only for repairing an old
structure at the expense Of the
company getting Il. That company
y now claiming Il should not pay
or new bridge, II the city engi.
eer says the old one Is unfit for
se Tor street car purposes"
After all. the bridge fell. Some
ay 1t was the rumbling of the cars.
theirs say that 1t was the attempt
b lengthen the natural life of a
Wooden truss bridge.
But the bridge fell.
Experts Of the street car COM
any at the time were supposed to
ave bored with n small caIjbar