Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08
BRIDGE APPROACH
ON SOUTH side

The approach to the river bridge on
the South Side, the neglected condition
of which stirred up so much feeling
last summer, again looms up before
the public. Judging from early de-
velopments, however, it does not seem
likely that the approach, badly as IT
is needed, is going to be built right
away. Already there would seem to
be a difference of opinion between the
residents of Gearhart township and
the county commissioners, the condi-
tions on the whole being favorable for
much disputation with consequent bad
feeling and delay.
The new board of Northumberland
county commissioners accompanied by
Judge Savidge Monday came up to
South Danville to look over the ground
to see how much their predecessors had
left undone and just how much re-
mained for them to do. The new board
of Northumberland county commits
sioners are Frank Erdman, p. J. Glen
nan and Casper A. Tharp. In addition
to Judge Savidge they were accom-
panied by Edward Raker, the solicit
or for the new board.
Arriving at South Danville on the
10:17 train they Immediately proceed
ed to the bridge approach where they
were Joined by the township supervis-
ors and a number of representative
citizens, besides the Montour county
commissioners.
The approach Is mere makeshift
and it never appeared at a worse dis
advantage than Monday, impressing
all with the lack of security afforded
travel, with its unsightliness and the
extent to which it is out of harmony
with the bridge and the general sur
roundings. There was only one opin-
ion and that was that the approach
should be rebuilt and that no time
should be lost in entering upon the
work.
Extending beyond the wing walls
built in connection with the bridge
there is twelve feet of wall on each
side Of the approach the erection of
which naturally devolves upon the two
counties. Even with this section of
the walls out of the way there is still
long stretch of retaining wall ON
each side yet to be built.
The upper retaining wall, which is
by large odds the smaller proposition
of the two, the Northumberland coun-
ty commissioners do not object to
building ; they were not slow, how
ever, TO indicate that they were oppos-
ed to making the approach as whole
county improvement. As things now
stand it would seem that it is up to
Gearhart township to see that the low
er retaining wall is built.
The lower wall will be an immense
| piece of masonry about a hundred feet
i'll length and very high; to be safe it
should be surmounted by stout guard
rail. That the citizens of the South
| Side who have been so forbear ing in
the matter and had looked forward to
the present meeting with so much ex-
pectancy are heartily disgusted with
| the turn that events have taken, it is
| hardly necessary to add. Last sum
I 10 pl, Il oil .,
| ty improvement and it was confident
| ly expected that the new board of
| county commissioners would handle
the proposition. to conform with this
order. The township is much averse
to making itself responsible for the
construction Of the lower retaining
wall and it is altogether likely that
there will be much contention on the
subject and that there will be more OF
less delay before the work is begun
The two boards of county commits
! siOners retired to the court house in
this city where they held a joint meet
| ing to discuss some affairs connected
with the bridge approach on the south
side along with other matters pertain
ing to the two counties. All three
members of the Montour county board
-Messrs. Leighow, Cook and Sechle1
along with Solicitor E. S. Gearhart,
were present with the northumberland
county commissioners The session
was short one and there was nothing
in the proceedings to foreshadow what
the final outcome may be relating tc
the bridge approach on the south side.