The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-10-17
NO BRIDGE HOURS HERE.

Proposed establishment of bridge
hours by the city council would be ille-
gal and the government would never per-
nit the enforcement Of the measure which
would interfere with nvigation on the
river. This is the opinion of Maj jor W. ID.
Judson, district engineer, who was asked
by the city officials for an opinion on an
ordinance fathcred by Aid. Bruins of the
Fifth ward and the validity Of which WAS
questioned by the city attorney. Ma
jor Judson will refer the matter to the
L. S. distr'"t attorney but declared that
the ordinance could not be enforced.
In discussing the ordinance Ma or Jud-
son disapproved of the measure in strong
terms and said it would prove u great
injury to the city and he expressed amaze
ment that, after the city has expended
thousands Of dollars in improving the
river and harbor,anyonc should seek to
interfere wit its fullest benefits. Major
Judson declared that ManitOWOc sccur-
ed the bulk Of marine shipments simply
because the river was open at all times
and there was no interference with ma
vigation. The tonnage rates are cents
lower hcrcthan for Milwaukee and l5 cents
lower than Chicago because of this said
the government official and ne thought
the bridge hour ordinance "a most foolish
measure. Major JudSon said that Chica-
90 was he only city which had this rule
and the government intends to abolish
it in that city also.
Major JudsOnS statement will prob
ably be accepted by the council and
the ordinance will be tabled, without hay
ing it referred to the attorney general for
ruling as was suggested. Aid, Bruins,
who introduced the measure, intended
it as Il bid for favor Of laborig men and
others who at times are delayed by the
opening Of the bridge, and he was inclin-
ed to doubt City Atty. Hougcn's ruling
that the act would not hold water.
That the city will never be permitted
to place the State street bridge structure
at Park street as planned, was minated
by Major Judson who conferred with city
officials on the matter Friday and it was
further minated that there is much
doubt that the War department will con-
sent TO have the bridge placed at any
point up river which is passed by boats
in reaching the new coal docks The
objection is based on the claim that the
,Ii,ige would be an obstruction to naVl-
cation and that it would be destroyed by
boats in going up river Major JudNon
will refer he matter TO the War depart
mcnt but will probably include a recon-
mendation against the city'S petition.
JudSons decision makes state street
bridge Il white elephant on the city's
hands and its disposition big question,
The government engineer pointed out
that the bridge would be unsafe and an
OBSTRUCTION ut alh NlIttl dIlV Iit Wa
unwilling to approve of any other loca-
ton for it, and seemed to think that it
would be the part of wisdom to abandon
the structure for all time. Major Jud-
son is to be absent from his office at Mil
waukcc for two weeks but told city ofli-
cials that ne would take the matter up
with the War department after that time
State street bridge has been one of the
most Troublesome problems which city
officials have had to contend with for three
or four years past but the bothSr may be
at an end if the government refuses to
permit the establishment of the struct ure
again There has been some talk of tax
ing the bridge further up river but this
meets with opposition and the council
will probably be divided in its opinion.
The bridge originally cost $500 and 81,
600 additional has already been cNpend-
ed and if the bridge is to be put up again,
there will likely be another $1,000 or s., :
600 observation-disclosures Herald.