The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-05-25
Advantage of Structure Built
Over Ohio at This Point
County Attorney AIben Barley In
dicates Importance of Encour-
aging Project.
1T SUPPORTS BALLARD COUNTY


county and any railroad bridge built
between Paducah and that point
would result in vast benefit to the
county through the ordinary taxes
and terminal improvements, but the
possibility of a bridge being built be-
low Joppa or anywhere above Padu-
cab, County Attorney Alben Barley
thinks. is a crisis which neither the
farmers of McCracken county nor the
citizens of Paducah can afford to pass
adversely.
"a crisis In the AFFAIRS of the city
and county does not mean that they
would stop growing if it was passed
negatively" Mr. Barley said this
morning. but the benefits from pass
ing 1t successfully are so great, that
not to secure them would amount to
real and large difference in the flu
ture of both. do not believe that the
next ten years will produce a ques-
ton as important to our industrial
welfare as this one of securing any
bridge that is built over the Ohio riv-
er, for McCracken county and Padu-
cab.
ut is needless 10 remember that
bridging the Ohio near here has
been a live question for years and
many think that the present indica-
tons may be mostly smoke, but sew
eral large factors now figure in the
question that were not seen a few
years ago Enthusiastically, the atten-
ton and trend of railroads since the
assurance of the Panama canal Is to-
ward the gulf. OF course, this canal
will not be finished for number of
years, but railroads are not waiting
for it to be finished, to make their
preparations for meeting the indus
trial change that will accompany the
completion OF the canal. The gulf
coast. now, | understand, is the
scene OF much attention from all rail-
roads who expect to take hand in
the future development of the south
and South American commerce.
Should Get Together.
"Paducah is the largest city on the
river between Cairo and Evansville
Somewhere between these two points,
Ohio river and the activity in south
ern Illinois near Paducah indicates
that bridge viii be built between
this city and Cairo. The problem is
to assure that this bridge will be
built to give McCracken county the
benefit. Railroads as a general rule
want the most direct course, but they
will detour to reach a city that prom
ises sufficient traffic 1t would only be
a short distance out of the way of a
railroad that contemplated bridging
the river at Joppa to bridge at Brook
port and give the county as well as
the city the benefit. But they won't
make their plans haphazardly and the
vital question for both county and
city, is to take hand to see that
they are not left in the race for the
bridge.
This is a question that ought to-
unite the business interests of the
city with the farmers OF the county.
We ought to get together solidly and
assure the bridge for this county. AS
for the benefits of the bridge into this
county and city. they are self-evident.
Such bridge would cost no less than
!. $4,000. 900 and the ordinary taxes on
this investment would mean much to-
both. We own to the low water mark
on the Illinois side and We would tax
the bridge to that point. 1t is we'll
known fact that Ballard county
practically is supported by the Cairo
bridge. The benefit to the city should
quicken every business man in 1t TO
work toward securing this prize. If
these terminals are built down at
Joppa, the city wholesale men would
sell the merchants in the town that
inevitably would arise there. but to
make the bridge. its facilities and the
hundreds of employees it would bring,
part Of Paducah's commercial life
ougt to be the live interest OF every
retail dealer.
OBVIOUSLY this is an inexhaustble
subject for consideration, but enough
has been said to force its Importance
on the citizens of the county, includ-
ing the city But once having told
the world we want the prize, nothing
but hard work and common sense
reasons will get it for McCracken
county. Let the farmers and the city
business men get together"
Finger Cut in Buzz Fan.