The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-10-11
WILL BUILD The BRIDGE.
County Commissioners Decide on Roadway
Bridge Across ST. Johns at PaIatka.
)NTRAcT AWARDED CONVERSE BRIDGE CO. FOR s54, oOO 90

| AT an executive session or tht
board of county commissioners
which lasted all through yesterday
forenoon, it was decided to accept
the bid OF the Converse Bridge Co. OF
Chattanooga, Tenn, to construct a
roadway bridge across the st. Johns
river at Palatka, for $54 900, the same
to be paid for in eight annual in
stallments of $6,750. The first in
stallment is to be paid on completion
of the bridge and the others, one
each year for the seven following
years without interest.
The bridge is to be completed by
the first of October, 1908.
Beside the Converse Bridge COM
pany, proposals were received from
the Ottumwa Bridge company, $61,-
900, and the Roanoke Bridge COM
pany, 100000.
The vote of the commissioners
stood for the bridge and 2 against.
Mr.. Middleton wished his vote to be
known against letting the contract,
and so explained. The other mega
tive vote will not be known as the
vote was taken in executive session.
Neither does it matter, as the board
is now unanimous for the bridge.
This will be the first wagon road
bridge ever to span the st. Johns
river, and as such will draw atten-
tion to this city from all parts of the
state. Its building grows out of an
agitation for which the Palatka
board of trade is responsible, and is
only part of the aggressive program
this body has in view for the better
ment of the county and city.
Mr.. Martin Griffin, who owns the
property at the foot of Lemon street,
has agreed to donate the bridge ap-
proach site if the Palatka end is To-
Gated there.
The office of county commissioner,
even at the increased pay of 81 per,
has it's drawbacks. There are times
when, do as he will, a commissioner
cannot please all his constituents.
He gets into tight places.
One such time was presented to
the board yesterday when it came
face to face with the proposed traffic
bridge to cross the st. Johns River
at Palatka.
The county commissioners at a
meeting held two or three months
ago had passed resolution, unani-
mously, to build the bridge. At a
later meeting the board decided to
ask for proposals, the same to be
opened at the October meeting, on
Wednesday of this week.
In the meantime opposition devel- |
oped in several of the country pre-
cincts, notably those of Crescent
City, Baldwin, Francis, Grandin,
Monroe's Mills, and other west coun-
ty sections.
At the meeting on Wednesday af
ter the bids were opened and petit
tions for and against the bridge were
read. Those for the bridge were
from tax paying Palat-
kans. These petitions were not cir
culated in the country precincts.
The anti-bridge petitions We're read
first and there were some 275 names
The petitions for the
bridge contained about $50 names.
After the reading of the petitions
the board listened to arguments,
first, from those who opposed, and
second, from friends of the project.
Hon. j. HI. Harp led in the anti
bridge argument. Mr.. Harp present
ed an able brief on the subject prin-
cipally dealing with its legal side.
His paper is in the hands of the
News, but lack of space prevents it's
this week. Mr.. Harp
was followed by w. B. Campbell, al
so of Crescent City, and one of the
most active opponents of the bridge.
He presented and had read by the
clerk letter from Attorney General
Ellis. In the opinion of the attorney
general the commissioners were not
to build the bridge on the
deferred payment plan.
Judge r. Noble Calhoun, who had
rendered a contra opinion to the
board, and who had sent copy of
his opinion to the attorney general,
then read telegram from the at
torney general in which that official
acknowledged receipt of the Calhoun
opinion, said he dissented, but stated
that he was not the legal advisor of
the county commissioners and that
his opinion to Mr. Campbell was not
official.
Geo. B. Selden made an able argu-
ment for the bridge as so also did
Col. S. j. Hilburn and others. After
Chairman Stephens an
nounced that the board would ad-
iourn until morning, when final ac-
tion would be taken.
The Wednesday meeting was de-
void of any unpleasant feeling. The
speeches were all temperate IN tone
and the atmosphere of the crowded
court room was generally concilia-
tory. Each side appeared willing to
that their opponents were
moved by spirit of patriotism and
and that all were seeking the great
est good to the county.
--
James Lewis. an A, M, F., nreach-