The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-22

. Build a Monroe street =
. bridge but build II wisely .
q and we'll. .
. Local street car corpora =
. tions have traded on the .
. Spokane public's energies .
. and necessities to the limit. =
. Let them pay as the pub =
. lie pays for mutual benefits. .
>~>>> 80 . . ~>>>
The administrations stand with
regard to the question of building
the proposed new concrete bridge
at Monroe street with day labor
or contract depends altogether on
the success of the Mission avenue
bridge which is now being con-
structed under the day labor plan.
So stated Mayor Moore this morn
ing. At present he says he is
strongly in favor of day labor on
Monroe street. He states that the
only thing to change his position
would be unsuccessful completion
of the Mission avenue project.
With regard to the Mission av-
enue undertaking City Engineer
Ralston has repeatedly declared to
councilmen that it will be entirely
successful. His first estimate Of
$4,000 he later reduced to $780,
900 Offering the council the infor.
nation that when he got started
he found where considerable saw
Ing could be made by changes.
The fact that changes were made
aroused some unfavorable COM
ment from Councilman Mohr. who
declared the city was not getting
as good a bridge as 1t ordered. En-
gineer Ralston disputed this.
If Engineer Ralston makes his
statements good, the Mission av-
enue structure will be successfully
built under the day labor plan.
Which means, according to Mayor
Moore's statements, that the same
plan will be used on the Monroe
street structure.
However. Mayor Moore is
against haste In the Monroe mat
ter. He now says that he is not
In favor of proceeding until the
traffic companies benefitting are
tied up in agreements to pay a
portion of the cost. The w. W.
p, North Coast and Inland Empire
systems are affected. 1t will be
necessary for the city to fill in
the south end, which will material
ly benefit the Inland Empire sys-
TEN. Eventually the company in
tended to make this fill. The
question which arises is. will the
company pay the city for making
the fill for its partial benefit?
On account of the grade which
the North Coast Is to pursue in
gaining entrance to a proposed de-
pot and terminal site on Front av.
enue between Howard and Post
gineer Ralston In the bridge plans
to acquire n greater elevation. 1t
Is the added cost of the added ele-
walton which the North Coast will
be asked to pay.
The w. w. p, which holds u
franchise over the bridge, has Of
fered to pay 100000 provided 1t
be given q perpetual and exclu-
sd frp nl, "a ntt
from expense of lighting the struc-
ture and from paying a share of
the cost Of old repairs.
With regard to this proposition
Mayor Moore says he favors con.
struction II the w, w. P. will pay
100000 In consideration of the
city confirming its present fran
chise, which has about 30 years
to run yet. But the mayor does
not favor proceeding until the
question of what the companies
are to pay has been definitely set
tied.
Councilman r. l.. Dalke had in
tended tonight to try to secure
adoption by the council of the
. plans drawn by the city engineer
and order construction, but has
changed his mind today until he
further investigates. He under.
stood. he said, that the w. w. p.
agreement to pay 100000 had no
strings to 1t. He has since been
informed otherwise. He favors
the day labor plan.
Councilman Mohr advocates adj
vertising for bids from contrac-
tors and then making compari-
son with the engineers estimates.
II the bids are considerably lower
he would favor letting by contract.
But II bids are not considerably
lower than the estimate he would
favor day labor. With regard to
q proposition to begin immediate
work he favors beginning only the
MI at the south end. as II Is only
n small norton OF tina main strue