The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-09-23
STEEL ADOPTED
FOR EAST
OLIVE

new bridge across the river at
East Olive avenue, the city coun-
Gil last night voted to proceed with
the building of steel bridge at
that point, provided an agreement
to pay it's proportion of the cost
can be obtained from the Trac-
ton company. Three petitions,
signed by 1873 citizens, wholesale
houses, mills and industries tribu-
tary to the bridge at Olive avenue
and nearly every business house
on Main and Front avenues east of
Howard street, were read.
The petitioners demanded action
on the gronud that the building of
the Mission avenue bridge and the
Sprague avenue trestle would prac-
tically cut off the east end and
that a bridge was necessary to
furnish an outlet for traffic.
While the council was practical
ly unanimous In consent to the
use of steel at Olive avenue, a d.
vision arose in the method of as
sessing the car companies, ma
jority favoring the plan of the pay
ment of interest by the companies
on one third of the cost, with an
additional charge for depreciation,
while the minority advocated the
lump cash payment plan of settle
ment.
In the ballot taken the division
was on the question of the plan of
settlement with the car companies
rather than on the merits of steel,
although both propositions were
Incorporated in one general mo-
ton.
The petitions for immediate ac
ton were introduced, one each by
Councilman Ostrander, Watkins
and Baldwin. Captain John Gray,
of the Second ward, said the coun-
him to pay $4,000 of the cost of
the bridge and he favored going
ahead with the work before they
had chance to change their
minds. The Traction company, he
said, had agreed to pay $4,000 in
cash, which with the countys do
nation would leave only $4,000 to
be paid by the city.
Councilmen thought that before
taking action in the premises the
- city council ought to consider the
petition for concrete bridge at
Olive avenue as endorsed by
Thomas Maloney on behalf of la
boring interests. Mr.. Maloney said
the council could have the petition
read If it wanted to as it had been
referred to the committee of the
whole. The petition is signed by
hundreds Of names and was pre-
scented at former meeting of the
council, and along with all other
matters pertaining to bridges was
referred to the committee of the
whole council. Mohr failed to in
sist on the reading of the Ma
loney petition and consequently 1t
was not read.
At this point the question of the
settlement with the car companies
was brought up by Councilman Os-
trander, who said he favored 60
ing ahead with the steel bridge. but
he first wanted a definite under
standing with the traction inter
ests before proceeding with any
further bridge building. He urged
the adoption of the special bridge
committees recommendation as to
plan for assessing the Spokane
Traction Co. on the Olive avenue
bridge and taking that plan as IA
basis to work on in all subsequent
settlements with street railway
companies for their share of bridge
costs. He brought up new point
in that if the city accepted a lump
cash payment from the street rail
way companies such companies
would have an equity in the bridges
so paid for and might hamper the
city council in granting new fran
chises when the old ones expire.
The report of the special bridge
committee was read. showing that
the plan of settlement recommend
ed was for the Traction company
to pay interest on one third the
cost of the Olive avenue bridge for
the estimated life of the bridge, so
years If built of steel or 100 years
If built of concrete. and in addi-
ton to this to pay into sinking
fund to cover the cost of deprecia-
ton per cent per annum for steel
or | per cent per annum for con
crete. This payment for deprecia-
ton Is to provide money for a new
bridge when the old one is worn
out. In lieu OF this plan of settle
ment the company has the option
of paying one third the cost OF the
bridge in cash.
Captain Gray and Mr., Mohr adj
vocated a lump sum settlement,
Lambert expressed regret that fig
ures had not been obtained on a
concrete bridge at Olive avenue in
order that he could check up on
the cost of the Mission ayenue