Arizona republican., 1909-05-19
BRIDGE SENTIMENT
WHEN THE SALT IS IMPASSABLE.
Other Reason Why There Should Be a
 Center Street Bridge.

| To the Editor of The Republican, Sir: The most serious inconvenience that | the citizens of Tempe could possibly be subjected to during periods of high water by a bridge at Center street would be drive of four extra miles in coming to and returning from PhOe- niX-that, too, oyer one of the finest thoroughfares in Arizona, while the | hundreds of settlers south of Phoenix during such flood periods, with a bridge at Tempe, would be compelled | to travel upwards of forty miles out of their wa-' to reach Phoenix and. re- turn.
 In fairness. don't you think it more just to all concerned to build this bridge at point where it will accom- mOdate the greatest number of people with the least inconvenience?
 During the long periods each year when there are no floods or water dis turbances. the Tempe crossing, being an excellent one, could and would be utilized without inconvenience. even though We had a bridge at Center street
 The construction of the Center street bridge will add s5OO,000 to the taxable wealth of Maricopa county, which, at the present tax lew, would convert into the county treasury upwards of S10.0O0 per annum.
 Maricopa county can secure a bridge at Center street that will cost $100.- 900 for $50,OO0. or s10.000 less than it will cost the taxpayers to construct an inferior structure at Tempe.
 Electric roads depend largely for their support upon local travel and in variably construct their lines through a country that manifests evidences of becoming thiclly settled, and while many fine farms are encountered on the Tempe road, yet in truth it must be said that the topography is such as to preclude the possibility of much of this section being. utilized for homes, while the route from the foot of Cen ter street to Mesa traverses a country that is richly endowed by nature and every acre practically is subject to high state of cultivation.
 Electric car lines are constructed as permanent improvements and future business prospects are justly consid- cred the chief asset of all such busi- ness enterprises.
 Considering the proposition from this viewpoint it is needless for us to say that when an electric street car line is constructed between Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix, it will cross the Center street bridge and traverse a section of country that has every pos sibility of being thicklv settled, and affording traffic opportunities that can not be developed on the Tempe route.
 One of the peculiar features of the Tempe bridge controversy in relation to securing a bonus for its construc tiOn is the fact that the only donation thus far proffered is s1,000. and that comes from Dwight B. Heard, the gen tleman the Tempe committee charge with bad faith because he ravors a bridge at Center street.
 Tempe people voted their usual unanimity some three weeks ago against permitting an electric street car line to cross their presumed new bridge. Now. having seen a new light in the demands of the people of Mesa and vicinity they proceed to accommo- date themselves to new circumstances and conditions and vociferouslv pro claim in favor of bridge that will accommodate an electric street car line Their enthusiasm, however, has not reached such a pitch as to in clude within it's demands the subscrib- ing of ten or twenty thousand dollars, the increased cost of such a structure.
 A proper consideration of the sub ject will convince any unbiased person that there will never be an electric street car line connecting Tempe, Mesa and Phoenix, constructed along the Tempe road. Suburban street car lines never follow, or build, adjacent to 9 steam railroad when there are other routes reaching the same points.
 When the taxpayers realize that the building of the Center street bridge will add less than S3.20 to every $1,00O worth of property on the assessment roll. we believe they will gladly con tribute this small amount to the bene- fit of their neighbors. who are so much in need of this bridge.
 The advantage of a concrete bridge over all others is that time and eli matic conditions do no effect its long years of usefulness.
 With the completion of the Center street bridge, Maricopa county will en- joy the honor of having within it's bor- der the longest re-enforced steel and concrete bridge in the world. We don't construct many bridges but when we do build one, it is a hummer.
 CENTER STREET BRIDGE
 PUBLICITY COMMITTEE.
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