Arizona republican., 1909-04-09
THE BRIDGE LOCATION
 EXCITING INTEREST MASS MEETING CALLED FOR TO- MORROW AFTERNOON. Bridge Builders Mayberry and Smith
 Will Be Here.

The controversy relative to the loca-
 ton of the wagon bridge across the Salt river has now been brought to the attention of the citizens of Mesa in a way that has aroused interest to say the least. The proposition has been discussed in Mesa pro and con on sev
 eral occasions and at irregular inter
 ValS, and it cannot be said that it aroused any great amount of interest until the appearance of H. II. May
 berry. of Los Angeles. representing the
 National Bridge company. of Indianap- olis; H. l.. Smith, of Los Angeles. rep
 resenting the Union Ironworks. of the same place, and C. T. Hirst. of Phoe- nix The gentlemen above mentioned called upon number of the business men on Wednesday. and as a result. a s-meeting has been called for Sat
 Urday afternoon at 2:3O for the pur- pose of listening to the opinions of the bridge manufacturers as to the most available and most advantageous site.
 In the beginning. it must be said that Messrs. Mayberry and Smith stoutly maintain that they absolutely do not care where the bridge IS lOcat- ed. just so they get the job of con struction. However. in their interview they could not help but favor the Cen ter street site
 Messrs. Mayberry and Smith came to Mesa after carefully looking over the Tempe proposition. they. of course. having investigated the Center street site at an earlier date, and were in a position to compare the two sites.
 MT. Mayberry said. in part. in an swer to questions in regard to the bridge proposition in general: There is absolutely not a toss-up between the cost of the Center street bridge and one at the Tempe site. A long bridge can be built at less cost per foot than short one Mir Smith and l have gone carefully over the Tempe site with the Tempe bridge committee. and will have a bridge designed for them. As to the Center street site. consider it an ideal one. The foundation is splendid for the abuttments, notwith standing the reports to the contrary. Tempe may be as good. but on ac- count of the flow of water being much stronger because of the narrower chan mel in flood time, more provision will have to be made for protecting the structure. l think the most feasible type of bridge is the reinforced steel concrete structure. There are reasons for this type of bridge. The structure requires no cost of maintenance, and by its peculiar construction of con- crete. always improves with age. I believe I am safe in saying that the ordinary type of bridge does not have an average life of much over twenty years In the event that a contract is let for a bridge, it should be done i'm mediately, for the reason that every advantage must be taken of the dry season. It will take at least from six to eight months to put in the bridge. and this, of course, should be done while the water in the river is low.
 Mir. Smith said. in part: 'I am heart fly in accord with what MT. Mayberry has said. only I would like to add that there is a decided lack of harmony be- tween Phoenix and Tempe that should not be Mesa holds the key to the situation. There are a few people in Phoenix who favor the Tempe site. but. | generally speaking. it is Phoenix against Tempe. If the interests over
  it will mean a bridge across the river: otherwise it may mean that several years will elapse before there is a structure erected. The interests should by all means be harmonized."
 In the meantime. the citizens of Mesa | will continue to discuss the matter un til the mass-meeting, and then they | will be given a chance to speak out 1 However. the preponderance of the ar gument is, of course, with the site at | Tempe While the location of the | bridge is not exactly Mesa's funeral. | yet there is a certain personal inter | est in the matter which should find | expression. Mesa residents who de- 1 sire to go to Phoenix. as a general thing l take the train or go by auto By the | latter method of conveyance, they will. | of course, favor the Tempe site on ac- count of ii being the shortest route. | It undoubtedly accommodates the | greatest number of people in Mesa to | have the bridge at Tempe. and little, | if any sentiment. can be stirred up in | Mesa unless an argument other than | any presented heretofore can be mar shaled forth.
 In the meantime, while the contro ] versy is on. the breach between the | towns of Tempe and Phoenix is widen | ing, so that even the longest bridge in | the world would hardly reach across.