Arizona republican., 1909-06-10
Of Advocates of the Gen.
 ter Street Bridge ENTHUSIASM WAS HIGH
Evidenced by Torchlights, Red Fire, Music and Ora tory in Which It Was Pre- dictedthe CampaignWo Be Justified by the Vote.

With the booming of canon, with brave music, with torches, red fire and eloquence the last grand rally in the campaign for the Center Street Bridge was held in this city last night. Argu- ment by some of the best speakers which the city numbers among her res idents served to convince; catchy and appropriate songs by the quartet serv- ed to clinch the argument and the torches, red fire and march music served to arouse an enthusiasm which will allow no voter who was present at the rally to forget that today is election day and that he is in duty bound to vote for the best interests of his city and county.
 Throughout the entire program of speeches there was only the kindliest feeling expressed for the people of Tempe and several of the speakers pledged themselves to do all in their power to secure the territorial highway and a territorial bridge for Tempe once the construction of the Center street bridge was an assured fact.
 Preceding the rally which was held at the City Hall plaza a torch light procession was formed at the Phoenix National Bank and paraded the prin- cipal streets of the city. The process sion was more than four blocks in length and each of the many enthu- siasts who participated carried a torch calculated to throw light upon the bridge question. And light was thrown. The applause which greeted the torch bearers as well as that which was ac- corded the speakers demonstrated that if there were any who were not in har- mony with the movement they had re- mained at home. The line of march was illuminated by red fire which was lighted by different merchants in front of their places of business and cast sort of cheerful, optimistic glare over the shouting procession of boomers. The Pioneer bank--headed and blew their best for the Center street bridge.
 Before the marching body had reach ed the plaza a large crowd had gather ed there. Every seat was taken and many stood during the entire course of the speeches. As before, tubs of ice water were provided for the comfort of those in attendance and those who came out of curiosity remained to see the whole through.
 The quartet composed of Jack Tur- ner. H. l. Madden, C. D. Robinson and Earl Massie. with Ben Massie at the piano. scored as big a hit as it has on several previous occasions. The music was new with the exception of the song When the River Is Up" a par ody on Manhattan Isle" which prov ed so popular at the previous meeting that it was repeated. 70 Promise Me- sung as a solo by MT Madden, served as a fitting close to the campaign. Oh promise me tomorrow when you
 vote
 You'll want a bridge in preference to
 a boat,
 So when the rivers high you'll calmly
 say,
 I'll cross the concrete bridge at Center
 street today.
 With this grand structure near your
 town its sure to grow,
 Prosperity and wealth is sure to come
 you know.
 This fifty thousand dollar bridge you
 want to see, So promise me, oh promise me.
 Oh promise me tomorrow you and I We will not need to ask the reason
 why We'll vote to build this bridge to boom
 the town, Which means prosperity for many
 miles around. For when Salt rivers raging high from
 shore to shore We'll fear no evil danger as in days
 of yore, So vote for this steel concrete bridge
 and it shall be, So promise me, oh promise me.
 B. A. Fowler was the chairman of the meeting and after a few prelim- mary remarks in which he urged the of every Phoenician voting for the Center street bridge, he in troduced Roy S. Goodrich who was to discuss the proposition from the. point of view of the taxpayer. MT. Goodrich presented a forceful argument in favor of public improvements in general and the Center street bridge in particular. He reminded the taxpayer that the cost of the bridge will amount to only $3.2O on each 5000 of valuation and that it will increase the appraisement of the county property by more than three times the cost of the bridge, if i it can be counted upon to add but ten dollars to the value of each acre of the land south of the river which will be directly served by the bridge. The chairman then introduced l.. H. Shalmers as the man who at the time