Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-21
FIRST STEPFO FREE BRIDGE
Omaha and Council Bluffs Men CO.
Operate on Plans.
BOND ISSUE TO BE CONSIDERED
Congressman walter I. smith Of
Iowa says He Thinks war De-
partment VIII Consent
20 the Bridge.


Congressman Walter 1. Smith OF Iowa
heading a delegation of Council Bluffs
business men who attended an executive
committee meeting Of the Omaha Com
mercial club Tuesday, said, concerning the
free bridge proposition which was the sub
ject OF discussion:
IF this bridge Is built II will be the best
instrument for the development of these
two cities which has been secured in recent
years"
I Judge Smith expressed the belief that the
War department would permit the erection
OF a bridge at any reasonable distance from
the Douglas or Union Pacific bridges, be-
tween them II the low bridge was so con-
structed that the draws could be handled
without difficulty. He said no law pre-
vented the erection of a bridge between the
two. but the War department had simply
made 1t a rule not to permit the erection of
a bridge over a navigable stream, closer
than one-third Of a mile from another
bridge.
The movement started by the West
Council Bluffs Improvement club for a
free bridge resulted in a meeting of the
executive committee Of the Omaha Com
mercial club and sixteen Council Bluffs
business men Tuesday and the joint meet
ing resulted in the naming Of a committed
of ten. five from Omaha and five from
Council Bluffs, who will secure estimates
as to the cost and the amount OF bonds
each county should issue In order to erect
the bridge.
Railway Not Discussed.
The interurban railroad proposition did
not come up for discussion, though repre-
sentatives of the two l~nterurban projects
were present. They said privately the sue
cess of their schemes for a line to Des
Moines and another line to Malvern de-
pended ON the erection of a bridge which
would make it possible for them to enter
Omaha.
H.. II. Baldrige, chairman of the bridg'
committee of the Omaha Commercial club
opened the discussion after the meeting
had been called to order by Euclid Martin
president of the club. He was followed b!
Judge Smith and a number of Council
Bluffs business men. f. f. Hart, presi
dent of the Council Bluffs Commercial
club, said the executive board OF that or
ganization was holding a meeting at tn
same hour to discuss the proposition.
'1f it can be brought to a focus, we viii
meet you half way" said Mr.. Hart.
Victor f. Bender of the Council Bluff
Nonpareil, said I'm a rough way ! woul'
estimate tina rs to 20 per cent Of our PEG
pie want a free bridge. / think 1t woul
be advantageous to both communities. ]
Pottawattamle county pays a share base
on population, It would be about $4,000
That is equal to 30 mills on the dollar 70
ten years. or 3 mills as a levy to pay eac
year for the cost of the bridge"
Mr.. Bender suggested the naming OF
Joint committee. F.. A. Benson of Oman
made the motion that the Commercial clu
OF Omaha name five members. and reques
1.-The city of Council Bluffs to name fiv
members, to act with them and secur
necessary information before another meet
Ing Is held. BAN sf-- 1ss"- a.'1-
s % Council Bluffs Men.
The following arc those who attende