The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-01
THE RE|Tz BRIDGE
A AAS-BEEN
ONCE FAMOUS TEMPORARY
CROSSING ENDS AN INTER
EsTINo EXISTENCE.

Useless whether il goes or stands
the famous old Reitz bridge. hailed a
little more than a year ago as de-
liverer and guarded and watched day
and night ever since. ended its term
Of usefulness yesterday and passed
into the crowded ranks Of the has
beens. For two weeks the pedestrian
has eazed upon the humble wooden
structure with disdain and, looking
way of steel and concrete. has won
tiercd how he had ever humbled himself
enough to use IL. But the little bridge
until yesterday held its place in the
lima-iight with its wagon traffic. No
matter how much they wished 70 use
the new crossing the drivers of every
thing on wheels from the dead-ax
wagon to the big touring car had to
send their vehicles down through the
mud and across the wooden bridge:
Yesterday. however. this distinction
was lost The bridge company pulled
out the barriers ut the ends of the
new structure and the wagon traffic
rumbled for the first time across the
pavement of the new bridge.
All day long the Reitz bridge be-
low remained deserted save for an oc-
casional wagon from the country, tn.
driver of which had not yet heard Of
the good news and by night not a
single bit Of life did the wooden
bridge show. IL has gone forever
and from now on. unless the unex-
pected happens, the temporary cross
ing will be thing Of history.
A Useful Mission.
1t served its purpose. however. and
II will not be altogether forgotten. A
year ago last summer after the Hig-
gins avenue bridge had gone out and
while wagons We're crossing the coun-
ty bridge a mile west of town. and
pedestrians We're staggering across the
swinging cable walks over the gaps in
the destroyed bridge, the question Of
temporary crossing was brought up.
The matter was argued for long
while but ut last a body of citizens.
headed by T.. c. Reitz. whose name
the bridge bears. took up "A subscrip-
tion and ordered a temporary cross
Ing built. Work was commenced at
once and on october II. the river was
rendered passable once more in the
business section of the city.
Since then the history of the bridge
has been so closely interviewer with
that of Missoula that IL needs no re-
peating. 1t was the center of activity
from the day II was finished until
yesterday. when its usefulness ceased
On the same day that the first wag-
on drove across the temporary bridge
the Puget Sound laid it's rails through
MiSsouia and from that day on the
bridge has been the most advanta-
geous point In the city for the man
who watched the building progress.
From the bridge crowds OF people saw
the old Higgins avenue bridge torn
down and watched the new bridge
slowly rise to completion. From the
south end of the bridge could be seen
the rapid progress of the Puget Sound.
The first freight train passed within
three feet of the end of the bridge
and the first passenger train over the
voad fairly blocked IL.
Some Troubles.
Accidents and troubles have come its
way as well. During the floods Of
last spring crew of men WAS kept
at work clearing the piles Of the
bridge from drift and for IA week
the city officials worked day and
night I'm fruitless effort to save the
frai structure which WAS the only
available link connecting the south
side with the north In the last day
of May the bridge went out. how
ever. in two places. Traffic was held
UP until the waters had raeeded and
then the old swinging walks We're
put I'm until such time as the bridge
could be restored To its former con-
difion. This was done in n few weeks
and since that time the temporary
crossing has served its purpose with
out any undue excitement.
A Closed Incident.
Now its history is ended M longer
has IL a purpose in life and it's ex-
istenee viii probably be- short. The
south enh win be blocked by the
Puget Sound and the north end will
probably be used only by the few peo-
pie who wish to, make use If the skut-
ing rink on the island. Its day is past
AT last and the bridge which was once
hailed with delight and which has Tor
a year and a half been without a
rival is now useless whether il goes
or stands"