Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-12-30
NEED OF BRIDGE
Is IMPERATIVE
Position OF Menasha Wooden Ware
Co. is Presented 20 Council
Petition Being Circulated


The proposition for the building of
new steel bridge across the Flambeau
in this city, as outlined in the News
Budget last week, was formally pre-
sented by ex-Mayor R. S. Johnson for
the Menasha Wooden Ware Co. at an
adjourned special meeting of the COM
mon council Tuesday evening. A large
number of citizens attended the meet
ing and took part in the discussion
which followed.
Mr.. Johnson stated that, in view of
the inability of the city to build the
bridge, the Wooden Ware Co. offered
to build it and accept the moral obli-
cation of the city to repay them in such
manner as could be agreed upon within
a period of six years at 5 per cent
interest. The cost of the bridge COM
plete will be $50, which is the low
est figure obtainable by the Wooden
Ware Co. after soliciting bids from
numerous bridge companies. The prop
osition includes the donation of 20 acres
off the west end of the revised Third
addition for city park, which at the
present time is worth $4,000. He vent
ured the assertion that in 10 years the
land comprising the Third addition,
which is now assessed at $4, 900, would
be assessed at $50, 900. AS grounds for
this belief he cited the advance in
valuation of the Wooden Ware First
and Second additions, the former of
which increased from SIC, 600 in 1901 to
$97, $50 in 1909 The Second addition is
now assessed at $40, 900.
The Wooden Ware Co. has already
expanded $4,000 in clearing and grading
streets in the new addition, and do not
hold any claim against the city on this
score. Ninety per cent of the lots in
the original west part of the addition
have already been sold and 35 per cent
of those in the new east end.
Messers. T. F. Armstrong, ]. B.
Welpton and O. E. Peterson, all of
whom would personally be more bene-
fitted by bridge across the river south
Of the 500 bridge, spoke for accepting
the proposition. H. w. True stated
that representatives of the Wooden
Ware Co., from whom he had bought
lots in the new addition, had told him
that the company would build bridge
and that he thought. in view of the
fact that the Company's dam had
caused the loss of the bridge in the town
of Flambeau, that the Company owed
us bridge. He had no objection to the
location nor the bridge, but thought the
tax payers should not be further bur-
dened by any obligation to pay for it.
Tom Armstrong Jr. made some imperti-
nent remarks about the county poor
farm.
Some suggestions were made as to
an extension of the time in which the
amount should be paid and Mr.: Johnson
promised to take the matter up with G.
R. Smith, president of the Company,
and present the proposition in writing
at the regular meeting of the council
next Tuesday evening, together with
petition from citizens.
The council voted to lay the matter
on the table until the regular meeting.
J Mr.. johnson has since heard from
Mr.. Smith, and the proposition to ex-
tend the time to ten years was not as
sented to. Furthermore, owing to the
increased liability to accidents on the
wagon road crossing the uam, that road
will be closed in 80 days. This will
leave the city without any road across
the river from the east and north. One
of the conditions of the proposition is
that the bridge shall be built before the
ice goes out.