The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-04-10
RED RIVER BRIDGE
It's Construction Is All Important in the
Development of Shreveport Traits.

Development of Shreveport Traits.
Somebody has been knocking" the
Red River bridge.
And wl1y2
1t is a narrow mind, and selfish spirit
who would interpose directly or indi-
rectly against the construction of the
peoples bridge across the Red River.
After many delays and the removal
of many irnpediments, the bridge has
reached the stage where its plan of con-
struction has been approved by the en-
gineers of the United States govern
nlent, and all that now remains to be
done is to secure a builder, of which
there are many, but, as recently devel-
oped it may be necessary to invite bids
for the construction of the piers and
bids for the construction of the bridge
proper.
Towards the payment for this bridge
there is fund exceeding seventy thous-
and dollars The bridge, as planned,
when completed will cost about 100000.
The tolls collectable over this bridge
will be applied to the liquidation of its
cost. Legal certificates may be issued
which can be made negotiable. Indeed
from a practical view, whatever may be
the impediments, should there be any,
can be removed without friction and
satisfactorily to the city and to the
builder.
After all, the construction of this
bridge is simply business proposition
which should receive the hearty ap-
proval of every progressive citizen OF
the community.
An independent bridge, that is a
bridge free from any connection with
the Yicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific
has long since been in demand, especial
ly in the business season, when wagons
laden with cotton are seeking a market
in Shreveport. It is Of record that
wagons laden with cotton bound for
Shreveport or returning home with
merchandise have been delayed fol-
hours owing to the bridge being closed
to such traffic to accommodate the serv-
ice of the railroad
This is one of the objections to the
traffic over the Vicksburg, Shreveport
and Pacific bridge, but there are others
which it is unnecessary to enumerate
in this article.
What is wanted by the people of Bos-
sier and of that section of the country
whose trading point is Shreveport is the
facilities for crossing day and night, go
ing and coming, without delay or inter
ruption.
And it should be borne in mind that
this bridge is expected to do service fol
greater Shreveport and a greater Bos-
sier City, when the two will be merged
into one and when the Vicksburg
Shreveport and Pacific will cease to af-
ford facilities for the crossing of We
hicles and of pedestrians.
Whatever has been done by Mayor
Dickson to secure and hold the author
| ity of Congress towards the construc.
ton of the bridge has been well done
and for which he is entitled to the full
est credit, but it is imperative that Z
| showing shall be made more substantial
than the simple cutting of few tree!
and digging some dirt from the banks
on each side of the river. We must no
only hold what has already been Sc
cured, but we must give in practical de
nonstration the earnestness of deter
mined purpose to build the bridge
therefore, if it be impossible or if it b.
impracticab1e to secure a bidder for thu
construction of the bridge, including thu
piers, then from a business policy i
should follow that the piers be construct
ed without delay, for which the money
now on hand may be applied to the pay
ment. With the piers constructed, ther,
will be experienced little if any Difficult
ty in securing the construction and thu
completion of the bridge, whose speed.
construction is all-important in the de
velopment Of Shreveport and its create
progress.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Vital statistics Of Shreveport for til,