The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-07
ROANOKE FIRM To
|. CONSTRUCT BRIDGE
Virginia Concern Agrees to do
Contract Work for Sum of
$40, 100.
PRIVATE PARTIES MAY
PUT UP TOLL STRUCTURE
They Say They Will Do This if
County Supervisors Turn
Down Their Propo-
Ia sition.

Construction of bridge across
James river in the vicinity of the Coun-
try Club and Northampton connect
ing that section with the Bon Air
country, In Chesterfield county, is
practically an assured fact. according
to those familiar with details OF the
project.
The Roanoke Bridge Company, it Is
said, has already agreed to build a
steel bridge, with wood approach,
across the river at this point for $685.
100. the frame of the structure to rest
upon concrete piers that VIII place 1t
high above low water and reasonably
safe from freshets. The bridge will
be is feet wide and 900 feet In length,
which is less than half the distance
across the Free Bridge connecting
Richmond with Washington ward
At present, the proposition Is for
Henrico to pay si0.00o and Chester
field an equal amount, while private
parties agree to put up the rest OF
the money. Supervisors of both coun-
ties viii act upon the proposition the
latter part of May at regular monthly
sessions. and In event that they de-
cline to shoulder the expense allotted
to them, II Is the declared intention
tire cost themselves and make the
structure a toll bridge as an investment
proposition.
Do Work in Six Months.
The Roanoke firm has agreed to
build the structure within four to six
months after the contract Is let. SO
that the bridge would be ready for use
by the first OF next year. II the TWO
supervisory bodies take final action, one
I.Ntz
From Bon Air to the river is a dis
lance OF two miles and between them
a private road now runs. This road
can be converted into a public thor
,oughfare on short notice. IL is said.
On the north side of the river, road,
already opened to the public. runs from
a point near the location of the pro-
posed bridge in the direction of the
Richmond College property. while an
other road. also public. branches OF
from a point near the river in the d.
rection of the Country Club. parallel
Ing the James river and kanawha ca
nal and the Chesapeake and Ohio
tracks. The road toward the college
property penetrates that recently pur-
chased by a syndicate from the True
Reformers' Society and Will also pene-
trate the college property Itself.
Furnish Fine Sport.
Promoters Of the bridge project say
that the country across the river viii
furnish fine fox hunting sport for
members of the Country Club. in ad
aition to providing beautiful scenic
driveway along the thoroughfare to
be developed on the other side.
At the same time they make no ef-
fort 10 disguise the fact that property
values on both sides of the river will
be materially enhanced. thus giving
impetus to the present development ca
property In that section.
,fhe Virginia Railway and Power
Company, II has been suggested, may
likely extend its Forest Hin line to
the bridge and connect by way OF the
bridge with it's extension line, running
to the college property on this side
OF the river. Officials OF the COM
pany, however. declare that they have
NO such plans In pieW- and that II Is
extremely unlikely that they win un-
dertake any such extension within the
next few years
AS matter of fact. II is believed
that this company would be far more
likely to confine its attention to cross
ing the river at some point consider
ably farther down. perhaps across its
own dam nearer the city. SO as to be
able to run fts cars OF the Richmond
and Petersburg line across the river
to Richmond. instead of having to
transfer passengers into lighter cars
as at present on the Southside.
n. 4 HI. May Extend.
1t Is stated on seemingly reliable
authority. however. that the Rich
mond and Henrico railway IL serious
~ contemplating invasion of the West
hampton territory In anticipation 81
the proposed new bridge. and the con.
sequent development of that terrifnt.y
These plans. ii is said call Tor pro ).
able extension of the company's track.
out broad street and thence around Il
Northampton. 4
This same authority states that INK
Richmond and Henrico Ii no longer
open 40 cyertpres froM tno yfrRfnia
RAalNAx NM J0AFAx ~ NJ yI6
khenuek6Ett prcppase "A QyFs