The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-03-01
UP TO CITIZENS TO
RETAIN Bridge WORKS

be properly discussed, and he made
a motion that a committee of Is
be selected by the executive commit
tee of the Citizens association to un-
dertake the acceptance of the propo,
stion and by subscription to raise
up to $4,000 and in their efforts
in this direction that they be en-
powered to call to their assistance
such other citizens as they may deem
necessary.
Mr. Devin then related the sub
stance of several conversations he
had with Mr.. Israel and Mr.. Wolver-
ton and stated that propositions of
an exceedingly attractive character
had come from Newark, Piqua, Mans
field, Columbus and several other
cities have written letters of inquiry;
that Newark had offered Is acres
of ground and 100000, Piqua a site
and $4,000 and Columbus even bet
ter proposition than the two preced-
ing named.
Mr.. Devin made 1t exceedingly
plain that the attitude of the Bridge
company was not that of seeking 10
work one city against another nut
that with them 1t was a simple busi-
ness proposition and that whereas
their natural sentiment would be to
remain in Mt. Vernon yet they could
not allow sentiment to govern them
in the determination of the matter
when such material interests were
at stake. Mr.. Devin also stated that
the plans of the Bridge Works II
carried out would give Mt Vernon
the largest bridge works in the state.
The First Subscription
At this point Secretary McCrackin
read letter from MIR. Banner M.
Allen in which he stated that he was
authorized to make pledges of three
subscriptions to the fund for the re-
tention of the Bridge Works--two
for $1,000 each and one for $500.
making a total of $250O The read
Ing OF this communication was re-
ceived with much applause.
Others Called Upon
President Penn called upon sew
eral of those present to express them
selves on the situation.
Mr.. A. A. Dowds stated that II
mno IN D., 4ba naopIo nf MI Xarpop
to do something and to do 1t right
away to keep the Bridge works here
and that he believed with vigorous
campaign of strong personal efforts
that the money could be raised.
Judge ]. b. Waight stated that 1t
was not an occasion for speech maxi
ing but for action and that he hoped
the proper effort would be made to
retain the Bridge works; that If the
establishment was lost to Mt. YER
non it would mean loss OF pop
ulation of about 1000 people anu
that every line of business would
greatly suffer and property would
very materially depreciate in vaiue.
He gave II as his opinion that the
requirement OF the Bridge company
can be met and pledged himself to
do all he could towards that end.
Rev. l.. w. Mulhane was also of
the opinion that the money could be
raised and that II 1t Is accomplished
1t will be OF great help TO the city
In the future and that all classes of
citizens, no matter what their occu-
patton, should help the proposition
along.
Mr.. II. G. Hadley, freight agent at
the b. & o. stated that IL u stranger
came to Mt. Vernon with proposl-
tlon equally as good as the one now
presented he had no doubt that the
citizens of Mt. Vernon would go af-
ter II vigorously and would secure It.
MIR. Hadley stated that In response
to the request of President Penn as
to the freight shipments of the Bridge
works during the past six months
the freight bills paid by the Bridge
works on incoming and outgoing
freight aggregated $23,625. lie said
that from February 1 to February
Ia, the date of the fire that "a car
loads of sCeel had been received By
the Bridge works and that they had
made shipment OF 81 car loads.
President Penn stated that action
by the citizens OF Mt Vernon must
be taken promptly; that the iire sn,
surance adjusters were expected Fri
day and that as soon as the loss was
adjusted that the Bridge company
desired to move promptly In deter
mining positively their future plans
as TO location, He also said that
Mr., Israel had stated In response TO
question that the building of the
new structure would take about 30