The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-03
MacDonaId's
 Broken Promise
Has Failed to Carry Out an Agreement With South Wind sOr-Bridge Completed Last December

Hartford, June 3.--"How long, O Lord, how long?" is the pious ejacu- ulation of the taxpayers Of South Windsor, re-echoed by all the auto aobilistS of New York and New Eng land when they hear of some new disaster attendant upon the old bridge over the Scantic river at East Wind sor Hill; then they think of High way Commissioner Macdonald and the paths that are blind and the ways that are devious in connection with the administration of his office. For many years the townsfOlk have looked forward to the time when they might build a new bridge to take care of the through travel through their village and they decided early, that when they would build 1t, they would make it right and substantial. They would like the cooperation of the state. through the highway de- partment, but the town was unani- nous in the conclusion that the bridge must be a. permanent structure, that would be a credit to the enterprise and civic pride of the community that built it.
 The town meeting that was called early in the year 1910 rejected by an unanimous vote the proposition of one lone citizen that it appropriate S10,- build the bridge. South Windsor folks wanted something to say about this structure. They wanted a sub stantial bridge and a handsome one and they thought they would be more certain of what they were getting should they build it themselves. They so decided.
 MacDonaId's Broken Promise.
 They. sent a commissioner to the office of State Highway Commission CT Macdonald and he gave the en- voy of the town assurance that if it would erect a bridge that would be satisfa ctory to him, he would provide the filling. The town accepted the commissioner at his word. It not only erected a bridge on a. scale of strength, utility and beauty that would be satisfactory to the require ments of the highway commissioner, but 1t went him better to the extent of several thousands of dollars. Since last December the bridge has been complete, but the highway commis- sloner has not carried out his bar gain. The filling remains to be done and the new bridge is, not open to travel. The townspeople have plead ed with Mr. Macdonald, and for some reason he has been to them as ada mant. The bridge that has already cost S17,00O, raised on the tax list built by day labor under the direction Of competent engineer. <cannot be used because of the continued refusal of the highway commissioner to car ry out his portion of the implied bar gain.
 Traffic Impeded.
 Traffic continues to pour over the obsolete old structure some distance away and as the route is the prin- clpal one for auto travel between New York and Boston, Hartford and Springfield. this explains the many se- rious accidents at this point. This is where General Wallace T. Fenn of Wethersfeld was run if9to Sunday, where Former Senator Charles C. Cook was run into two weeks ago at a cost of a scare and s1OO, where General Keeney and a party of friends returning from Hartford were stuck for two hours, and where au- tomobile accident after accident has happened. due entirely to the fact that the approaching motorists, not the existence of such a | complete trap upon a modern high | way in a state boasting of a mod | ern highway department, hasten along sand and either are overturned. with | the danger always imminent of roiI- | ing down the embankment, or they | smash into the car of the gentleman on the other side, who knowing the conditions. is discreetly awaiting the opportunity to get by. A new indus try has been created for South Wind sor folks. in that a pair of horses is constantly in demand for the hauling out of mired cars. The impression of the highway department of the subjected to the workings of this dil- emma is not complimentary to Con- necticut and the administration of it's road problem