The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-06-08

County Council Should Not Delay Action
In Matter---Hope That Improvement
Might Include Also Cement Bridge
On Michigan Street.

The County Council was called
to meet on Tuesday, June b. Ihe
chief reason for their coming to-
gether was to take action on the mat
ter of a new bridge to replace the
old worn-out Brownlee bridge over
Yellow river, just south OF the
Pennsylvania railway, in flymouth.
This Brownlee bridge was built
long time ago, over forty years ac-
cordinp to the recollection OF w. w.
Hill. and has been one OF the In
portant crossings of the community
all this time. About fourteen years
ago it was repaired by the city. For
the past nearly four years 1t has
been out of commission--unsafe
for the use of vehicles and they
have forbidden to cross it. The
structure has been used only as a
foot bridge.
The public generally does not
understand the need for this bridge.
All that section to the southeast,
south and southwest of the city
whose people come into Plymouth
by the Michigan road, want this
bridge. Whenever they have grain
to take to the elevator or wish to
haul grain or other stuff from the
elevator, they must now come
under the Michigan street viaduct,
up through the business part OF
town and then back under the
Center street viaduct. 1t is the
same disagreeable thing whenever
stock is brought to the stock yards.
1t must be driven through the busi-
ness streets, which both the stock
and the people will agree is not
agreeable ito either. This bridge
is also used by all the children
south of the railway who 60 to the
Webster school. and is needed by
every delivery wagon in the CITY.
Four years is certainly long
:. enough to be without a bridge of
the importance of this one, and it
is believed the County Council will
not hesitate to make the appropria-
ton for its rebuilding.
THE LEGAL QUESTION.
There is a legal question con-
nected with this proposition which
has been puzzling the minds OF
some. 1t ie whether the city or the
county should build the bridge.
City Attorney Judge Hess has fully
investigated this matter, and since
his opinion on the rights and
duties of cities is as good as can
be had anywhere. it ought to put
at rest any thought that the city
should build this bridge. The Judge
says the law is that the county may
build q bridge Of this kind and
that after it is uilt the city must
keep it in repair. The Brownlee
bridge, being beyond repair. it il
only a question of building a new
one. OF course the county does
not have to build it, any more than
they have to build any other bridge
anywhere in the county. That il
merely a question Of whethe.
bridges are needed.
A CEMENT BRIDGE.
It is hoped by large number oi
people IN Plymouth that the County
Council viii see its way clear te
make not only the Brownlee bridge
but to make q more lasting and
extensive improvement in the city
1t is hoped that they will take
away the old Michigan street bridge
and replace it with a cement one
!; the full width of Michigan street
This kind CT abridge would last fol
all time andlsave the continual cos
of repair in the way of new planl
and paint. 1t would also avoit
the dangerous congestion at thi'