Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-05-30
Public viii Disregarded

The city council has ordered the
jWishkah street bridge repaired, at
an estimated cost of $3.50, despite
the fact that the people of the city
decided by majority of 230, that
this bridge was not worth repairing,
and that a new bridge should be
erected at Wishkah street The sus-
picion that this estimate is entirely
too low, and that the money will
be wasted is amply justified when
this estimate is compared with the
figures of Engineer Lockwood
acknowledged authority on bridges.
The repairs ordered comprise the
structural steel reinforcing of the
center pier, the rebuilding of the
west abutment and rebuilding the
two approaches. A glance at the
Lockwood estimate shows that he al
lows $3.50 for the structural steel
alone, which would leave but $3.50
with which to do all the other work
planned by Engineer Kelsey. This,
We presume, does not include the
cost of ferry during the time the
work is going on, which added to the
loss Of the users of the bridge, prom
ises to send another large bunch of
money after what has gone into this
bridge before, and all in the name of
ECONOMY
] II ever the city council received
positive instructions from the voters
Of the city, they have had them on
this bridge subject. The matter was
fully canvassed; an unusually large
vote was polled for a special elec-
ton, the removal Of the bridge was
the real issue, and it's removal was
ordered by the very handsome ma
3ority given above.
Under the circumstances, it would
appear to be the duty Of a respon-
sive city council to call for bids for
. bridge at Wishkah street. select the
best one within the ability Of the
city to pay and build it. The fact
that the bond issue was defeated by
= slight vote, cuts no figure. Had
the bond proposition carried, the sale
of the bonds at this time would have
been injudicious, in view Of the mark
ct conditions. The last bond sale by
Aberdeen was a mistake. Twenty
year bonds at 5h per cent interest
was a very poor bargain, especially
In view of the fact that the city war.
rants only draw six per cent. Wise
business judgment would advise delay
rather than redeem six per cent war
rants with 5h per cent 20-year bonds,
when ordinarily such bonds go at par
at AZ per cent interest.
II the council desires to comply
with the expressed will of the peo-
Die it will build this bridge before
any more money is wasted at Heron
street. Suppose bridge costing $780,
900 is erected at once, and paid for
in warrants. The additional interest
charge on warrants, one-half of one
per cent, WOulQ amount W $ooV a
year. The wasted money on the pro-
jected repairs would cover the diff,
ference for ten years at least, while
the saving in time to the travelling
public would be large enough to
create a sinking fund that would re-
deem a bond issue at maturity.
dnc
to take the public-be-damned course
and disregard the expression of May
10, the money will have to be wasted
as there is no remedy in the hands OF
the people, earlier than next fall
when a complete change in the sys
TEN of government for Aberdeen is
almost certainly. The demand foI
the commission form is growing daily
and this bridge matter is no small
factor in adding to that demand.