Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-05-02
ton. 1t has heard none so far.
Wishkah Street Stragetic Place

Wishkah Street Stragetic Place
That Wishkah street is the proper
place for bridge across this river"
is the decision of all disinterested,
qualified persons who have studied
the situation. In making plans for
the Port of Grays Harbor, Virgil
Bogue, the eminent engineer who
planned the harbor for the Harbor
Commission, placed the bridge at
Wishkah street for the double rea-
son that it gave a straight entrance
to the city, and the change from
Heron street gave the Wishkah river
another block of open water from
the mouth free from bridges.
An important Business Election
The special election to decide this
matter is an important one from Z
business standpoint. Much is heard
nowadays about the desirability oe
a business" administration Of city
affairs, yet that kind of municipal
government can scarcely be looked
for unless the governed display an
interest in such business PROPOSE
tion when it is referred to them. The,
law makes it our duty to express an
opinion at the polls, and we should
take no less interest in a business,
question than we do in a question
Of what persons shall hold Office.
Just now it is especially desirable
that citizens take an intelligent in
terest in city finances. The inconi
ing administration has adopted "econ--
omy" as their watchword, and IL
this they will be supported by a big
majority of the people. Just what
constitutes economy is often a mat-
ter of judgment but in the bridge
proposition before us there is little
room for argument, when the quas-
tion Is reduced to it's logical and ulti-
mate conclusion this way: We must
either spend say $4,000, payable 20
years hence, when there will be mora,
people and greater property valuation
to meet it, for new and adequate
bridge or spend $4,000 immediate
ly, paid in 6 per cent warrants and
levied in next years taxes, for the
TEMPORARY repair of an made
quate, antiquated bridge located strw
getically wrong. Small room for dis--
cussion there.
Bridge Traffic Is Great
In considering the economical
phase of this bridge question. there
is more to be considered than the
cost of construction. The cost OF
operation and convenience of the
public are important considerations.
The records of the street depart
ment show that the cost of ordinary
repairs on the Heron street bridgs
for the past year average $3.50 .
month to which should b. added 9eA
for the extra man required in work.
ing the bridge, whose time was kepk
as working on the streets, making
a total WASTED expense Of $3.50 q
or $1,000 a year, a sum equal
to per cent interest on $4,000 Or
more than the cost of new bridge,
The cost Of delay and inc0nvenk
ence is difficult to set down in act
ual figures but may be readily esti.
mated by those familiar with thu
traffic over this river. The rec0rA
Of traffic on the Heron street bridge
was kept by Street Commissioners
Arthur from noon Of Thursday.
April "a to noon yesterday, one week
and it shows that in the week t.
bridge was swung 100 times. Seven
minutes is a low average for TIE
opening and closing of this bridge.
and this would show two hours OF
delay to the traffic. A basculp
bridge would open and close in less.
than 6 seconds, SO that the delay
in that week, with modern bridee
would have been 16 minutes. Tha
loss to the public can be figured from
the following statement of the traE
nc on the bridge during the week
named, which follows:
root ................. ...... .340So