The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-02
Opens way FOR A
FREE bridge HERE

free it is not to be thought of that the
other would also be purchased by the
State. This bill provides that the
State shall bear the entire expense and
make the purchase outright.
There are, as | understand, two toll
bridges between Harrisburg and Cum
berland county. Why should not one of
them be freel We are making the toll
roads free, why not make the toll
bridges free2 The State can purchase
either one of the Harrisburg bridges un-
der this bill and it would be free. If
the other wants to charge toll after the
first one has been made free, that is its
own concern. / propose to push the
bill to final passage. -
Demand Here for Free Bridge
Farmers who have occasion to bring
their products from Cumberland, York
or other cross river counties, to the
markets in this city, as well as auto
mobihsts and others who use the Har-
risburg bridges extensively, have long
felt the need of free bridge connect
ting Dauphin and Cumberland counties
There is strong sentiment in favor of a
free bridge from Harrisburg and the
advantages have often been pointed
out.
The bill of Senator Mcconnell
whether or not it provides the best
plan for obtaining free bridge to the
cumberland shore, has been the subject
OF much discussion in this and adioin-
ing counties since the fact of it's intro
ducton was published in the newspa-
pers this morning. 1t was recalled
tnat the State originally intended that
the first viaduct across the river from
this city should be free bridge.
The first Harrisburg wagon and foot
bridge constructed over the Susoue
mamma river was authorized by an act
passed in 1903. The act Incorporated
a company, known as the Susquehanna
Bridge Company, with a capital of
$4OO,00O, but the names of the original
neorporators cannot be found. The
hrst directors, however, were Thomas
Elder, Jacob NJ. Haldeman, John
Ritscher, George Brenizer, Samuel c.
Wrestling, John Howard, William Bry-
son, George Hoyer, Jacob Boas, Harry
Baader, Michael K-ehl and John NY
finger.
Intended for Free Bridge
The capital was divided into 10000
shares at $40 share. The Commits.
sloners were empowered to reserve
5000 shares to be used for the pur-
pose of vesting therein the monies to
be applied for sinking fund to free
the bridge. 1t was stipulated that the
bridge should be erected in fifteen
years, but that its construction should
begin within five years. The property
was directed to be vested in bond for
thirty years after the bridge was com
pleted. In 1911 the Governor was au-
thorized to subscribe, in behalf of the
State, for 100000 of the stock of the
company. The rest of the money for
the construction of the bridge seems to
have been obtained by private subscrip-
ton.
The contract for constructing the
bridge, according to the report of
John Downey, the treasurer, was let to
Theodore Burr for the sum of $1S0,000.
The first foundation stones were placed
December 2, 1912. Contractor Burr
was to take $35, 900 of stock and the
balance of the contract price was to be
paid to him as the work progressed
He was to furnish all of the materials
and to have the bridge completed on
December !, 1915.
There must have been some dissatis-
faction over the fixing of the site of
the bridge at its present location, Front
and Market streets, but Mr.. Downey
said in his report on July 80, 1913,
that this displeasure had almost sub
sided. The bridge was completed in
1917 at a cost of S193,13S. It's total
length was twothirds of a mile. 1t
was 10 feet wide and had an elevation
of so feet. The first toll taken was
on October 16, 1916, some time pre-
vious to the actual completion of the
bridge and the toll-nouses.
In the original act it was provided
that when the tolls shall exceed 10
per cent. net annual profits the excess
shall compose fund for the redemp-
tion Of the said bridge so as to render it
free, save that there shall always be
small toll or other revenue for the
keeping of it in repair; this excess shall
be laid out in bridge stock, or some
other productive funds and the divi-
dends for annual product shall also be
added to this fund; and all private do
nations for freeing saiA bridge shall
likewise be received and invested in
like manner
There is no record Of the tolls ex-
ceeding 15 per cent. net annual profits
for the establishment of fund to
make the bridge free. The State in
1917 paid its last installment on the
$50, 900 stock that it had subscribed,
to $22,500. At the same
time the State raised the rate of toll
for vehicles from 32 cents to 37h
cents, and for single horse and riders
from 1884 cents to 25 cents.
Evidently the State did not find the
bridge investment. a paying one, and
some years later it decided to dispose
of its holdings in turnpikes. canals and
bridge and railroad properties.
When the stock of the Harrisburg
Bridge Company, the latter name, by
the way, having been given to it in
1882, was put up for sale, the $780,
900 worth of shares owned by the
State were sold to James Mccormick
and Jacob M. Haldeman for $4,000.
Senator Mcconnell last night also in
troduced bill for bridge across the
river from Port Treverton
to Herndon and making an appropri-
alton of $250,000 to pay for it.