Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-28
COMMERCIAL CLUB
DISCUSSES BRIDGE
Will Not Act Until Report Of
Engineers As to Repairs
Is Received

After discussing the urgent need of
some means of transportation across the
river and receiving the report of En-
gineer Sadler that the bridge was un-
safe, the commercial club at the special
called meeting last evening decided to
wait until more complete report had
been received. This report will be
made within few days, when the club
will meet again to take some action. A
motion was lost, urging the county
court to provide ferry while the en-
gineers were making their report a1d
during the repair of the bridge. There
is general impression, that although
the bridge is now unsafe, it can be re-
paired and put in general condition to
permit a load of 1000 pounds. The
evenings discussion resolved itself in.
to a ways and means committee as 10
how to procure funds for the erection
of a new bridge, how to repair the pres.
ent bridge to once again open traffic
into Polk county, and as to the advis-
ability of operating ferry to relieve
conditions at once.
Law Hampers Polk County.
AS to building a new bridge, Judge
Busney stated this county was ready
to build, if the price was not too high.
County Commissioner Beckett of Polk
county, was willing to build, provided
some one would suggest way of get.
ting around the law passed by the last
Legislature, in which they were not per.
mitted to increase their levy more than
six per cent, without special election.
The ferry proposition did not seem
advisable to a majority Of those pres
ent, not only on account of the iiffi-
Guilty of suitable landings, but from
the fact th&t the travel across tine
river was so great, that a ferry would
not in any way relieve the situation.
For immediate relief, there was no
suggestion, other than that of just
waiting until another report was made
by the state engineers as to whether
the bridge could be repaired to permit
of light traffic.
The situation simply resolves ITSELF
into waiting a few days for the en-.
gineers report, and If ne is of the
opinion that light loads can be carried
after repairs are made, then waiting n
few weeks while these repairs are un-
der way. For the present, there will
be no ferry, nor any traffic on the
bridge.
Some Individual Opinions.
Opinions were expressed as follows:
|. l.. Patterson, of Polk county: Il
find no opposition to the bridge and
think You will get support from all
parts of Pclk county.
J. L. Stockton: Every day Salem is
suffering from the bridge being closed.
We should make arrangements for a
free ferry for two years if necessary.
State Engineer Sadler: If loads are
reduced 80 per cent below what the
bridge was originally intended to ear.
ry, it might be made to last another
year
Judge Bushey: / know the bridge is
in bad shape from personal examina.
ton. Many people do not believe it,
but there is the personal liability should
any one meet with an accident. We
will proceed at once to fix the bridge
as soon as the report Of Mr.. Sadler isl
received.
Commissioner Beckett, of Polk coun.
ty: Show us way to get the money
and get around the new law, and we
will build the bridge. We are up
against it.
Joseph Fl, Albert; The most pressing
need now is some way of getting across
the river. Some temporary means should
be provided.
Judge Bushey' Let us drop tne fer
ny idea until we find out if the bridge
can be repaired, We will know this in
a few days.