Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-04-11

found how badly the bridge was
needed Thor letters follow;
The Bridge. Across the Arkansas at
Tulsa.
In the early days Of the existence
OF the present city ~ Tulsa. IL was
| easy for The Thoughtful mind 50 look
forward 20 the greatness 20 which the
city might reach, but in coming 20
such conclusion, many obstacles were
IN sight, necessary 20 overcome
sixteen years ago dtO walk 30 7hc
top of what is now "StandpipC hillD
and Took In all directions, gave the
impression az rich valleys, awaiting
the enterprise az hustlcrs 20 change
from the Wild 20 the high state of
present conditions.
There were houses 80 hulld. roads
So open and construct streams 90
span with bridges, hills 60 cut down.
sWamps ~ drain. and numerous other.
difficulties fO encounter.
Greatest 0G all these was the bridge
20 span the troach herOus stream-the
Arkansas river
To mis-. ~ seems that fate fore
ordained that Mel Beard. Geo. 4. Will
hanson and Don IlagloT should shoul-
der She responsibility. To be brief,
they did, and right manfully too: 90
that extent, that Tulsa was enabled
tO reach out across the River" and
bring 20 her She business, that would
have otherwise gone 10 some other
place, ana TULSA" the then village
would stlll have been "Tulsa" the flag
station. II is needless to say-the
three above men, sweat "blue- blood"
and spent many sleeploss nights IN
solving some of fhe problems con-
nected with the building Of what cost
them about $50, 900. Not so very much
now, TO some az the heavy financial
men ~ Tulsa. hut az that time, the
amount represented more money than
any two Of the wealthiost men in
Tulsa.
AS We all know, The old bridge was
the life giving artery 20 Tulsa. After
a while statehood came. with its pub
lic-built roads, bridges and taxes 20
foot the bills with. Demand was made
for 'Free Bridge" al Tulsa. AS
sessed valuations were then small. as
compared with present values. Many
suggestions were made to the county
commissioners. in regard TO not pur-
chasing the "old bridge" but to build
new one and LEI the fellows that
had built II Cthe old BRIDGE 'fhOld
the sack" However, fully appreciat-
in. the fact that at that time Tulsa
county had not reached its best that
to build the very best the then re-
sources would permit would fall FAR
below requirements later on, and at
no great distant future either. Also
from moral standpoint. it seemed
but right that the county should re
frain from running those who had
rsked so much, on their own part,
for the good OF the community In gen
eral. The result OF which was that the
present bridge was purchased. at
price of S22 600, being done under a
protest from many well-thinking
people, and really against the best
judgment of the commissioners them
selves.
The above being a Chapter OF
earlier days" let us Took 10 the Su-
ture, If we would be considered as
progressive.
We have over $50 900, 900 OF assess
able property in this county. A levy
of three eghths mills on the dollar
will create enough money each year
to pay six per cent interest on $780,
600 and make a sinking fund suf-
ficient to soon wipe it all out in
few years and the present generation
will get the benefit of the improve
ment.
We are no longer an experiment.
The greatness of Tulsa, and the county
is too well known to question that.
So let us continue-as in the past, and
make the most of our opportunities,
tht we may enjoy them while living
Vote for the bonds and let us march
on in the procession of progress and
enterprise.
Respectfully.
c. II. CLEVELAND.