The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-08-20
BRIDGE AFFAIR
CONTAINS GERM
OF COMING ERA
DR.. Harold at Mass Meeting
Outlines Need for Nom
Partisan Organization to
Protect People.
SECOND CALL ISSUED

Forty representative business men
met at the Baxter school last night
and discussed the Main street bridge
proposition and discussed the good
road movement as advanced by the
Old Trail association. It was decided
that another meeting be held next
Friday night at the west end Of the
Main street bridge, weather permit
ting, and that band be hired to at
tract q crowd.
DR.. I. s. Harold opened last nights
session, saying that he had been re-
quested by q number Of residents of
the West Side to call a meeting of
the citizens of that section for the
purpose Of discussing the bridge prob
lem, as they we're the people most af-
fected by the closing Of the present
Structure
Everybody is interested in the
closing Of the bridge" said the doc
tor, but there was some doubt In
the minds of many whether the clos
ing OF 1t at once was not mistake.
However, l don't think there is any
one present who would take the re-
sponsibility of opening it.
Might Mean Catastrophe.
III opened, a catastrophe might oc-
cur. The bridge is closed to stay and
I think II a wise move"
DR.. Harold was selected as chair
man.
Prof HIATT, OF Purdue university,
who has been called here by the
city and county officials to go over the
bridge, was called upon.
Prof. HIATT spoke at some length on
the value of technical advice in such
matters as are now confronting Rich
uond, and told how the people Of
Lafayette had overcome their bridge
problem.
What type Of bridge is needed in
Richmond Is an engineering consider
alton and a matter that should be
taken up with experts. Safety first
is the first consideration and the
erection of new bridge as soon as
possible is of paramount Importance
Following Prof. HIATT, DR.. Harold
said:
IF it is patched up we have
patched bridge. and it would cost ap-
proximately 100000. The bridge is
too narrow and we need a structure
that will last for coming generations.
The Doran street bridge is being
weakened by the heavy traffic that is
now going over it, and If some relief
is not secured for 1t soon. we may
have another bridge to buy"
Build Bridge on Level.
J. NJ. Hutchinson said that he would
like to ask Prof. HIATT If he considered
It of importance whether the new
bridge proposed is built on an in
cline or on the level.
Prof HIATT said there Is no reason
why the bridge should not be built to
grade If the situation and surround
ings will permit it.
G. r. Cause uses the Doran street
bridge frequently and stated that it
Is a common occurrence nowadays to
6nd it overcrowded and that the clos
ing of the Main street structure was
causing great inconvenience. The
closing of the Main street bridge was
the proper thing to do. he thought, be-
cause he deemed it unsafe and he
favored the immediate erection of
new bridge.
Richard Sedgwick expressed him.
self as favoring a new bridge, but
thought that if the present one could
be fixed up it would be a wise thing
to do. He spoke of the prospect of
the United States government build
ing the proposed National highway
from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
said that if this was done Uncle Sam
might build the bridge. He suggest.
ed that when the new bridge is built
no cars be allowed to run over it and
thdt If the traction company wanted
to cross the river that they should
build bridge of their own.
favors Level Structure.
Thomas Hubbard asked how many
were in favor of having the new
bridge built on the level. The vote
was unanimously in favor of the prop
Osition.
DR. Wampler expressed some doubt
about the advisabilty OF building the
bridge on the level, but stated that
he for one did not enjoy the tifty-two
foot climb necessary in crossing it.
The people of Wayne county boss
Wayne county, was the statement
made by the chairman at this point, !
and we should have some organiza.
ton to look after these matters of /
public interest. Wayne county needs |
a ncn-partisan organization. We have