Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-09
TO ASK ESTIMATES
FOR FREE BRIDGE
Officials of Douglas and Potta-
wattamie Counties Hold
Conference.
SENTIMENT Is FAVORABLE

The net result of a Missouri river
free bridge conference yesterday aft
ernoon in the Chamber Of Commerce
and court house at Council Bluffs was
a decision to ask the engineers Of
Douglas and Pottawattamie counties
and the states of Iowa and Nebraska
to prepare estimates at an early date.
Attending the joint conference
we're: Commissioners Best, O'Con-
nor and Mcdonald Of Douglas
county; Commissioner Manley of the
Omaha Commercial club, Supervisors
Harding, True, Coe, Shields and In
gram OF Pottawattamie county; F. F.
Everest, George Corner, A. c. Keller,
H. A. Searle and M. Wallace of the
Council Bluffs Chamber of Com
merce, and other officials of both
counties. George T. Morton and M.
NJ. Heptonstahl represented the
Omaha Commercial club free bridge
committee.
Bluffs Favors Project.
Sentiment among the Council
Bluffs people was more favorable
toward the free bridge than it was a
few years ago when this project was
discussed.
Mr.. Morton was appointed chair
man at a general conference held in
the Chamber OF Commerce rooms,
and then the county boards Of both
sides Of the river went to the court
house, where further discussion was
held.
The possible donation of the old
superstructure of the Union Pacific
bridge was not regarded as a serious
matter, but this will be considered
when the engineers make their esti-
mates. The main proposition is that
Omaha and Council Bluffs need free
bridge for the benefits Of both cities.
Pro Rata Cost Secondary.
Commissioner Manley of the
Omaha Commercial club said: 81
think it would be better to first get
an estimate of the cost of new
bridge before we bother ,out the pro
rata cost to the two cities"
"Pottawattamie county was never
in better financial condition and
feel confident the bonds will carry"
said w. c. Boyer of Council Bluffs.
This is large proposition and we
should lock into the future. We
should not be in any great haste. We
should consider the Lincoln Highway
feature and should also remember
that national military road may go
over this bridge. We may get federal
aid on this" were statements OF F. C.
Best, chairman of the Douglas county
board.
George T. Morton said he was not
ready to state whether the people OF
Douglas county would be willing to
stand more than one-half of the ex.
pense of the bridge, Notwithstanding
that the manifest benefits would be
more than half to this county. The
suggestion was made that on basis
Of taxable valuations ofthe two coun-
ties Douglas county should pay
three-fourths or more.
II moved from Omaha to Coun.
Gil Bluffs % years ago and have been
looking for a free bridge ever since.
! hope to see this bridge before | die"
said A. c. Keller.
Mr.. Morton added the thought that
the whole states OF Iowa and Ne
braska would be benefited by this free
bridge.
The bridge would touch Omaha at
Farnam street Nothing definite has
been decided as to the kind OF bridge
that will be built.
The Omaha conferees expressed the
belief that the Council Bluffs people
seem to be in earnest this time over
the free bridge project and they feel
confident that an educational cam
paign in both counties will result in
passage of bond propositions. The
increasing automobile traffic has i'm
pressed the lowans with the needs of
free bridge.