The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-12-28

President Wilson had the European
war and the trouble with Mexico to
preplex him during 1916 Wayne
county commissioners had the Main
and South G street bridge problems to
contend with.
Considering that the president gets
$4,000 year and has all the assist
ants he needs, it might be said that
the local commissioners have had the
worst job by long shot. For their
services during the year each of them
has received $500. Out Of this they
have had to pay their own expenses.
In proportion the commissioners
have had to stand for many more
knocks from people with different
views that the president
Practically every step taken by the
commissioners towards replacing the
old Main street bridge and getting an
appropriation for South Side bridge
was holly contested
Controversy Dates Way Back.
Rumblings forecasting the storm
and climax of the bridge controversy
may be traced back several years. In
1911 the safety of old Main street
bridge was questioned At this same
time the south siders began getting
more and more anxious for bridge
over the Whitewater at South E, South
G or South l. street.
The bridge sinking fund which had
been started in 1904 was getting larg-
er People who questioned the safety
of the Main street bridge in 1911 were
put off four years but not so with the
south siders. They were after the
bridge in the south end and they were
working for it all the time. Every
fronted with request for an appro-
priation and each time the improve
ment association was put off with
special sinking fund levy
The first levy of two cents for the
South Side bridge sinking fund was
paid in 1905; in 1906 it was four cents:
1907, four cents; 1908, two cents: 1909.
one cent; 1910, one cent; 1911, one
cent; 1912. four cents; 1913, four
cents; 1914, two cents; 1915, one cent
and 1916. one cent.
All these levies put together make
the total amount now in the sinking
fund, $37,S96.71. There is now much
question whether this sinking fund
levy could ever have been legally col
lected if resistance had been offered
by tax payers.
In 1914 the first real crash which
had any resemblance to this years con-
troversy came to notice. 1t was be-
tween the South Side Improvement
association and the South West Rich
mond Improvement association.
commissioners Make Decision.
When the south siders appeared be-
fore the county council for the first
time in 1904 they asked for bridge
south of + street. Because 1t offered
possibilities for the shortest span, l.
street was suggested for the site. This
was too far south, however, to suit all
Then came the South West Richmond
people who wanted the bridge at E
street. This was too far north for
the south siders.
After much quibbling, a mass meet
irg was called and an agreement was
reached whereby the location would
be left up to the county commission
erS. ........
The South G. street site was finally
agreed upon as compromise. I'M
mediately. both civic bodies became
boosters of plan to erect bridge at
South G. street.
Main Span Condemned.
With the way practically clear for
the South G street bridge appropria-
ticn when the county council met n
September 1915, the old Main street
bridge which had seen service twenty
years was declared unsafe and closed
by the city, Aug. IL, 1915
On Sept 4, an Investigation com
mission composed Of Prof. w. K. HIATT,
head of the civil engineering depart