Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-04

bridge would consist in the state as
Stunning the entire expense of the re-
construction of this bridge in the same
manner as. was done in the case of
the construction of the Saybrook and
East Haddarn bridges, in which event
the bridge will become a toll bridge
In this connection. it is fair to sug-
gest that future receipts from tolls
should be applied-hrst. to the main
tepance of the bridge itself; second, to
the payment of the interest on the
original investment; and third, to the
ESTABLISHMENT of a sinking fund which
should be applied to the retirement
cific term of years; that Is to say, the
first bond to mature in five or more
years and the remainder ssrially
thereafter. The amount to be receiy-
81 freAn tolls should, therefore, be es-
timated, and the toll 80 fixed as to
reSurn an annual amount to the STATE
wffish should provide for the above
items Of cost.
In this connection, the life of the
structure should be assumed MS 25
years and oil calculations made on
thst basis. There is Of course, a ma
terfx1 objection to placing a toll bridge
between two towns Of such character
local travel would be fairly heavy and
whsre thera would be distinct OBJ
lection on the part of the local peo-
pie to the payment of a toll to cross
1t is interesting to note, in further
consideration of Chapter go of the
Special Acts of 1915. that the railroad
c@repany has not yet presented a sat
isfactory dedication of this bridge to
the state Of CoDpecticut and that the
Payment of $4,000 authorized by the
preceding legislature has not yet been
made.
n hatever is done in this matter
should be done promptly, since the
railroad company is proceeding with
the construction of its new bridge
without delay. and 1t is the. expecta-
tion that this new bridge will be com
pleted on or before January l, 1918
at which time the state highway de-
psr1nacnt must be ready to go ahead
rrefHrt1y with the removal Of the
plans ard material ready. A year is
a very short time to make the neces-
sary arranSeNents.
|. It must further be understood that
the work to be done on the bridge it
SELF Is werk which is of necessity in
Discriminate and certain part Of il
must be done without competitive bids
Consequently, whatever appropriation
Is made for the reconstruction Of this
bridge should be made in such a man.
ment may proceed with the work
without the necessity of advertising
bids in open competition.
AS a result of the above, the under
fore, recommends:
First, that an appropriation suffi-
cient to carry out the work may be
made under either one of the two
above plans.
Second, that the state highway COM
missioner be authorized to proceed
with the woak of reconstructing this
bridge Immediately.
Third, that he be authorized to make
such necessary arrangements for the
reconstruction Of this bridge, as may
be considered best without open COM
petition.
Fourth, that in the event of the sec
ond method of financing this bridge
being adopted. that is the proposal
whereby the state assumes the entire
cost and the bridge becomes a toll
bridge, that satisfactory plan of A.
nancing and retiring bonds may be
worked out so that the investment
may be retired at the end of twenty
five years.
Fifth, that the state highway COM
missioner be given necessary author
ity to petition the proper federal au-
thorities for the right to reconstruct
this bridge under suitable restrictions.