The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1917-01-18
ALL SECTIONS VOICE
PROTEST ON BRIDGE
Blaine, Everson and Bellingham
Papers Express DisapprovaI Of
Marietta Structure.

sack river at Marietta at an estim-
ated expense of from $4,000 to
$4,000.
"The taxpayers are asked to buy
bridge to benefit the Indians and
summer campers" declared the Jour
nal of Blaine last week.
The following is the entire COM
ment made by the Blaine paper:
The Marietta bridge matter is a.
A-ain up for cons: deraticn. This is nc.
yrprise to great many people who
knew that shortly after election this
would be up agair.
First, the BeiltEgha,n Chamber of
Commerce endorsed tha bridge pro-
ject, then the daily press came out in
big head lines to the effect that
large delegation hal appeared before
the county commissioners IN favor of
the bridge.
Attorney F. w. Bixby appeared for
the petitioners as spokesman He
cited that the reservation consisted
of large body of rich land tina: was
being held back from development
by the lack of proper outlet, that
bridge could be built at an estimated
cost of $25 900 and could be paid for
in a comparatively short time by the
use of the $500 now expended yearly
for the ferry.
The Marietta bridge matter has
been pretty well thrashed out in the
past. These important matters stand
out in opposition to the bridge:
First, the changing course of the
Nooksack at this point make it ex
ceedingly difficult to locate a per-
manent bridge.
Second, one disastrous attempt to
keep a bridge there resulted in the
bridge going out during the first high
water and the entire cost absolutely
wasted.
Third, the bridge WI cost any
where from $4,000 to $4,000. All
of the land to be reached by the
Ae&idge is contained in a government
neAa;an reservation that cannot be
taxed by Whatcom Co. so that the
taxpayers are asked to pay for a
bridge to reach what might be term
ed foreign territory.
In answer to the assertion of the
proponents of the bridge that 1t
would soon be paid for out of the
saving in forry expense, any one with
common knowledge of arithmetic can
prove this falsehood. Six per cent in
terest on $4,000. and this amount
means an annual interest charge of
$500, 500 more every year than
the ferry costs.
This bridge would probably be of
advantage to a few Bellingham busi-
ness men in making easier the bring
ing of produce from the reservation,
and would make it possible for Mr..
Frank Wright, the Lummi Island
canneryman, and his associates, to
get to their cannery in their auto
mobiles without running the risk of
of little delay at the river. These
gentlemen cannot be blamed for ad-
vocating the bridge. 1t is, however,
another question when 1t comes to
taxing Whatcom County's producing
property, which needs all its revenue,
TO pay for an accommodation to non
producers.
That the building of bridge at
Marietta would be foolish waste
of money, is the opinion of the Ev-
erson Valley Home. Says the Valley
Home:
Bids will be called for at once for
: Nhe construction of a bridge over the
q ,suth of the Nooksack at Marietta.
according to information received at
this office this morning. That the
improyernent has been regarded as
foolish, is axtested by competent eng
ineers scoffing at the idea of bridge
being put in on that place on the
Nooksack which would be of perm
anent nature. By putting concrete
bulwarks along the river for con-
siderable distance upstream from the
bridge. conditions might be bettered.
but the river changes its course quite
often and no assurance is had that II
will not do SO again. If the prop
osition was a benefit to large num-
her of people, small discrepancies OF
this kind might be overlooked. but
tho present ferry system costs less
tban one half. or about third, OF
the interest on the bonds issued for
tho construction of the bridge. con-
crete road has been built at county
expense to Marietta this year. and
naonIe living in the heavy taxpaying
d;stricts of Nooksack and Lynoeh
townships are opposed to any more
large expenditures in that vicinity
while they themselves must fiounoer
in mud.
The South Bellingham Sent
incl, in considering, the bridge ag-
station. complains rs follows from a
taxation standpoint:
"The chamber % commerce is on on
record for building 'riegc across
the Noolsack st Marietta. A i FisA' :
here is the wherewitnal 10 come
q .om TO make The Improvement teas
,ble? That is something which con-