Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1917-01-30
POLK DOESN'T WANT A "TIN'
BRIDGE.

So thoroughly imbued with the
spirit of haste are some of Salem s
citizens, that they are giving little
thought to the advantages of a per-
manent bridge across the river. They
forget that the "tin' bridge which
has Just been closed served period
Of only 26 years Of usefulness, and
are now clamoring for another "tin"
structure which probably would last
during the present generation.
Folks county court is favoring a
concrete bridge, because such struc-
ture, at cost slightly above the cost
Of steel bridge, will stand forever.
The charge made in the Salem Jour-
nal last Saturday evening that small
clique of obstructionists in control
of Polk county affairs was intention
ally delaying matters, is not state
1nent of truth. The Polk county court
has been instructed by citizens of
this county to invest its money in
concrete bridge, and that is why the
court will not give heed to the state
highway commission recommenda
tions for steel bridge. And, too,
"tin" bridges are out Of date nova
days-it costs too much to keep them
in repair, to paint them, and replace
them every so often.
Despite the fact that the Salem pa
pers are well acquainted with the
"concrete bridge sentiment on this
side of the river, the Journal had
the following to say editorially last
Saturday evening, under the head,
"Marion County Should Build The
Bridge
eff the Willamette river is bridged
at Salem in the immediate future it
is evident that Marion county will
have to do it. Unquestionably the
officials of Polk county do not want
a bridge at this city, subordinating
the welfare and convenience of the
entire central Willamette valley to
an effort to force certain trade into
the Polk county towns that otherwise
might cross the river That ma
jority of the people of that county
want the bridge rebuilt there is no
doubt. but the small clique of OBJ
structionists in control of the county
affairs is in the saddle and purposes
to delay construction through one ex-
cuse or another just as long as it can
be done.
"This being the case, what should
Marion county do9 The wisest plan,
it would seem to us, would be to go
ahead and build steel bridge. ac-
cording to the state highway engin-
eer's plans, without any assistance
from Polk county. The entire cost
of bridge of this type would be
less than Marion countv's share of
the cost of a concrete bridge. even if
Polk county should assist in building
II. According to the report of the
highway engineers it would be more
serviceable structure after it is built.
and these engineers are the only per-
sons who have thoroughly investigat-
ed the matter.
"Tf Marion county has no right to
divert its tax money TO the payment
of q bridge which would be partly
within Polk county this objection
could no doubt be remedied by legis
laiion. There is still time to get
bill through at this session, if it is
needed. that would legalize the con-
struction of the entire bridge by this
county.
"The quickest, cheapest and easiest
way to solve the bridge problem is
for Marion county to proceed to build
il. and allow the obstruetionists of
fcials of Polk county to be taken care
Of by the voters of that county when
they get another crack at them. "