South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-13
CITIZENS EXERCISED
OVER BRIDGE PROTEST
Deny Improvement Would Ma
teriaIIy Effect Taxes.
Meeting Monday.


a remonstrance TO Mishawaka's new
bridge across the ST. Joseph river at
the east end OF Joseph st. was being
widely circulated in the rural dis
tricts of the county. Mishawaka cit
liens are becoming active in max
ing arrangements to appear before
the county commissioners at their
regular meeting next Monday when
they will make a showing in behalf
OF the proposed Improvement.
A petition asking for the bridge
was presented 10 the board of county
commissioners early last fall and
the improvement was favorably
voted upon by the board and an
appropriation Of $4,000 was sub
sequently made by the county coun-
Gil Pursuant TO this action, the
county commissioners employed En-
gineer Charles w Cole. construc-
ton engineer Of this city. for the
proposed improvement and Mr. Cole
in turn prepared plans and specifica-
tons for the bridge.
Report is GroundIess.
At a later date the report was
circulated from some unknown
source that the specifications pre-
pared would require an expenditure
of approximately $4,000, and as a
result of this report, remOnstrances
TO the improvement were widely cir
culated over the county, particularly
in the rural districts. That the re-
port of the excessive cost Of the
bridge is untrue and absolutely
groundless is the statement of Mr.
Cole Speaking to The News-Times
Tuesday the latter said he had pre-
pared his specifications in strict
conformity with the amount Of the
appropriation and ii was his Opin-
ion, as an engineer, that the bridge
could be built for the amount ap-
propriated. Mr.. Cole further stated
that the expense of building the
approach at the east end of the
bridge would be very slight for the
reason that the dirt necessary could
be secured from street improvements
in the immediate neighborhood Of
the bridge. and that the work of
building the approach would be
done by the engineering department
Of the city at a very slight cost.
Needs OF Improvement.
The needs of the proposed inn
provement are many, and there is
no question. il is said but that the
bridge would be of great advantage
10 MishaN-aka and its citizens gen
orally. Ire improvement would
provide a mS- rs Of carrying a water
main directly from the east end
pumping station to the north side
Of the river and thus provide that
side with a fresh pure water sup
ply in place of that now furnished
by the two inadequate mains run
ming under the river at Cedar and
West SITS.
The new bridge would connect di.
rectely with the east end OF Joseph
ST. at its west end and with the
newly opened Mishawaka av. at its
eastern terminus, which connects
with Byrkit av.. opening on the
Lincoln highway. In this way a
beautiful bolevard drive is given
from Mishawaka to South Bend on
each side of the river.
Would Benefit WorImen.
It is further pointed out that a
considerable percentage Of the en-
ploves of east Mishawaka factories
are residents Of the north side or
the river. The bridge would give
them a direct connection with their
employment and would ave the
round Journey TO Cedar or lie Main
st. bridge.
The objection so frequently made
that the bridge would aid materially
10 the taxes in the county is most
satisfactorily answered by figures.
one of the citizens particularly in
terested has gone TO the trouble of
figuring exactly what effect this i'm
provement would have on the taxes
and is authority for the statement
that il would be responsible for an
increase of about three-fourths or 4
cent on every hundred dollars
worth Of taxable property. In view
of this slight increase and the man
fold benefits to be derived from the
Improvement. il is wondered how
any public-spirited citizen could OBJ
iect 10 the improvement In question.
The county commissioners have
fixed next Monday. March 10, as
the time when they will hear the
petitioners and demonstrators on the
proposed improvement and have
suggested that all persons interested
appear at that time for the pubic
hearing on the matter.