The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-03-21
BRIDGE COMPLETE
IN ABOUT A YEAR;
TAX PAYERS MUST
dig UP" The coin
City to Pay in Warrants Bearing
Six Per cent Interest; No Date
to Complete the Work.
HONEY COMES OUT OF FUNDS
FOR IMPROVING THE CITY
City Must Also Pay for Approaches,
Walks and Paving to Bridge; To
Cost Taxpayers $4,000.

Work on the new bridge is pro-
crossing as rapidly as ever, concrete
now being poured for the footings,
and is. the belief of those interested
In the progress of the work that the
bridge will be completed by next Au-
gust, a year from the time the con-
tract was let, which was last August.
\ The contract price for the bridge
was $22,772 which does not include
the approaches, sidewalks nor paving
and it is believed the job will cost
the city approximately $4,000 when
finished. The bridge is $50 feet long,
and it is estimated the work Is about
rs per cent completed.
The contract called for compile
tion last January 1, but contained
the usual provisions of delay owing
to strikes, weather, etc., etc., not
an unusual provision land there is
nothing by which it can be deter
mined when the work on the bridge
will be finished.
An Interesting Moment.
In his address to the city council
Monday night, an interesting mo-
ment was created when E. E. Nc
Donald attorney for the bridge COM
rpany, which is building the bridge,
informed the council and the large
crowd present that the contractors of
the bridge had done extra work, that
additional pilings had been driven
for the. two center piers, as the
weight was too heavy for what had
been called for in the plans.
Swinson Refutes Assertion.
City Engineer Swinson took issue
in this and stated to the council that
no such thing had been done to the
center piers, that the piles driven at
Ahose points were specified in the
contract and that the contractors had
done only what the contract had
called for in the instance mentioned,
and not q stitch more.
There is a provision in the laws,
it is said, that provides that the
county may refund to the city all
money paid into the road and bridge
funds levied by the county on the
assessed valuation of the city, to be
used upon dams, retaining walls,
bridges or approaches, either wholly
or in part within the city. But this
provision, It is said, includes such
monies as provided for only two
years on any one job.
CITY Pays in Warrants.
Thus far, it is asserted, the city
of Bemidji has secured about $1,000
from the county for the new bridge
and perhaps like sum or there
abouts may be available this year.
There has been paid on the bridge
contract thus far $6,100 and out
side of what has been paid by the
county in cash has been paid out by
tke city of Bemidji in warrants draw
:, ing 6 per cent interest. And the end
Us not yet by a long ways, it is said.
Tax PAYERS to dig"
The money the taxpayers of Be-
midi will have to dig up is to come
out of their permanent improvement
fund which is supposed to be used
for permanent improvements within
the city, such as road work, paving
and such items along that line, and
In the meantime the thousands Of dol
lars in city warrants to be paid out
for the bridge work will merrfly draw
6 per cent interest until they are
Maid out of the city's yearly improve
ment fund, which, it has never been
charged, was ever overly burdened
with cash.