Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-08
BRIDGE OR FERRY---WHICH?

Apparently the matter of building bridge at this
point to permit travel across the river is at deadlock
Yesterday committee from West Salem was told by
Polk county officials that when this county and the city
of Salem concluded they wanted concrete bridge and let
Polk county know that fact agreement could soon be-
reached and until that time there was no use OF turtnef
talk about it. This is Polk county's ultimatum: The
average individual and this includes the county judges
of both counties well lots of other folks are far from
being bridge experts They don't know what type OF
bridge best do they know except as they are told
by those whose business it is to know anything as to the
character of the bottom and whether III is suitable
for carving concrete structure They know, however,
that the state engineer says the river bottom ana the
changing channel make it unfit for concrete bridge.
These same authorities say steel bridge is the pest type
for the location Other engineers we understand take
the same view Against these the Judge OF Polk county,
and according to reports OF The Polk county czenS
set up their own opinion The editor OF the Capal
Journal is in the same boat all the other average ctl
zens and does not pretend to decide which type OF bridge
is best : !,
The weakness Of the Polk county position lies in the
fact that they lack the money to pay for their snare OF
concrete bridge They have money for that purpose
in the treasury and the levy Of this year does not include
provision for it. The officials Of the county are aware OF
this fact and would be compelled to recede from their
position if the Marion county court were 70 TAKE he a.
their word and agree to sign up for concrete DI!uge
They are simply fighting for delay and one excuse is as
good as another just so they gain this point
Marion county, the other hand has been preparing
for ths emergency and has fully 100000 with which TO
build the new bridge it could pay the entire cost OF the
best type of steel bridge without adding dollar to the
burden Of the taxpayers The money has already been
provided for. IL,
There is one of two things to do-buld new bridge,
or decide not to build and maintain permanent ferry
The Marion county may do either or they may con-
tnue to drift amessy while the Polk county court plays
politics with them for few years more.
majority Of the people Of Polk county want bridge
but little gang which controls the county court mostly
in Dallas do not and they will be in control at least un-
til the next election when the present appointed Judge
Al h,, i,doo oil hy he
the people of Polk county have opportunity to be heard
they will declare for bridgebut that time is almost two
years away Until that time it is waste Of words to
talk about building any kind OF bridge with the cour1
f polk county because the members are nsncere in all
their declarations and positively will reach no agreement
on the subject even though all the demands they are
making are complied with.
WHY not 90 ahead and build---when there is ample
money in the treasury with which to pay for it? Why
bother with the Dallas politicians at all?