The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1918-06-14

| The reasons for the calling Of {
special election to vote 100000 o.
bonds for the construction of Derma.
ncnt bridges across the drainage
channel on the Rock Levee Road
were discussed from all angles at the
mass meeting at the court house yes
terday evening, presided over by
Mayor H. H. Haas.
About 100 men from all over the
township attended the meeting, many
being called upon to express their
views Of the proposed bond election.
At the close of the meeting it was
| decided to appoint committee to
take charge of the campaign through
out the township and to arrange for
meetings at various places in the
township in order to convey TO the
voters and taxpayers the necessity of
voting the bonds.
Harry f. Alexander, one of the
leading attorneys Of this county, was
the first speaker. He explained why
he believed the bond issue should car
ry in this township. He pointed out
the injury inflicted upon the business
of the city for the reason that no
connection existed between Cape Gil
rardeau and the southern counties,
since the temporary bridges over the
diversion channel and the drainage
bitches had been washed away.
Constructing permanent bridges,
he said, would be cheaper than build
ing temporary spans, which were
likely to be washed out by every
heavy rain, he said. Figuring the
cost of the temporary bridges at
$500 to $4,000, he said, enough
money would soon be wasted to pay
for the construction of Il concrete
bridge, which would be a permanent
structure. Besides, he added, the loss
Of business which has been estimated
at $1,000 a day, would soon exceed .
the loss by the way of additional tax
alton resulting from the issuance of .
bridge and road bonds.
Attorney A. NJ .Spradling and E.
J. Deal spoke of the inconvenience of
travelling to the neighboring counties
Cape Girardeau County in
tie South, since the drainage bridges
had been destroyed by the food. Per-
bridges would eventually
have to be built, they said, and there
would be no way to circumvent the
construction of these permanent
spans.
The sooner the bridges were built,
the better il would be for the business
man as well as for the farmers and
he property owner. In as much as
the funds derived from taxation were
90 small to defray the expense of
erecting permanent bridges across
The channels, a bond issue would be
the only practical solution of the
problem, said the speakers.
Benson c. Hardesty, another attor-
hey, dwelt on the suggestion made by :.
some opponents Of the bond issue to
nave the State Legislature enact a
aW compelling the drainage company
% pay for the construction of the
bridges. This would be improbable,
le said, for the reason that the bur
len of financing the construction Of
he bridges had already been deter
mined by law and by the courts and |
hat in all probability no Legislature
;ould be found that would change
.hese laws.
Clyde A. Vandivort, one of the lead !
ng business men of this city and
OF the proposed bond issue, t
o,d of the development of the lands, I
'nce known as the swamps Of Soutn
last Missouri, and from which Cape
iirardeau would yield an enormous
amount of business within the next /
wo or three years, provided proper |
were established and
maintained with the district that is
low under the course of develop
nent. ,
He said he had spent several weeks
n Stoddard and Scott Counties and
had observed the wonderful progress I
n farming in these two counties dur 5
ng the last three months. In two {
II three years these two counties, he '
aid, would offer the business men of ,
ape Girardeau a vast source of rev. !