Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-30

tion of the new steel bridge across the
Willamette at Salem. Commissioners
. Wells and Beckett recently held a con
ference with reference to the propos-
ed bridge with the Marion county court
and announced themselves as being fav
Orable to putting the required amount
in the budget next December.
Marion county authorities are anx-
ious. Salem Commercial club urges
bridge Observer Oct. u, 1915.
Bridge ghost bObs up! 'Inter-eouuty
structure is under discussion. Marion
county court would have 80 foot road
way. Polk county favors (O heavier
structure to accommodate a street car
track to West Salem. Observer, Nov
1g, 1915.
Talk bridge to court. Self appointed
committee discusses plan, Patterson,
Gibson and Parks, suggested plans, etc.
etc. Should provide for the bridge in
county budget, (It's still up.) 0bserv-
er, Dec. 2S, 1915.
| Plans are submitted. Viewers inspect
drawings for proposed bridge. Cost Of
structure according to estimates range
ilIULl qlGV1DV " p-O1O4Os 4NtuUlOGA
plans were submitted. Nine bids were
submitted This 1915 county budget did
provide for a bridge fund from which
there was paid into this fund in Mar.
1916, $4,000. Observer,-June 80, 1916.
Look the Sunday loop to be popular
an auto trip of l2S miles. Portland
Journal June %, 1916.
Interview of Hirshberg: In Polk
county we {, have secured assistance
county we CO have secured assistance
fund and We are preparing to build
the road from Independence to the
Polk county line, Machinery is on the
ground We have been trying to get q
main artery through the valley for
years (Dr Butler) and this is the best
route ever proposed. The road will
touch the heart of the valley Qnde-
lpendenee), is not more than per
cent grade and is the shortest route OBJ
tainable. This route is north to county
line and to Dayton Newberg, etc.
Observer editorial of above date:
Object of loop the Sunday loop. Tor
lieve the congestion ON the Columbus
highway upon which vast sums of
money have been and are being expend-
ed by poviding a drive for the country
and common people with their Fords
from annoying the high ups.
Observer July Z, 1916. Bridge plans
please (while spending the funds En-
gineers submit plans for inter-county
structure. Reinforced concrete high
level, "a foot roadway and 5 foot walks
are requirements. Maximum cost cop-
plete $245,000 Purcell & Clark con-
sulting engineers.
Observer August 5, 1916: Money
fitting away. Inter county bridge fund
gradually reduced Marion county and
Salem patiently awaiting action on the
part of Polk county court. Bridge ex-
perts have pronounced present strue-
ture dangerous to travel. Marion coun-
ty and Salem prepared to meet their
portion of expense; but the dilemma
appears to be at this end where procras
tination has lurked. Levy for inter
county bridge made last January ag-
gregating $71, APO.
Observer Jan. 2, 1917. Bridge not
safe now. State engineer makes report
at courts request. AT budget meeting
Judge kirkpatrick told tax payers it
was court S opinion that Salem bridge
be built in 1917 whether any other work
was done or not; Polk county's l-3 (a)
of bridge cest must be provided; tax
payers gave full consent.
Observer Feb 13, 1917: House bill
1875 has passed; Judge Kirkpatrick said
the highway commission is antagonis-
| tic to Polk county. Those who know
Judge kirkpatrick know there will be
no bridge for years to come if the
bill passes the senate. All sections of
Polk county want (Y) a concrete inter-
county bridge.
Observer Feb. Is, 1917; Bridge bill
may die. Polk lobbyists work to kill it
in committee. Judge Kirkpatrick, Wal
ter Tooze, Jr., and r. E. Williams "a
citizen Of MultnOmah county, have
been arguing and believe the bill viii
not get through the senate.
Observer Oct. 10, 1917. Polk coun-
ty court kaisered' as scrap of paper,
inter-county bridge contract and agreed
to pay instead SAL 200, Cost of bridge
doubled in increased cost of material
ONNduoGa VI IOih HCpullJN OObAk uCldJ.
My diary: On Wednesday Feb. 21,
1917, l was before the full county court
in the judges office; talked Salem
bridge with such interest that we all
remained over the noon hour and until
just time to take the 2 p. m. motor for
Salem and without dinner. The judge
said that people of Polk county who
would he henefitted hy n bridge did
not pay per cent of the county taxes;
that they don t need bridge; they
could use ferry. The Judge would con-
slider only high level concrete bridge.
favored low level steel structure; but
plead for bridge of any kind or
style, but give us bridge, your kind
or any kind. But we must have bridge
Com. Manson then spoke in positive
voice; eyes they do need bridge ana
ought to have it; am in favor Of
building bridge" and soon after his
expression all seemed to assent.
On Tuesday Feb. 27, 1917, the court
and Roadmaster Finn visited Independ-
ence (Joe) On the following day was
with the court in county court cham
bers, and in earnest discussion. The
judge still contended that the people
use ferry; he said "If we build
bridge at Salem, we will build one at
Independence" (for Joe) And at clos
ing the conference, I standing confront
ing the judge, Finn standing on my
left and the commissioners on my right
Judge kirkpatrick said to me, "The
naonla of polk anuntv dom 1vanf Q