The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-08
WEST PART
OF COUNT
IS AGAINST
new BRIDGE
Delegation of Prominent Men
Expresses Opposition to
Proposed Construction of
South Side Bridge.
ACTION IS POSTPONED

Decision to postpone final considera-
ton of the South G street bridge until
their next regular meeting next Sat
urday was reached by the county
commissioners Saturday morning after
they had listened to an all-morning
squabble between Z. NJ Campfield
| chief advocate of the bridge and a
delegation from the western part of
the county who expressed determined
opposition to it's building.
ID. G. Harlan, of Beeson Station. Will
liam Oler of Dublin and John Harper
representing the Welfare club of Cam
bridge City, which is unanimous in
| opposition to the bridge, were leaders
of the delegation made up of fourteen
OF the most prominent men of the
western part of the county.
Harlan said that the west end of
the county was unalterably opposed to
the building of the bridge now, that
there were other parts of the county
that needed improvement worse than
the South G street bridge was need
ed in Richmond, and that the western
part of the county was unanimously
opposed to it, feeling that they had
not had their share of improvements.
City Pays the Bills.
He called for rising viote of the
delegation to signify whether they
represented the feeling Of the west
end in opposition to the bridge being
built now, and they rose to a man.
Campfield showed some temper in
replying. Richmond has never cost
the county one cent" he said "In
fact, Richmond has paid the bills
for great many county improve
ments. When you go to attacking the
town that's paying the bills, if you
begin to demand your share of the
improvements, then we will demand
ours. If the west end is going to
fight this thing, then we will draw
line and give you worthwhile
fight. I say the bridge ought to be
built and is going to be built"
''If we are going to proceed that
way" answered Harlan, suggest that
we submit this matter to the people of
the county. / believe 1 know what
their answer will be. 1t will take
more men than you with more elo-
quence than you have, to convince the
west end that this thing is right.
There are bridges over the county that
must be soon repaired or replaced, and
if we are going to spend any money
now, let us spend it on them"
Means Higher Tax.
What we want is harmony" said
Campfield. eff you have anything we
want, speak it out"
There was general laugh from
the room when someone cried, "a
| lower tax rate"
Oler of Dublin then questioned
Campfields statement that the "city
of Richmond had never cost the
county one penny. You may have a
majority Of taxpayers and pay the
majority Of taxes, but it is not true
that you have never cost the county
a penny, and it is not true that this
bridge would not cost the county a
penny" he said. The tax rate will
have to be raised all over the county.
What do you mean then by saying
that the bridge won't cost us a pen
ny?"
Only Two Benefits.
Another member of the delegation
asked Campfield what was the neces-
sity for the bridge and what proper.
tion of the population would be bene-
fitted. Still another asked him
whether he would be prepared to
guarantee the bridge not to cost over
S1S5,000. This provoked general
discussion, during which Harlan said:
'The only two beneficial aspects Of
this bridge | can see are that it would
benefit the south side association and
the street car company. If you had a
streetcar line down the west bank of
the river, wouldn't that serve the
west and southwest side as well as a
new bridge?"
Campfield again showed temper in
/ h -Ay1,
that the county would never get any
where by knocks and kicks"
Requires Bond Issue.
County Treasu4 er Ed ]. Weidner in
terrupted to explain to the delegation
the financial aspect of the proposition.
He said that S185,000 worth OF bonds
would have to be issued despite the
committees assertion that only about
$4,000 of that should be credited to
the south side bridge.
Weidner added that he did not
think it possible to sell for par a
| bond at per cent, the rate at which
| the bonds were authorized to be is
sued. The bonds for the Main street
bridge were taken by banks simply as
a convenience to the county, he said,
and any bonds to sell at par now
would have to bear at least 41hT
The question was then asked direct
ly of Campfield whether he would be
willing to guarantee the bridge not
to cost over s185, 600. Other members
of the delegation seconded the ques-
ton, saying that the west part of the
county had the impression that the
bridge could not be built for that sum
and that the move to start it was
simply to get the county in the posi-
tion where it would have to go ahead
| with the construction. Campfeld an
swered that he would be willing that
a contract to that effect should be
| drawn up.
Oler again argued with Campfield
that his statement in regard to the
| Improvement not costing the county
| zone penny was wrong, saying the
/ assertion was not true. The meefin1