The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-06-09
BRIDGE work STOPS
If CHARTER FAILS
Why Bridge Building Au.
thority in New Charter
h. Was Made Broad. q,

,. WAS Made Broad. a
Fairmont's opportunity to 90 for
ward depends upon tomorrow's char.
ter election, A failure to adopt the
new charter is to put the city in q
blind alley. The work ON the new
Monongahela river bridge must neces.
sartly stop, as neither the 1913 char
ter, the one under which the city Is
now governed, nor the 1915, known as
the Davis Charter provides any
terms, giving 70 the city authorities
any power to build and construct q
bridge over the Monongahela river. BY
reason OF this deficiency in these two
old charters the city has lostan enor-
nous sum Of money.
In September, 1916, the city OF Fair
fmont at a bond election authorized the
issuance Of $3.50, 900 in bonds, at which
time $3.50, 900 was appropriated for the
building and construction OF the Mo-
nongahela river bridge. These bonds
were advertised and sold In January,
1917, at SIT 900 above par, and there
fore at q premium to Wirl, Roth and
company, and Seasongood and Mayer
OF Cincinnati. The sale of the bonds
(, provided that Reed and McCook, bond
attorneys OF New York city, should
pass upon the legality OF this bond
issue. These attorneys refused to ap.
prove the bond issue on the ground
and for the reason that the 1913
charter and 1915 charter neither con.
tanned any provision whatsoever Civ.
ing to the Board of Affairs Of the city
the power to build a bridge across the
Monongahela river and that neither Of
said city charters had provision
authorizing bond issue for such pur-
pose. The bond attorneys declared the
bond issue OF S760,000 null and void,
but suggested that this bond issue
could be validated by an act Of the
state legislature. The legislature in
February. 1917, passed such validat.
ing act, making the bond issue OF $780,.
take effect until ninety days after
passage. The United States by that
time had entered the world war. These
bonds then were refused by the pur-
chasers as the bond market had gone
to smash on account of the war.
The bonds were then readvertised
and offered for sale but without bids
thereon. The only alternative then
left was to sell them to the Board OF
Public Works of the state of West
Virginia, which was done at par and
accrued interest.
The loss to the city in this trans
action was enormous. The $4,000
premium bid by the purchasers in
January, 1917, was gone. az, al abso-
lutte loss to the city. Also the city by
reason OF the invaHdity of the bond
did not get to contract for the build.
ing es the tgo bridges at nre-war
prices and thereby lost more than
terials went up quickly upon the dec
laration OF war by the United States
against Germany. The bridges must
now be built under war time and re-
construction prices.
All this loss to the city due entirely
and absolutely by reason Of 1913 and
1915 charters, as neither Of them, con-
tanning any provision, granting the
power to the Board of Affairs to build
and construct bridge across the Mo-
nongahela river, and to bond the city
for the purpose Of building and con.
structing such bridges. This disaster
to the city was all caused by the de.
ficiency in these two old charters.
The new charter corrects this fault
and provides that the Board of Direc-
tors of the city of Fairmont shall have
power to build bridge across the
Monongahela river, and in order that
the city Of Fairmont may not again
get caught in sucha predicament the
new charter provides that the Board
of Directors shall have power to build
bridge across the West Fork river,
or any other river or stream within
the corporate limits Of the city Of Fair
mont. This provision is merely pre-
cautionary as there exists no public
: necessity for any other bridges in the
: city. But should the time come in
: the advancement and progress OF the
: city of Fairmont that 1t needed an
other bridge, either over the Monon
. gahela or West Fork river, or any
other stream in the city, the Board OF
Directors could exercise its power
without the hazard of a great loss OF
money TO the city as in the instant
case.
After the exhaustion Of the present
funds in the hands or the Board OF
Affairs, which will lack some 100000
to complet the Monongahela river
bridge all work on the bridge will
stop. No additional revenue can be
raised for such bridge under the old
charters as they are deficient in such
authority. The lack Of funds to fin
ish the river bridge is due entirely &c
high and war time prices for labor
and materials. Under the pre-war con
dition the $350,000 appropriated tol
the purpose by the city and the 100000
given by the Monongahela Vale!
Traction company would have com
pleted the bridge, but this sum vii
not finish the bridge under war con
ditions and reconstruction. The new
charter furnishes the only hope of thu
completion of the river bridge. With
out It the river bridge must neces
sarfly fafl.
The electors Of Fairmont WIN de
eide next Tuesday at the charter cleo
ton whether or not this city 10 TO g
5 forward and take her place at the heat
a OF the procession in West Virginia q
an industrial and commercial cente
]. or whether she 10 to be thwerted IN he
Industrial and commercial life Ant
lose forever the prestige that shoult