Evening journal., 1920-02-03
ASH MORE BONDS
FOR bridge WORK
continued from First Page.

continued from fNcl rage.
commission The Levy Court promised
10 make a formal reply 10 this request
before the next meeting Of the Wash
ngton Street Bridge Commission at 3
o'clock on Thursday afternoon.
John :. R0ssell and Benjamin f..
shaw, members OF the bridge commits
sion, appeared before the court ses-
sion this morning 20 state the commits
sions reasons for requesting additional
funds for the new bridge. Mr.. Rossell
announced. as previously published,
that the bridge commissions petition
20 Governor Townsend TO call a special
session OF the Legislature very soon. TO
consider the matter OF additional bonds.
The bridge commission has held up un-
ti February 20, action upon the bridge
bids.
Levy Court Commissioner James G..
Shaw expressed the opinion that an
election 10 mn the vacancy caused by
the death OF state senator Webster
would be necessary In Brandywine hun
dred before any special session or the
Legislature could convene. He was ot
the opinion a thirty days notice would
be needed.
Mr.. Rossell was Of the idea that the
special session could convene with the
vacancy untitled, and could be called TO-
morrow by the governor.
Mr.. ROssell told the court, In regard
10 the status OF the new bridge.
in The beginning, before the special
commission was appointed. the Levy
Court looked into the matter thorough
D 4 A. -
could be erected for S550,OOO. Mter~ards
a special commission was appointed
with Levy Court represented In us
membership. Levy Court Commission
ers Isaac C. Elliott and Albert Stetser
are members OF the Washington street
Bridge Commlssion)
After a thorough study by num-
Der OF engineers, plans and estimates
were submitted for a 63-fO0t bridge.
Then the question arose in Levy Court
as 20 the suflclency OF a 63-f0ot bridge
20 accommodate two railway tracks,
and other trafilcs and pedestrians. Pop
/ ular sentiment was clearly In favor Of
a wider bridge, as necessary for the
present and future development Of the
north side.
"ln November. when the Bridge
I Commission reached a final decision
that an 50 foot bridge was a necessity
they were assured that Il could be built
within the s55OOOO authorized bond
issue. When bids were opened, the
lowest bid was ss50,000. Levy Court
must authorize the issue Of bonds FOR
the cost Of the new bridge. but Is lin
tied 10 s550O00. The question Is, how
TO get the additional $4,000 The Leg
islature will not enact this legislation
without the recommendation Of the
Levy Court. Could the court in any
way levy the amount. without a bond
/. issue?
There Is immediate and grave neces-
/, sity for a bridge. Can we postpone Il
until tha Legislature meets a yeai
honce2 VIII the condition OF the bridge
allow this postponement? II the bridge
Ibreaks, Il would be a lameniable anair
but It's condition is matter for engi
neers 10 decide.
THE Washington street bridge Is al
important unit in the highway system
lof the State. perhaps Il VIII be a matte
for the State Highway Commission L
consider"
BENJAMIN F. Shaw interposed, Il an
not uneasy about the bridge, IL wa'
ithoroughly tested by army trucks ant
other heavy traffic during The war.
am worried about the means Of cross
ing. II we tear down the bridge. Per
haps 5000 people cross In a day from
The north side. II the bridge Is torn
down another must be provided. other
wise II viii be a case OF "a hot time In
the old town, tonight People haven't
got wings"
County Engineer Charles Z. Grubf
said the present Washington street
bridge has been strengthened mate
rally. and he did not think there wa:
reason to fear its collapse. It was re-
lfoored &c months ago at cost Of SD
900. and that planklng. he thought, VII
last a couple OF years longer.
Mr.. Rossell said the bridge commits
sion wants 20 know where II stands
With the present bridge under entiri
control OF the Levy Court he though
they had an active interest In Wash
lngton street bridge affairs.
President Elliott said he agreed witt
Mr. Rossell that the commission wa
warranted in employing best work. an'
stated further that the present bridg'
would be examined frequently as to ~
safety.
The court went into committee OF tn
whole 20 consider the request OF tn
bridge commission and other matters.