The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-12

| HllduSlkliLdr I'd, Sept. wv
eording to statements issued by
civic authorities of the Quaker City
,, work has been begun on the longest
| suspension bridge in the world.
| This is the new bridge planned to
! span the DelaYare river from
| Philadelphia terminus to be dis
lance of 1850 feet between towers
The main span of the Brooklyn
| bridge is only 1896 feet, and that OF
the Williamsburg bridge, 1900 feet
in, length. The height proposed for
the east main river tower is $50
feet above the river. The bridge in
its entirety will exceed any other
suspension bridge in the world for
length by $50 feet, if the present
plans are adhered to.
, This bridge, the cost of which has
been estimated at nearly $4,000, 900
is both relief and the fulfillment
of long-cherished desire to bust
ness men of the city. 1t is, accord
ing to authorities at the city hall,
one of those things the necessity
and practicability of which has long
been acknowledged by citizens On
both sides of the Delaware river,
but which has been delayed by cir
cumstances.
Now that definite action has been
taken and arrangements for the
progress of the work made, Cam
denites and Philadelphians are sigh
ing with relief and asking each
other, Why didn't We do it long
ago."
The state of Pennsylvania and
the city of Philadelphia will each
pay $S,273, 500 toward the expenses
of building the bridge and the state
OF New Jersey has appropriated
$12,324 900.
There was much discussion over
the location of the Philadelphia
terminus of the, bridge. Finally,
after an unusually hectic meeting
of Pennsylvania commissioners on
July 20, vote was taken resulting
in the selection of the Franklin
Square-Pearl street site The New
Jersey commissioners voted solidly
IN favor of the site which was at
length selected.
Saved the Church.
The Franklin Square Plaza is
ideally situated in the center of the
arteries of Philadelphia traffic, so
that direct routes from that end
of the bridge will lead into all parts
of the city. The fate of one struc-
ture with known historical or SEN
timental value was involved in the
original plans. This was st.
Georges Methodist Episcopal
church The>venerable edifce, call
ed by many the Shrine of Method
ism, is located on the site of one of
the rOadways planned to be cut
parallel to the new bridge. The |
early suggestions were in favor Of !
the church to a location |
more artistically fitted to display /
its quaint charm. Later, however, |
other plans were drawn up chang
ing the approach to the bridge and |
thus eliminating the necessity for |
removing the old church.
In Camden. fortunately, there was ,
no property in the ptah of the pro-
roadways, which was of historical !
value an interest The site chosen
for the Camden terminus of the
bridge seems TO have proved an un-
usually happy choice The renoya-
lions necessary. to direct the great
tide of human beings and vehicles
which will cross the new bridge into
the city of Camden will involve
neither the forcing of traffic through
that city's busiest streets nor long,
awkward detours.
The deep enthusiasm which the
state of New Jersey feels toward
his project is expressed in most
practical manner by the fact that
he 100000 bond issue was heav-
ly over-subscribed at Trenton,
when the bids were first opened
here on June % by the New Jersey
state house commission.