Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-10
BARELAS BRIDGE
CLOSING ORDER
BRINGS PROTEST
Residents Decide on Imme-
diate Action; Appeal to
Highway Department;
Bridge to Open Friday.

Citizens living across the river
will make every effort to keep the
bridge over the Rio Grande at
Barelas open for traffic. This de-
cision was reached yesterday after
noon at a mass meeting attended
by dozens of residents from the
west side of the river, who are
protesting at the proposed closing
Of the bridge while the repair work
Is being completed.
The meeting was the result of
notices being posted on the bridge
to the effect that it would be
closed to traffic today.
Contractors, who were represent
ed at the meeting yesterday, stat
ed that when the bridge work
started, the bridge would be closed
to traffic for at least three months.
1t was planned by the contractors
to resume repair work today, after
the several weeks suspension Or
dered by the state highway Depart
ment in order that farmers across
the river would have chance to
bring their produce to town after
the harvest season.
Even with this season over, 1t
was claimed by many farmers,
dairymen and truck gardeners that
it would cost them more than 500
a day for each day the bridge is
closed.
"Most of us make our living
bringing our produce to Albuquer-
que" ]. T. Young, Of Ranches de
Atrisco, stated at the meeting.
The additional expense Of market
ing it if the bridge is closed and
we have to reach Albuquerque
around by Isleta, will more than
use up all profits. Not only that,
but such a product as milk would
probably be spoiled by the time 1t
had been hauled that distance and
even if it remained in good con-
dition, we could not make our reg
ular early morning deliveries"
THE condition of the bridge has
been milestone around the necks
of valley farmers for months" de-
clared Nell Ferguson. 1--WE have
never known when we might not
be able to reach Albuquerque
across the bridge. The proposed
closing for a period Of three or
more months will do us great in
jury. We can not afford to SUI
fer this loss. We certainly have
rights which some one is obliged
to respect
Charges were made at the meet
ing that even when the bridge
work is completed 1t will probably
not comply with the federal gov
eminent rules. The bridge is
federal aid project.
The contract, as stated by one
of the contractors representatives,
called for the work to finish last
August. This clause, however. was
broken when the work was
stopped this fall for the convent
ence of the ranchers. 1t was stat
ed that there was now no time
limit set for the work.
Feeling that they had a right
to relief from the condition
confronting them, the delegates
to the meeting invited rep
resentative from the district at
torney's office to visit them. Tho
mas ]. Mabry, assistant district at
torney heard the question discussed
and although he refused to give an
opinion regarding what type OF
rights the citizens had in the mat
ter, suggested that no time be lost
in taking 1t up with the county
commissioners and the state high
wav department. Mr.. Mabry did
express his opinion that relief OF
some sort could undoubtedly be OBJ
tanned without legal steps being
taken.
An effort will be made to secure
the attendance of a representative
OF the state highway department AT
the county commissioners meeting
this morning.
1t was stated by one OF the CON
tractors representatives after the
meeting that the bridge woulo no.
he closed TODAY regardless Of what
happened and that It would be left
open to traffic until after the Arm
ictica dav celebration.