The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1922-09-14
BRIDGE BOND ELECTION
SATURDAY
Pressing Need of Proposed Ex-
penditure Set Forth in
Facts and Figures

The question of issuing bonds il
the amount of $4,000 for the con
struction and repair of bridges anc
roads in Gem county will be submitted
to the voters at an election to BIZ
held Saturday of this week.
The polls will be open from
O'Clock in the afternoon until O'Clock
at night. In Emmett the polling
places will be as follows: North pre-
cinct, Coop. Exchange; South Pre-
cinct, City Hall; West precinct, Court
House.
The purpose of the bond issue and
the real necessity for the expenditure
are so clearly set forth in the follow
ing article contributed by v. 7. Craig
that further explanation OF comment
by The Index seems unnecessary:
On Saturday, September 16, the
voters of this county are asked to
vote, yes or no, whether Gem county
will issue $4,000 worth of bonds for
the purpose of constructing three new
bridges, placing the river under the
Letha bridge and making certain nee
essary repairs upon the bridge north
of the city of Emmett.
The necessity for this bridge work
is well known to every one. The two
bridges across the Seven Mile Slough
near Letha are in dangerous condi-
ton. The river has cut around the
south side of the Letha bridge, leav-
ing the bridge entirely high and dry.
The bridge across Squaw creek is
necessary for the use of large num-
Der of people in that community, as
well as for the convenience of those
who take stock to and from the up
per country The bridge north of En-
NETT is known to need considerable re-
pair.
Sometime ago the county commits
sioners canvassed the situation and
secured bridge man who made a
survey of the five bridges and report
ed as follows:
2 bridges across .7-mile Slough $4,000
Squaw Creek bridge ,.,.,...-..-.-. 1920
New bridge at Emmett ..-..-..--. $4,000
Letha bridge ...--..-..--.....--..-.----- 10000
Approaches to bridges ..---..--.-- 1880
Total $100,0 900
While every one admitted, who
knew the facts, that the bridge work
was needed, in fact absolutely neces-
sary, there were a large number who
believed that the estimate was exces-
sive; that the county would be served
quite as well by building bridges
which would cost much less and a
large saving could be made. With
that idea in view the county commits I
sioners were asked to secure board
Of competent engineers VINO would
be disinterested in every way to make T
a complete report upon the situation
and the work to be done. In compll-
ance with this request two engineers
from the Oregon Short Line railroad,
one a bridge man and the other a
river control man, and Mr.. Il. >.
Newell of Ola, who is an engineer OF
wide experience and who is taxpay-
er of Gem County, were chosen 10
make a report. These engineers have
reported and their report is on file
with the county clerk for anyone to
read. Their report shows as follows:
2 bridges across the Seven
Mile Slough
L
Letha bridge and protect
ing river so as to make
channel permanent ----.---.------- l3,94o
Souaw Creek bridge 5000
2 an. RING Emmett bridge 3,480
To+ol -S23,1 ITO
Basing their action upon this re-
port the county commissioners have I
asked the taxpayers to vote bond OF
S25 900.
The county commissioners used
good Judgment when they decided to
secure the report of competent en-
gineers rather than to take the report ,
Of bridge man, who naturally would ]
be interested in building expensive
bridges. These engineers are all COM
oetent men and have given dlsin- !
.erested opinion as to the work that
IS necessary and the cost of same.
The impression seems y have got
,en about that this is repair work and r
lot permanent; that the county will Y
oe spending money for work which 4
will have to be done over in short
.ime This is not true in any way
The only repair work that is to be G
lone is that upon the bridge north of t
emmett. A new bridge here at this Q
ime would cost the county between r
AS, 900 and $4,000. While it is ad-
nitted by everyone that new bridge v
will have to be built, it is n
believed the repairs which are con- 6
emplated will put this bridge in con-
Iition for use for several years to
ONE, at which time it is believed the n
ounty will be in better shape, finan- S
tally to support the. burden of "
arge bond issue. The two bridges :
cross the Seven Mile Slough and the :"
ne across Squaw creek are new
tructures of the latest type of bridge.
obstruction. They will be permanent
nd credit to the county. The work |.
f putting the river under the bridge B
t Letha is also permanent work. The h
anks will be protected so that the !,