Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-12-07
AQUEDUCT BRIDGE
OWNERSHIP MOOTED
TOWN D|SCLAIMS IT
ClTY AND TOWNSHIP MAY HAVE
TO GO TO COURT TO DECIDE
WHO OWNS STRUCTURE ELM.
MATED FROM CORPORATE LIN.
IT'S BY ORDINANCE.

East side residents last night ap
pcalod to the city council for som,
means OF RELYING them of at IeasI
part of the troubles they are now
experiencing with the main street
bridge out Of commission. A dclega
ton composed of Lee Carroll. sccrc
tarv of the Chamber of commerce:
Lothrop Perkins, Attorney Clarence
Griggs states Attorney Harry Kelly
and William Stanton presented the
plea, which was in the form. OF n re
quest for additional lights on the
elongated detour and improved tray
cling conditions over the East Su
perlor and North Green street see
tors thereof
The result Of the visit TO the coun
ell chambers evoked promises that
lights would be installed over the
aaueduct bridge. at the turn and In
the vicinity of the little stone bride,
Just north Of the Pearl street inter.
section.
Question Ownership Of Bridge.
Tho argument preciptated by the
petitioners brought out an uneypcCt.
ed debate as to whether the town
OF Ottawa or city o. Ottawa was re.
sponsible for the aqueduct bridge
The piont was raised on the Legality
of the city's wishing" the bridge on
the town by reason OF is ordinance
extracting that portion of the city
east OF the west bank Of the Fox
river from the corporate limits.
II was announced that Supervisor
lockey and the board OF town audi.
tors were not sure il the bridge should
pass 10 the town.
Attorney Griggs advised that test
case be instituted in the courts Ia
obtain legal decision on the legal!
ity of the action.
"lf the bridge still belongs to the
city or passes to the town should be
decided one way or the other in
court ruling said Mr. Griggs, "and
then all future controversies would
be averted."
Mayor Weeks said he was confident
that the ordinances disconnecting the
area including the bridge automatic. !
ally placed the burden Of keeping up
the bridge on the township.
Professionally ! think that the safer
course is to get a decision from the
courts but | do not know how to pro
coed with getting that opinion" the
mayor added
Public Engineer Farnsworth inter.
polated with an announcement that
the bridge Is part Of a state aid road
and in that case, he said the county
would have TO decide all questions
arising from the ordinance eliminat.
ing from the city limits.
Before this bridge may be turned
over to the township" Mr.. Farms
worth stated, ut must be thoroughly
examined and found to be in first
class condition. would suggest
that an examination be made of it
and then the city would be in a 30.
sition to talk business with the town
ship.
Commissioner Dougherty announc.
cd that only a few years ago. since
his taking over the Office of commits.
soncr $50 new stringers had been
installed in the bridge at an ex-
pense in excess of $4,000 This, he
believed, insured the city that the
structure was in A-No I repair.
The point was left undecided one
way Of the other when the debate
was shunted over to the condition OF
East Superior street and Green street
running north and south.
Mr. Dougherty saia everything pos
sibc was being done to keep the
streets in passable condition but due
to the bad weather and amount of
traffic it was hopeless task trying
to keep the ruts filled up and the top
Off. Highway Commission.
er Tom Burke, who has worked tire .
lessly i'll trying to keep up with the .
traffic, was present and informed the
council he would eXpcnd even great
er effort to keep the streets in good
condition Commissioner Dougherty
volunteered to assist in any way he
could.
Mr.. Perkins, Mr.. Kelly and Mr.. .
Stanton argued for more lights. They
all agreed that the road and bridge
to be dangerous at night and thought ,
that if lamps We're placed over the
center Of the bridge, at the corner
and near the stone bridge. much Of
the risk Of meeting with accidents
would be eliminated