The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-09-29
Starts Move
For Bridge
At Wdr|dnd
Elimination of Two Ferries
Will Take Care of Needed
Bond Issue.
WOULD NOT INCREASE
PRESENT TAXATION

After many months of nepotia-
tons and studying of the problem
Lincoln county and the forest serv-
ice are ready to move forward in
the building of bridge across the
kootenal river at WarIand. II is
estimated that the bridge will cost
sou, 0OO, the county's share of which
Will be $4,000. The balance be-
tween that sum and cost of the
prldge, or $4,000, will be provided
by the forest service.
1t thus becomes necessary for the
county to ask the taxpayers to an
lnorize the issuing of $4,000 worth
OF ponds. Petitions asking that D
bond election be held are now being
circulated. s
The county commissioners and
supervisor Klehm all say the bridge
can be built without a@eent,s~isns~-
crease IN present tax bills That
might seem doubtful but it is cas-
iiy understood when some facts and
figures are explained.
no one can tell for sure what will
be bid for the bonds nor what the
rate of interest will be. However
the court house bonds bear ner
cent interest and run 20 years. Fig
uring the proposed bridge bonds a.
the same rate would require ST 200
lor interest each year and $1,000 for
retIrlng of principal, or a total of
Sz,IO0 each year for 20 wears
But there should be deducted fror,
mat figure the present cost of nain-
tanning two ferries, one at Warland
and one at Ural, both of which wo,,ld
De done away with by the BRIDGE
The county paid out during the IL
cal year ending June 80, 1888, the
sum vi 91,4oo.b % In maintenance and
operation Of those two ferries. That
sum INCLUDES nothing for replace
ment and 1t is said the ferries wiI,
nave &c. be replaced within 4 snort
lime. Adding to the present annual
cost OF close to $4,000 an additional
sum TOT replacement, and it is seer
tnaf the present cost of oneratiru
ana maintaining the two ferries viii
DC very close to the annual sr,rr,
needed to retire the proposed bond
issue. Thus it can be seen thst
tne $4,000 can be put into the nro-
posed new bridge without COSTING
the taxpayers an additional cent ;n
taxation, say the county commits
sioners. ''iiiis-
Inc present tax levy for BRIDGES
and ferries is mills. That hr;nas
IN Sl8,274 dollars annually. The
commissioners - say that sum is ample
10 maintain all present bridges and
also retire the new bridge bonds
~ view OF the fact that the cost of
operating the two ferries would he
eliminated. "o0iu "
lhat, however, is not all the story
After the bonds are paid off tba
county would have a badly needad
bridge without fruther expenditure
except for maintenance and there
aIter there would be a saving of
what Is now going out for ferries
or approximately $2,700 each and
every year. The forest service has
agreed to maintain the bridge for
[ne first year and thereafter firm 4
over to the county as county nror
arly, states Supervisor Klehm
Inere are rs million feet of mar
1 :, timber at present prices
na a would be accessible for logging
.sith the building of the bridge Saws saws
supervisor klehm. The available
tumpa,ge would be greatly in
,reased with an increase in the
prices OF lumber, he states. IT IS NOT
PRACTICAL to log this timber without
ne bridge, SO it is said.
III is proposed to build the bridge
= steel and concrete-steel super
tructure, cement floor concrefe
'iers,, 10 feet wide. Located he
Ween 4oo and 500 feet above the
present ferry at Warland -