Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1887 — BRIDGING THE MISSOURI. [ARTICLE]

BRIDGING THE MISSOURI.

The Iron Link Acros3 tlie Missouri River at Sionx City at Last Supplied. LSioux City special.] The long talked-of bridge across the Missouri River, at Sioux City, is at laßt finally assured, and its immediate construction is practically settled. It is to be built by the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company, and it will not cost the taxpayers of Sioux City n dollar. The contraot has been made and signed, and the work is to be pushed forward to the speediest possible completion. It is confidently believed that the bridge will be completed witt in eighteen months. Representatives of the Sioux City Bridge Company were a lew days aeo invited to a conference in Chicago where an agreement for the transfer of the bridge franchise was entered into, mutually satisfactory to both parties, and the details under that agreement are now so well advanced that it is only a question of a few days until the negotiations shall have been fully completed. This involves a consummation greatly desired by this people, and the largest in its material significance toward the future of Sioux City of any sin le achievement in the history of the city. The Northwestern Railway Company is the most powerful corporation occupying the territory of this Northwest. In the territory north of the Platte and south of the Northern Pacific it is king. It has established and is extending lines radiating pa the Missouri River on this side, and from the Missouri River on the other. The bridge means that the Northwestern will focilize these great interests here—that it will make Sioux City its Missouri River hub. This involves some change of policy on the part of the Northwestern Company, and under this change of policy it is happily found—happily for Sioux City, at least—that Sioux City’s territorial interests and the Northwestern’s territorial interests are twins; and so they have come together in this bright May weather, in complete goodnature and temper, to say one to the other, Shake! And they shake. The bridge to Sioux City, with the support it has back of it and for it, moans the bridging of the only chasm that has stood in the way of anybody’s confidence in Sioux City. Work on the bridge is to begin just as quick as the plans of the bridge can be approved by the Secretary of War. 'I he plans have already been completed. They have been examined and approved by toe Missouri Pncitic River ’ Commission. It is expected to have the bridge ready for running trains in the winter of 1888-89. Of course, there may be unexpected difficulty in getting the Eiers in..which are of unusual depth, etc., ut, while this is barely possible, it is improbable. It will be what is commonly known as a high bridge—that is, a bridge without a draw, and so high as not to obstruct navigation. It will embrace three spans. The cost is estimated at a round million dollars. A prominent citizen expresses the opinion that the move of the Northwestern Company in taking up the bridge building project means two bridges for Sioux City in a very short time. His idea is that the Northwestern people are working to reach tbe Pacific coast us soon;as possible, nnd that the Union Pacific will now rush a line eastward to Sioux City, build another bridge, and connect with the Illinois Central and the Milwaukee, giving it direct and ample eastern outlet. William SruyvESANT Fish, of New York, has been elected President of the Illinois Central Railroad, vice Dr.‘James C. Clark, resigned. Hopgrowebs in Central New York are discouraged at the gloomy prospects. The crop promises to prove almost a total failure.