Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1887 — BRIDGING THE MISSOURI. [ARTICLE]

BRIDGING THE MISSOURI.

The Iron Link Across the Missouri River at Sioux City at Last Supplied. [Sioux City special.] The long thlked-of bridge across the Missouri River, at Sioux City, is at last 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 a dollar. The contract 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 witbin eighteen months. Representatives of the Sioux City Bridge Company were a few days ago 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 sinile achievement in the histdry 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 Pacificpt is king.; It has established and is extending lines radiating to the Missouri River on this side, and from the Missouri River on the other. The bridge means that the Northwestern Will focalize 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 foufid—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 tins bright May weather, in complete goodnature and temper, to say one to the other, Shake I And they shake. The bridge to Sioux City, with the support it has bick of it and for it, means the bridging of the only chasm that hds stood im the way of anybody’s confidence iu Sioux City. AVork' on the bridee is to begin" Justus quick as the plans of the bridge can be ap- : proved by the Secretary of AVar. The plans have'already been completed. They havq been examined and approved by t ,;e Missouri Pacific River CommisIt 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 piers in, which are of unusual depth, etc., but, 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. <Jt will embrace flir e spnn%' The cost is estimated at a round million dollars. ■ A prominent citizen expresses the opin-.. [ion that the move of the Northwestern Dompany 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 the Pacific coast as soon as pcssible, and 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 Stvyvesant Fish, of New York, has been elected President of the Illinois Central Raihoad, vice Dr. Janies C. Clark, resigned. ' T'. 1 ' HopgßOWeiis in Central New York a?e discouraged at the gloomy prospects. The crop piomises to prove almost a total failure.