THE BRIDGE QUESTION.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 33, 25 February 1875, Page 5

THE BRIDGE QUESTION.

To the Editor of the Clutha Leader. Sir, — Your article in last issue upm tbe subject of the Corporation undertaking the control and responsibility of the bridge here has amused a considerable number of tbe inhabitants. I scarcely think many will be misled by it, but as the subject is a serious one, and as some may give it but little consideration, I wish with your permission to make a few remarks upon the following points in your article. 1-it. The value of the bridge ; 2 id. N-mfl actuating *• • nature and borrowing power ; 3rd. The cost of maintenance. First then tbe value of the bridge you say L 6030. It was erected seven years ago at a cost of over L2O 000. If it haa deteriorated Llo,oDo ' in seven years when all the material was new, how much will it deteriorate during . the next seven years seeing tbat a large portion of tbe timber now shows symptoms of decay ? Leaving you to answer this ques'ion I proceed to its nonfluctualing nature and borrowing power. Its revenue has as yet fluctuated ever since the toll was put on, and this too without any material disturbing influence ; thU fluctuation h >wevei has been in the right . direction. In the course of eighteen months it wi 1 have the opposition of the Railway ; keeping this in view do you still adhere to. your opinion that the present rate of revenue will be maintained ? I may say tbat wi. h a station at Stirliog, and -"me at Balclutha, many a-e of opinion that after paying the expense of collection, the revenue will then, be very trifling. If these surmises are correct, seeing that you ■ arrive at the value of the bridge as ten years* purchase of the revenue, that would only amount- to L 750, instead of tbeJLSOOO,as you estimate. But supposing the ton yield LlOO.a-year after the first eighteen months, this. would bring the value, by your mode of arriving at it. up to only LISOO. This lead's me to the third point, viz , tbe cost of maintenance. Here- 1 may mention that* I have got estimates by competent men upon the- subject, and I find that to put the whole bridge into a proper state of rVpifr at present would cosfeLlSOO, or equal to the total revenue lor the next ' ten yean.' But even were this sum expended upon it now a- r much larger sum '■•■ would be required for repairs during, the next sevenyears. How much would any-. 7 oqe lend upon the structure under these- ' circumstances 7^ At the i time ; ( the bridge * • was erected the most J sanguinfe- on\yr cvtit-iir > ■ sidered' it would last for twenty ; veaw. .Seven of these are pas'; out of what fund;it ■■■J'i iit supposed the Municipality would erediau , Inew bridge at the end- of other 13^eais ?. 1 * Without gonj further into the subject as: I might do, JL would' simply conclude? by. ir .-.'. paying thatT believe; every 7 sensible prac-:lii. J. ', fical mail in the 7t»wn^ '(excepting.Oypursel^ii i ,and theC^uhcillbrs^ are clearly of opinion >„-, ''that 7it wbulrt^be '-^e^f hazardous^SfJ* ncfeki* ' •- ' rumens hi the town* -topf aiceipver, the i Bridge s> f T ..wdVcided^^ >: therefore;;^ '$&&< ir will <- incor^tfy-:"^^^ l y decieion of the 'Cl-oncy iiqS \©ptfei?.--;j{ ;';j: Baj^|tiia^23rd f^l^Afyiofmhy}A x - -.