By Way Of Geddes

The common council met in special session, upon the cali of the mayor, last Thursday nlgbt to consider the matter of the Detroit sti-eet bridge across the Michigan Central railroad. After listening to long talks by ex-city attorney Norrie upon the status of the contract coneerning the bridge between the railroad company and the city, the council took up the matter. The attornies had differed radically as to the best plan to be pursued and as a result the council was at sea as to what was the proper course to pursue. The outcome of the matter was that the board of public works was ordered to close the bridge, and proceed to advertise for bids and have the bridge rebuilt. This would tako several weeks before a - roke could be made towards rebuilding the bridge. Then f op the council to enter into and approve the contract with the lowest bidder would take two or threa weeks longer. Whenthis was done work oulii be begun. How long this would take is a question. In the . mean time, poople on the North Side and all farmcomlng to the city would oecompelled to cross the river east of the city tosvarda Geddes. tt was not long before serious eomplaints about reashing the city by this round bout way were oeedingly eommon. Within one day we heai'd several viorious kicks. A eareful examination of the eondenaned bridge discloses the fact that it is not in so bad a condition as is generally Bupposed. It is true that the planks are considerable ivcirn and that the Btrlngers have rotted slightly at ths top whet-e the planks are nailed to them. The Ilarg-e proportion of the stringe-s, however are perfeetly sound and amply strong to sustain as heavy loada as ever erossed the bridge. By replanking' the bridge over the plank already there the In'idge, it is bclieved by raany who have examined it, wou ld be in a perfeetly safe condition for several years to come, until the matter of who shall keep the bridge in repair shall be definitely settled.