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MacArthur Bridge built for $200,000By Judy GoldbergThe Hawk EyeVolunteer committees almost always include one person who continually tries to wedge his specific agenda into the conversation.For the Commercial Exchange Committee in 1914, that member was J.A. MacArthur — the man most responsible for the ultimate construction of MacArthur Bridge.The persistant committee member reportedly bugged the chairman of the Commercial Exchange — an organization of business men who promoted city interests — about the bridge until a subcommittee was formed to investigate the idea.Before the bridge was built, ferries carried wagons and travelers between Burlington and Gulfport, 111. By 1914, eighty-seven wagons crossed the Mississippi on a local ferry in a single day, proving the need for a bridge.The subcommittee incorporated as the Citizen’s Bridge Co. and began circulating petitions for a special election on the bridge.The petition was successful and in 1915 voters approved a 2 percent property tax levy to help cover expenses.The Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Co. of Milwaukee was hired to build the bridge for $200,000. It was financed with $95,000 in taxmoney and $105,000 in private stocks and bonds.In August 1923, the city paid off its debt and took ownership of the bridge, changing its name from the Citizen’s Bridge to MacArthur Bridge. ’Over the years, revenues from bridge tolls were used not only to pay collectors and for maintenance of the structure, but also for unrelated city projects. Total toll collections soared from $25,340 in 1918 to $853,000 last year.However, access to the money was cut in 1979 when the city signed an agreement with the state to phase out the bridge fund transfer policy over four years. By 1983, toll money was restricted to bridge expenses only. All money remaining in the budget when the new bridge is completed in the early 1990s will go to the state to pay for the new bridge.The state will maintain the new bridge without tolls, which will mean eight full-time and 14 part-time toll takers and other bridge workers will lose their jobs.Even though MacArthur Bridge qualifies for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, its existence will end when it is dismantled around 1993.MacArthur Bridge would be very expensive to retain as an artifact, said City Manager W.G. Lawley.
Newspaper Details
Burlington Hawk Eye
Burlington, Iowa, US
Sun, Oct 09, 1988
Page 8
Full Page
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IA, USA 29 Apr 2017
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