The Commercial Appeal from Memphis, Tennessee • 96

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL MEMPHIS SUNDAY MORNING DECEMBER' 18 1949 11 Years Of Effort And Expenditure Of Millions Lie Behind Great Triumph 10 BRIDGE SECTION THE BOY HAS JUST ABOUT MOREZN HE CAN TOTE Movement For New Bridge Took Form Early In 1939 With Naming Of Committee Even World War II Couldn't Stop Determined Plan Or Its Steady Progress The Commercial Appeal Was Among The Pioneers tT WAS a day when the front-page headlines of The Commercial Appeal were flaming: Troops Race Into Ravished Mastery Now Complete Iron Man Of Central And France Look The Other It was Tuesday March 14 1939 now nearly 11 years ago On that day plans for the building of a modern highway bridge across the Mississippi River at Memphis which had long been agitated took definite form The City Commission met and aet Memphis Committee up a ind Arkansas Bridge to work for the new phis will meet with co-operation from the citizens of the other Starting The Ball A-Rolling The action of the Memphis City Commission in naming a committee to "start the ball for another bridge between Memphis and Arkansas to handle vehicular traffic is a definite step toward the accomplishment of a project that has the approval of the MidSouth The Commercial Appeal because its interests are those of this section is glad to have representation on this committee The bridge Is not merely a Memphis project The benefits therefrom are a matter of concern for the 'entire section It is expected that the initial steps made by the City of Memphis will be met with co-operation from the citizens of the other communities directly involved These too should be represented As we get it this initial committee has for its immediate objective' the making of a preliminary survey As the work progresses it not only will be desirable but necessary that other representatives be added both from Memphis and the surrounding territory THE This editorial citing the need for a new bridge appeared in Ths Commercial Appeal along with ths cartoon It points out: bridge is not merely a Memphis project The benefits therefrom ero matter of concern for the entire nessee are announced by the Bridge Commission as follows: If built in North Memphis across Mud Island at Winchester Avenue from $13338465 to $19378594 if bu-t in South Memphis at Iowa Avenue from $7787058 to $11960404 These estimates of course depend upon the type of construction ard on whether the bridge is to have four or six highway lanes A four-lane bridge is subsequently agreed upon 1943 Jan In Nashville Shelby County's delegation introduces Legislature a bill to authorize CVy of Memphis to issue $375000 bores for part of bridge cost Feb 1 Two bills to permit Shelby County to spend up to $37S0'6 introduced in Legislature 1944 Feb Bridge proposal approved by Public Roads Administration at Washington clearing last obstacle and announcement is made that work is expected to start soon Chairman Crump intimates South Mempha site will be chosen because of preference of that location by the Mississippi River Commission ard the Federal Roads Bureau Feb 23 Bridge Commission selects Iowa Avenue site just south of Frisco and Harahan Bridges for new bridge It explains that estimated building cost 87000000 at the Iowa site and S13000000 at the Winchester site) had been one of the principal factors in the decision and that in addition the North Memphis site had been opposed by the Mississippi River Commission on the ground that a bridge there would be a hindrance to river navigation City Atty Will Gerber replaces Frank Gailor as secretary of the Bridge Comy-sion but Mr Gailor continues as a member Feb 24 Bridge Commission files with War Department formal application for a permit to construct a bridge across the HKssissippi River at Memphis Engineers toll-free structure and prepared to appropriate city money for preliminary surveys There had been intermittent agi tation for a new bridge ever since the Harahan Bridge had been bad-damaged by fire on Sept iy IT 1828 resort to forcing traffic to THE CARTOON This cartoon showing tho overtaxed Harahan Bridga and tho need for a new structure across the Mississippi River hare appeared in The Commercial Appeal on March 15 1939 the morning after the Memphis and Arkansas Bridge Committee later the Memphis and Arkansas Bridge Commission had been created delighted to know the bridge is going to be built We ought to commend Mr McDonald Senator McKellar and the Tennessee and Arkansas congressmen who worked on the project Especially should we thank Senator Me Kellar (of Tennessee) and Senator Caraway (of Arkansas) and Con gressman Davis (of Tennessee) and Congressman Gathings (of Ar kansas) fjoralion In Dispute July 24 City Commission mllo-rstes $10000 as its share in pre liminary expenses connected with the new bridge such as surveys and soundings July Crittenden County Ark divided on location of bridge West Memphians want southern site and approach through their city while Marion Ark wants span built in North Memphis near Marion July 28 Chairman Crump says work on the bridge will begin six or eight Estimates cost at from $6000000 to $8000000 July 29 Public Roads Administrator McDonald at Washington in discussing new national defense highway plan calls the Memphis bridge No 1 project In Uia Aug 4 President Roosevelt vetoes the $320000000 defense highway program expected to mid bridge's financing because of hie objections to an apportionment of $125000000 among the states on a pro rata basis rather than giving the Executive Department power to use the money at points of reatest defense need Chairman Irump declares the setback to the bridge plans will be only temporary Aug 7 Senator McKellar introduces new bill to get bridge for Memphis after House of Representatives fails to override President Roosevelt's veto it is a modification and revision of the old bill along the lines of President Roosevelt's veto message Shortly after new bill introduced Senator McKellar suffers a fainting spell and has to be assisted from the Senate chamber but soon recovers (Ths Senate voted1 to override the veto but the House sustained the President both votes were close) Amended Bill Passed Aug 15 a amended bill is passed by Senate after hectic battle in which attempts to riddle It are beaten down The compromise measure cuts $75000000 out of the original ill and provides that only part of of $75000000 allotted for strategic defense highways be divided on the state apportionment basis to which President Roosevelt objected Sept 23 Engineering soundings at possible locations for the bridge continue as more test holes are drilled to establish the depth of solid strata for atructure'a foundations Chairman Crump says: "The bridge will either croee by way of Mud Island from the foot' of Winchester or span the river at the foot of Oct Soundings completed and soil findings sent to laboratories of United States Bureau of Public Roads at Arlington Va for testing of their bearing power and atrength Nov 5 Bridge prospects brighten as House approves a conference report reconciling Senate and House differences on defense highway authorization hill measure is sent to President Roosevelt and he approves it Dee Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor United States enters World War It but bridge plana go on 1942 Jan Heads of Arkansas and Tennessee highway departments meet with Bridga Commission to discuss possible cost but no figure is announced April 8 In Washington for a bridge conference with Senators McKellar and Stewart and Representative Davis Chairman Crump announces that under the law the Government will provide three fourtha of the money for the bridge and that "I am anxious to find out from Mr McDonald how the other part of the money is to be March Estimates of the cost of the bridge made by the highway departments of Arkansas and Ten (Continued on Page 13) OE (OBOI iAn Event Gailor county attorney and Will Gerber city attorney Congress Passes Bill July Bridge bill is passed by Senate Authorizes the Government to extend Federal aid for construction of the bridge out of any roads money allocated to states of Tennessee and Arkansas upon consent of the Highway Departments of these states Also authorizes the setting up of a bridge commission with power to enter contracts with he two states the City of Mem phis Shelby County and Crittcn den County Ark in obtaining financial aid July SI Bridga bill is passed by House of Representatives and now goes to President Roosevelt for approval It creates a Memphis and Arkansas Bridge Commission of 16 eight from Tennessee and eight from to handle the details of construction This bill does not authorize tolls or tax-free bonds but contemplates the structure will bs built from funds obtained through legislation in Tennessee and Arkansas and by Memphis and Shelby County and such Federal funds as may be obtained Sept World War II begins in Europe as Great Britain and France declare war on Germany Sept The new Memphis and Arkansas Bridge Commission authorized by Congress meets and organizes and electa Mr Crump as chairman 1940 May 13 Mayor Chandler upon return from Washington says part of the cost of the proposed bridge probably will have to be provided by the City of Memphis and Shelby County (Tran) and Crittenden County (Ark) Juno 15 Construction of the bridge with Works Progress Ad ministration funds for national defense is suggested by Governor Bailey of Arkansas who estimates cost at 98000000 Dec 27 Bridge commission asks highway departments of Arkansas and Tennessee to start engineering surveys of suggested locations for the structure Thomas McDonald commissioner of the Fed eral Public Roads Administration at Washington announces the proposed structure has been placed on the national defense priority list 1941 Jsn 24 Bridge commission an nouncei Tennessee and Arkansas highway engineers together with Federal engineers will begin a survey Feb 5 to determine a location for the bridge April 23 Bridge surveys nearing completion say engineers next job is raising money says Chairman Crump July 11 Two possible sites art announced by the one at the foot of Winchester in North Memphis and the other at the foot of Iowa just south of tho Frisco and Harahan bridges Bridge commission employs the Herbert Stanley Co of Dallas Texas to take soundings at each location Long controversy over whether the bridge shall be built in North Memphis or South Memphis begins July Financing of bridge seems assured as both Senate and House of Representatives adopt conference report on $125000000 appropriation for national defense highways and strategic bridges Cost now estimated at $6000000 Senator McKellar says the Federal Government will supply three-fourths of tho cost and the states of Tennessee and Arkansas one-eighth each Mr Ahlgren a member of the Bridge Commission says com munities directly involved These too should be represented "As ws get it this initial com' mitteo has for Its immediate objective the making of preliminary survey As the work progresses it will not only he desirable but necessary that other representatives be added from Memphis and the surrounding An Eleven-Tear Task And so was bom the Memphis and Arkansas Bridge Committee subsequently the Memphis and Arkansas Bridge Commission which labored nearly 11 years to transform an idea Into the magnificent new span of latticed ateel with ita four broad highway lanes that leaps the Mississippi River at Memphis today Mr Crump has served as chairman throughout all these years He was named when the committee held its first meeting and organized a few days after ita appointment Chosen as vice chairman of the originial committee was Mr Ahl-gren while Commissioner Davis was elected secretary Mr Ahlgren is still a member of tho group How this committee later en-arged with the addition of more members from Arkansas and Mem his toiled to build the new and succeeded despite the ntervention of World War II and its resultant is told in the following chronology: 1939 April 21 Chairman Crump announces that a "Memphis and Little Rock Highway Bridge Bill" will be introduced in Congress Immediately Tho committee makes lane to Incorporate and la en-arged by the addition of Jasapon president of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce and the ollowing Arkansans: Beck Sr of Hughes Judge Johnson of West Memphis Land Williams of Osceola Campbell of Forrest City and Walton of Stuttgart April The Bridge Committee announces that the Bureau of Public Roads and the Army Engineers will be asked to aid in surveys to determine the best location for the new bridge April Identical bills to authorize construction of the new bridge and to create "The Memphis And Little Rock Bridge Commission" are introduced in tho Senate and the House of Representatives at Washington by Senator McKell-ar and Representative Chandler The bills also provide that the commission shall have the authority to iasuo bonds to cover cost of construction Cost of the structure is estimated at 94000000 May 5 Arkansas Highway Director Mitchell predicts that some ways or means will be found in the near to uu new bridge" but objects to the use of Arkansas Highway Department funds Toll Bridge Rejected May In a public statement Mr Crump re-iterates his previously announced stand for a free bridge and his strong opposition to any plan for the charging of tolls A toll provision in tho bill in' troduced in Congress he explains was placed there merely to meet Federal requirements with no intention of exercising same May 22 Senator McKellar predicts passage of the bridge bill now pending before the Senate Commerce Committee recent check shows 6000 vehicles crossing the Harahan Bridge daily June 15 Three additional members from Arkansas and two from Tennessee are added to the proposed Memphis and Little Rock Highway Bridge Commission giving each state tho same number of representatives eight each They are Shaver of Wynne Ark Crain of Wilson Ark Cecil Oliver of Proctor Ark Frank ferryboats for many long and trying weeks Moreover with the soaring increase in the number of automobiles trucks and buses the Job was getting too big for tbs weary old Harahan to handle with Its two narrow roadways and its difficult approaches But on the heels of the stock market crash of 1929 had come the business depression that flattened the Nation economically for several years and all efforts for a new multi-million span here had to be abandoned at least for the time Plana Revived in 1939 However by 1939 with the bleak depression days fast fading into history a resurgent Memphis and fca Mid-South area was ready to crystalize with definite action the agitation for the building of a new bridge that lied begun more than a decade before On March 14 the City Commie- rlon unanimously adopting a reao-jtion offered by Commissioner Boyle set up the Memphis and Ar kansas Bridge Committee composed the following men: CRUMP Shelby County political leader chairman SENATOR KENNETH of Tennessee CONGRESSMAN WALTER CHANDLER of Memphis CITY COMMISSIONER CLIFFORD DAVIS of Memphis COUNTY COMMISSIONER HALE of Shelby County FRANK AHLGREN executive editor of The Commercial Appeal WILLIAM FOWLER city engineer The Time Has Corns Commissioner resolution declared in its preamble: City of Memphis has be' come the hub of a splendid system of highways which extend to the far limits of this country in every direction free roadways of the Harahan Bridge have become inadequate to properly rare for the thou sands of automobiles which demand their use daily is urgent necessity that steps should be taken to Insure the construction of another bridge as soon as possible The resolution then named the seven members of the committee which was directed to "determine the amount of money necessary to he expended in making preliminary studies and and to do all other things looking to the building of a modern multimillion-dollar highway bridge at Memphis Commissioner Boyle's resolution was seconded by Commissioners Picard Williams and Davis In almost one voice and Mayor Over-ton then serving in his first administration recorded the unanimous vote Editorial Points Need The next morning an editorial in The Commercial Appeal captioned "Starting The Ball exulted: action of the Memphis City Commission in naming a committee to the ball for another bridge between Memphis and Arkansas to handle vehicular traffic is a definite step toward the accomplishment of a project that has the approval of the entire MidSouth Commercial Appeal because its interests are those of tins section is glad to have representation on this committee It is not merely a Memphis project the benefits therefrom are a matter of concern for the entire section It is expected that the initial steps made by the City of Mem NATIONAL IMP0R TANCE WE ARE PROUD OF THE NEW MEMPHIS AND ARKANSAS BRIDGE The opening of the great Tennessee and Arkansas Bridge is an outstanding event not only for the City of Memphis the two States which it connects the but for the entire nation i For this magnificent structure creates a vital artery of communication between East and West forming a major link in the system of highways that binds together the civil commercial and industrial life of these United States Union Planters National Bank Trust Co extends its heartiest congratulations to the planners architects and builders who in constructing the Tennessee and Arkansas Bridge have achieved an engineering accomplishment of the highest order Memphis Is Growing The Wonderful $15000000 HAVE SERVED THE MID-SOUTH Faithfully 85 Years MALLORY and SOUS CO WHOLESALE GROCERS AND SEED Acoss ths Memphis and Arkansas Bridge Coma the Finest People in ie World Memphis and Arkansas Bridge FORCEFULLY DEMONSTRATES THIS I I OUR CUSTOMERS" Soy Beans Our Sincere congratulations to all who labored to bring this great achievement to Memphis Lespedeza Korean Kobe Sericea Keystone Hybrid Dixie 17 Tenn 10 13 end Open Pollinated Seed Com Collon Seed Certified Blue Teg Delinfed Treated Delta Pine 15 Empire Stoneville 2-B Grasses Clovers Grain Sorghums Cert Ogden Ogden 5-100 Mamloxi Brown Biloxi Virginia Tanner Kingwe Laredo Union Planters Rational BANK TRUST CO AM) 8 BRANCHES Since 1869 MEMPHIS TENNESSEE Capital! Surplui and Undivided Profit Over 14 Million Dollar MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 0 INOCULATE ALL LEGUMES WITH LEGUME-AID INOCULATION WRITE WIRE OR PHONE FOR PRICES MALLORY and SONS CO At 42 South Main 411 SOUTH MAIN ST MEMPHIS I TENN PHONE 8-7661 OE30E (OBOI.