NEW BOYLSTON ST, BRIDGE

A resolution has been brought before the Cambridge City Council by Councilman F. W. Norris to take up the question of the construction of a new bridge across the Charles River at Boylston street. A public spirited citizen who withholds his name for the present has definitely offered the money to build an adequate and decorative bridge provided that a license can be obtained for a bridge without a draw which does not have to be as high above the river as the new Cambridge bridge.

Up to the present the Department of War, which maintains the arsenal at Watertown, has insisted that the proposed bridge conform to one or the other of the foregoing regulations, but it now appears that the War Department will consent to the construction of the bridge provided only that all the land fronting on the river between the bridge and the arsenal is acquired for public purposes. At present there is only one piece of property within the limits named which is privately owned, and that is the Brighton abattoir. The only use which this company makes of the river is for the transportation of coal at very infrequent intervals. Furthermore, to conform with the War Department's stipulation it would be necessary only to procure a strip of land, on the river bank as has been done in Cambridge in front of the Stillman Infirmary and not to buy out or move the abattoir.

At present all the property along the Charles River as far s the arsenal, with this single exception is under the control of the Boston Park Commission, the Cambridge Park Commission, or the Metropolitan Park Commission.

Councilman Norris's resolution, which was adopted, it as follows:

"Whereas, it is understood that a financially responsible person stands ready to give the money for the construction of a new and adequate bridge between Cambridge and Brighton at Boylston street, and

"Whereas, the only obstacle to the acceptance of this proposition is the refusal of the United States War Department to permit the construction, under present conditions, of a drawless bridge at this point of any less height than the new Cambridge Bridge, and

"Whereas, the consent of the department to the construction of such a bridge can be obtained if the only remaining commercial property above Boylston street be acquired for public purposes. therefore be it,

"Resolved, that a joint special committee consisting of three members of this board with such as the Board of Aldermen may join, be authorized in conjunction with the Mayor and Park Commissioners to open negotiation with the Metropolitan Park Commission or other proper authorities looking toward the acquisition of the property in question for public uses."

The committee mentioned has been appointed and will confer with the park commissioners in the near future. It is expected that before long they will be able to make some preposition to the owners of the abattoir.