14 March 2008
14 Mar 1919: Mayor Says CPR Bridge Plans Won't Do
Victoria Vancouver Island British Columbia - Stories from
our pages over the last 150 years.
Mayor Robert Porter told the City Council last night that the CPR plans for the proposed Johnson Street bridge had arrived safe and
sound, but that he had informed the CPR frankly that they would not do.
"They asked me for an expression of opinion," he said, "and I stated without hesitation that there was no use in
bringing the plans before the aldermen, as you would not approve of them for a minute."
After the meeting, the Mayor and aldermen pored over the CPR diagrams and then compared them with the plans being worked upon by City
Engineer F.M. Preston, which provide for an entirely different type of bridge and a larger one.
The CPR offered a bridge with a swinging span and a roadway only eighteen feet across. The city draughtsmen are marking out a bascule
bridge that will have a 38-foot roadway, with provision for two streetcar tracks, and railway tracks on different
elevations.
It will be remembered that some time ago Premier Oliver received a wire from President Beatty, of the CPR, stating that the plans were
on their way to Victoria for approval. Last night the Mayor gave the first intimation that they were unsatisfactory, although several
days ago the engineer was instructed to prepare plans of his own. As soon as they are finished, they will go forward to the various
parties interested.
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