From the Kearney Files
Sydney 6th November 1922
BATTLE OF BRIDGES
NO DELAY THE SLOGAN
THE NEW PROBLEM
Correspondence by "Critic"
One thing has impressed me profoundly in this battle of the bridges ---- the public disinclination to listen with patience to any proposal or argument that seems to make for delay in connecting the city with North Sydney. There must be no delay. This is the slogan which has stiffened the Government's back, and has inspired bridge advocates afresh for a great enterprise. To those who, like myself, have thought and worked for the bridge for 20 years, this concentration of purpose is refreshing, and makes a great deal possible which would otherwise be hopeless of achievement. But then the public has learned something of engineering problems, and is aquatinted with certain lessons in modern bridge building. It should therefore, hardly be necessary to explain that an entirely new situation arose when Mr. Bradfield returned recently from his bridge - building guest, apparently a disappointed man. At any rate, the inclusion in the bridge bill of a provision to make a new type of construction possible came with a great shock to many of us. When the Minister in charge of the bill swung this bombshell upon us the present controversy began. It is well to impress the fact because it explains a great deal. Up to that moment most of us agreed, not only that the bridge should be built without delay, but that Mr. Bradfield's plans represented the last word upon the question. It had taken eight years with an expensive staff to design the bridge, to draw the plans, and draft the specifications. Then at a moments notice came the necessity for an alternative design, and presumably, Mr. Bradfield is now engaged upon it. How long will it take? Is it again to be a matter of years? The bridge itself may take another ten years to build; and those of us who gave borne the burden and heat of the day in support and persistent advocacy, will have to wander again in the wilderness. We can never hope to see the promised bridge. If in the bridge area we shall have to pay taxes as long as we live, and be able to inspect scaffolding, but we shall never traverse the mighty structure that eventually will join two great cities --- for Sydney will be twain long before the bridge can be built.
Sydney 6th November 1922
BATTLE OF BRIDGES
NO DELAY THE SLOGAN
THE NEW PROBLEM
Correspondence by "Critic"
One thing has impressed me profoundly in this battle of the bridges ---- the public disinclination to listen with patience to any proposal or argument that seems to make for delay in connecting the city with North Sydney. There must be no delay. This is the slogan which has stiffened the Government's back, and has inspired bridge advocates afresh for a great enterprise. To those who, like myself, have thought and worked for the bridge for 20 years, this concentration of purpose is refreshing, and makes a great deal possible which would otherwise be hopeless of achievement. But then the public has learned something of engineering problems, and is aquatinted with certain lessons in modern bridge building. It should therefore, hardly be necessary to explain that an entirely new situation arose when Mr. Bradfield returned recently from his bridge - building guest, apparently a disappointed man. At any rate, the inclusion in the bridge bill of a provision to make a new type of construction possible came with a great shock to many of us. When the Minister in charge of the bill swung this bombshell upon us the present controversy began. It is well to impress the fact because it explains a great deal. Up to that moment most of us agreed, not only that the bridge should be built without delay, but that Mr. Bradfield's plans represented the last word upon the question. It had taken eight years with an expensive staff to design the bridge, to draw the plans, and draft the specifications. Then at a moments notice came the necessity for an alternative design, and presumably, Mr. Bradfield is now engaged upon it. How long will it take? Is it again to be a matter of years? The bridge itself may take another ten years to build; and those of us who gave borne the burden and heat of the day in support and persistent advocacy, will have to wander again in the wilderness. We can never hope to see the promised bridge. If in the bridge area we shall have to pay taxes as long as we live, and be able to inspect scaffolding, but we shall never traverse the mighty structure that eventually will join two great cities --- for Sydney will be twain long before the bridge can be built.
Comments
Post a Comment