The Globe. MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1875.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 178, 4 January 1875, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1875.

-It will be recollected that some months back the bridge over the River Aron in Colombo street was closed, by order of the Mayor and Council, pending repairs. For a long time the residents and business people Buffered considerable inconvenience, and though ihe traffic was diverted in another direction, no attempt was made to repair the bridge, or erect another structure. At length, however, a move has been made, and workmen are engaged thereon. It is not to the question of the erection, or nonerection of the bridge, to which we desire to direct attention, but to the disgraceful state of the approach to the temporary bridge, and thedangerous character of the latter itself. The handrail is of the slightest possible character, and the flooring so uneven and full of holes, that it is a wonder that several accidents have not already occurred. The approach itself is through a perfect slough of mud, and altogether the present means of crossing the river at this point is disgraceful in the extreme. If the City Couucil are to blame, then we urge upon them the necessity for an improvement at once, or if not, that they insist upon the contractor taking such steps as will prevent the possibility of an accident. It may be said that none has yet occurred, which is quite true, but that is in no way owing to the safety of the temporary bridge, but rather to the caution of those passing over it. As the building of the new bridge is likely to be a work of time, it is necessary that something should be done to avoid the risk which is now hourly run by those passing over the ricketty, makeshift contrivance, which can only be called a bridge by the utmost stretch of courtesy.