McKinley Bridge across the Mississippi River will be purchased by the Bi-State Development Agency from a railroad company to be controlled by a group of eight lines nw negotiating to acquire the Illinois Terminal Railroad, owner of the 44-year-old span. Illinois Terminal Railroad's ownership of its own span and right-of-way into downtown St. Louis has helped to make it sought by several big railroads.
The unprotected opening running between the center and outer traffic lanes on the McKinley bridge is seen from below, looking up from the Hall street railroad tracks where the men landed in their 80-foot drop. The outer lane, formerly reserved for streetcars, has no guard rails.
The big steel tower on the west approach of the McKinley Bridge was unceremoniously dumped from its perch yesterday. An Illinois Terminal locomotive on the bridge hooked onto steel cables fastened to the 30-foot tower, gave a few tugs and the mass of metal tumbled to the ground.
Fire threatened to destroy the wooden roadway of the otherwise fireproof McKinley Bridge yesterday afternoon when about 100 feet of the under side of the north roadway near the center span of the bridge was scorched.
McKinley Bridge officials say the Venice-owned toll bridge has retained some of the new customers it acquired earlier this year when motorists sought to avoid construction areas on the Poplar Street Bridge.
Venice Patrolman Johnnie Crook and Madison (city) officer Frank Papa check out a car belonging to a woman who jumped from the McKinley Bridge this afternoon. She was rescued.