100 years ago: Kaw River bridge strong enough for cars

From the Lawrence Daily World for April 19, 1910: “‘If Ringling Brothers can take 16 elephants across the Kaw River bridge at one time, and pull all of their heavy wagons over it, it is fully strong enough to carry our cars.’ Those are the words of A. Emmanuel, president of the street railway company, when asked why he could not put a line across the river over the present bridge. Chances for a line seem good. Ringling did use the bridge that way when here.”