Editing Quebec Bridge (section)

==Background==
Before the Quebec Bridge was built, the only way to travel from the south shore of the St. Lawrence in [[Lévis, Quebec|Lévis]] to the north shore at [[Quebec City]] was to take a ferry or to use the wintertime [[ice road|ice bridge]]. The construction of a bridge over the St. Lawrence River at Quebec was considered as early as 1852. It was further discussed in 1867, 1882, and 1884. After a period of political instability during which Canada had four prime ministers in five years, [[Wilfrid Laurier]], the Member of Parliament for the [[electoral district (Canada)|federal riding]] of [[Quebec East]], was elected on a [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] platform in 1896 and led the push to build the Quebec Bridge until he left office in 1911.

A March 1897 article in the ''Quebec Morning Chronicle'' noted:
<blockquote>The bridge question has again been revived after many years of slumber, and business men in Quebec seem hopeful that something will come of it, though the placing of a subsidy on the statute book is but a small part of the work to be accomplished, as some of its enthusiastic promoters will, ere long, discover. Both Federal and Provincial Governments seem disposed to contribute towards the cost, and the City of Quebec will also be expected to do its share. Many of our people have objected to any contribution being given by the city unless the bridge is built opposite the town, and the CHRONICLE like every other good citizen of Quebec would prefer to see it constructed at Diamond Harbor<!-- was it really misspelled like that? other Google books hits for the "Quebec Morning Chronicle" and "Diamond" use the expected "Harbour" -->, and has contended in the interests of the city for this site as long as there seemed to be any possibility of securing it there. It would still do so if it appeared that our people could have it at that site. A bridge at Diamond Harbor would, it estimated, cost at least eight millions. It would be very nice to have, with its double track, electric car track, and roads for vehicles and pedestrians, and would no doubt create a goodly traffic between the two towns, and be one of the show works of the continent.</blockquote>