Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-12-07

that can be travelled with safety. much
less with convenience, thron gh the coun-
of St. Clair to that same ferry. There IS
not a bridge over the large slough or
lake in the least repair, nor the shadow
OF bridge over the gullies and mud
holes with which that section Of the
county abounds; and it has even been
limited there is but one authorized road
diverging from the Terry to any point
Now unless the proprietor of the ferry
will consent to lay off roads and keep
them IN repair for the public convenience,
since neither the authority OF the county
nor the people themselves will do this,
l am disposed TO prevent him carrying
people over the river.
8. But Mr.. Virgins has been guilty
in almost every instance in taking for
terriage much less than the law allows
hlm--of charging in some cases one
third or one half legal price to those
going over to market, and recrossng
them FREE. He has even been known
repeatedly TO risk the lives OF the pas
sengers, and the loss of his boat, by cross
ing through the floating ice. Now who
could estimate the value Of one citizens
| life, supposing it should be lost by this
gentleman's temerily in crossing his
boat, while every other ferry boat would
lie still.
4. But one OF the most substantial OBJ
lections have heard is, that when our
citizens get over to market, after paying
hat the legal ferriage, they cant sell
their chickens, butter, and eggs for any
great profit. have repeatedly heard
this objection most gravely asserted and
defended, both in ST. Louis market house,
and upon returning to my neighborhood
in this county, and have ever consider
ed this objection against the ferry com
pletely unansweraole.
| During the session Of last Legislature,
saw three men I'M the market from ST.
Clair with the amount probably OF halt a
dozen chickens, a pound or two of but
ter, and other truck. The whole river
was then filed with running ice, and they
told me they had occupied more than
two hours in crossing over in the skih,
at the imminent hazard Of their lives, by
which they had lost the mornings mar
ket, and had to pay ffy cents each Tor
crossing and reerossing. These same
gentlemen we're clamorons to have me
Join them in petitioning the representa-
ton OF ST. Clair, then in VandaIia, to put
down the ferry, and have no doubt but
the Public shrrH they feel, was manifest
ed Tor the purpose, as something OF the
kind was soon after before the House.
S. But after all there is still an impor-
tant reason behind. The corporation OF
ST. Louis are now actually engaged in
paving The street leading from the tsrry
down to the waters edge. Now this is
an outrageous satire upon the roads and
bridges of the American Bottom, as well
as upon the public spirit of St. Clair
county, and ough, not to be borne with.
| What. shall the people OF ST. Louis
presume to do such an expensive aud
public act, in patronlzing and aiding the
ferry when we have SO decidedly mani
tested our spirit by an entire neglect OF
every thing in the road and bridge line.
Then let every citizen who consulls
bis own or the public good sssail tho le-
gislature with petitions till the voice oil
their prayer is heard, and the good old
times of crossing the Mississippi in all
old keel boat return. Then every man
will have the pleasure of getting to mar
ket the hes. way he can.
/ CITIZEN CT ST. CLAIR.
! Monday, Dec. 9th, 1924. M
Ectract Of a letter TO tie Editor, dated
| ALBANY, Saturday morning, 5th No
pem6er.
| "The result of the Governors cleo
ton here has appalled, the Crao ford