The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-12-19
enc Gazette.
ALFRED SANDERS, Error.
DAVENPORT:
THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10, 1850
THE FERRY MONOPOLY.

We made few remarks fortnight since
upon the peconiary Disadvantages that re-
.ul,ed to this county by making the right
10 ferry .. this place an exclusive Pr's'-
leoe. We are pleased 10 ASCERTAIN that our
opinions have me, with general, and 50 Ear
as We have been able 10 learn. universal
favor. The impression prevails with some,
tina, the Legislature will extend the RICH,
or ferry to the presea. incumbent, but At
the same lime reserve to Itself the power
Of granting the same privilege TO others.
This power, pc think, should be vested IN
tho Corporation, but possibly the concen'
tra,ion &C Democracy at Iowa City may
think differently. But without further sur
misses We wish 10 give plain statement Of
facts.
John Wilson, cur present terryman, has
had his agents travelling through the conn
try obtaining signatures to petitions pray
lag The Legislature to confer upon him the
exclusive privilege OF the ferry at 'a's
Mace. Beyond the confines Of this county,
where the people wero ba, little, it at oil,
interested, we presume no difficulty was
encountered in obtaining signatures
less an occasional msn were encountered
who had once crossed at this ferry. Bu,
10 hi. county, among those whom business
or pleasure had called to the opposite side
Of The river, few names could be obtained,
unless thew were those in the neighborhood
of,he town Of lie Claire, in the upper part
OF the county. where strange jealousy Of
the prosperity Of Davenpor, appears to ex-
ist.
A counter petition circulated through
Scott county, among those Immediately To-
teres,ed. was numerously signed, and had
suficien, time been taken TO place it before
every voter 10 The county, with probably the
above exception, i, would have obtained the
signature OF almos, every man; such il the
opposition to the exclusive right existing
among those who are most concerned IN
this matter.
We speak from knowledge Of the facts.
and make the widest allowanc for these
who have other considerations than the
welfare of our county, when We say that
niue -,eu,hs Of these interested in the Terry |
at this place are opposed 10 lis privileges
being conferred upon John Wilson to the
exclusion Of others. The question then it,
will the Legislature obey the vii! Of those
interested 10 this matter? Or, do they in
tend being governed BY petitions signed BY
men residing in distant portions Of the
State, and who have no more interest in
the ferry q, this place then in the one a,
the Lower Rapids?
1t appears to US that some discretion
should be used by our Representatives in a
matter Of this kind. Tha, they should no,
&C, hastily, nor at all unless they are fully
advised in the premises. To them il is
doubtless a matter of little consequence
whether John Wilson or John Smith have
the ferry at Davenport for ten years or a
century to come, but we do assure them
tina, to US who have to bear the burthen of
an enormous taxation, to have to endure
almost an embargo upon inter-communca
ton with our neighbors Of Rock Island, 10
have ourfeelings provoked BY frequent acts
of extortion, or negligence Of duty, and all
from source that instead should be Weld
ing TO our Corporation an income Of half a
thousand annually, to Us il does make diff
ference and of some moment.
Fourteen hundred signatures has John
Wilson obtained TO his petitions TO renew
bis charter. Hoc they were obtained we
know not, ,chence they were procured it be-
comes our Legislators 70 enquire, before
they allow themselves to DO influenced by
them. The attention paid 10 the matter Of
petition, il is well known, Is slight; so
trivial, that NC verify believe 10 traverse
the sams ground iha, was travelled in PRO,
curing the above mentioned signatures, foil |
MS many could lie obtained 10 the mos, alb
surd proposition that might be originated.
We have no objections, nor have the cit
liens Of Dasenpor, generally, 10 the Legs.
la,ure granting John Wilson The privilege
Of ferry here, provided they do no, allow
T.. IL.
be impartial and extend the same privilege
10 others. The ferry at this point is be-
coming TOO important TO be under the en-
tire control Of any one man, and if the Lee
gislature SO decide by renewing Wilson's
charter, they will do an &C, Of injustice 10
the citizens Of this place and of this coun-