The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-08-10

From the Boston Daily Advosssssr.l
Bridging the Mississippi at Rock Island
i In the course Of the series Of letters from
the West, which we published afew weeks
&C, we alluded to the contemplated e1-
tension Of the continuous railroad track oe-
yond the Mississippi, by means o. oraso
across that river at Rock Island, that point
being deemed favorable one for the pnr-
pose Rock Island is the western ierni.
nus Of the Chicago and Rock lsiand kall
Road empany; on the opposite SIDE OF the
river. a, Davenport, begins the MsslssiPpl
and Missouri Rail Road, which will carry
4 forward the iron chain 10 Council Binfis.--
! The river is here divided into two streams
1 by the island OF Rock Island, which is three
I Or four miles long and contains about seven
! hundred acres OF land. At the time our let
tiers ere written the work upon the bridge
across the two channels was vigorously car
ried on; most Of the piers and abutments
were already erected, and large body OF
lahorers were employed upon the island.--
The right to build the bridge was granted
by the Legislature OF the State of Illinois
The land upon the island belongs to the
United States, and the company expected
to take SO much as they should need for
,hc purposes Of their road, under general
act OF Congress, passed in 1852, which grant
the right oil way to rail roads, plankroads,
&c. through the public lands Of the United
States, in I'LL cases, except when the lands
are NOT actually occupied for customhous
na,y-yards, forts, or other purposes with
which the railroad would interfere. We
are informed that the Company's right OF
way across the island under this act has
been affirmed BY the Department Of the
Interior which has control of the public
lands.
The Company engaged in building the
bridge have proceeded with their work up
on tie island under this law of Congress,
sustained by the advice of the Department
Of the Interior. A difficulty however, ap-
pears likely to arise from the fact that the
island OF Rock Island is now claimed by the
War Department as a Military Reserva-
ton. During the last war with Great Brit
ian fort was built on the southern end Of
the island which which was occupied as long
as there was any use for il, and was then
(seyeral years ago) abandoned 10 the gene
raj land office. The abandonment was
sanctioned first b. Mr. Poinsett and after
wards by Mr. Marcy, now Secretary Of
State, while they were. Secretaries OF War.
Hon. Jefferson Davis, the present Srcreta-
ny of War, Tor reasons which we are at a loss
TO understand. not only maintains that the
claim of the War Department to the island,
excludes the rights OF the company under
the General law Of Congress and the railing
of the land office OF the Interer Depart,
ment; but also refuses 10 sell or lease OIL
any terms, the fee or the right of way.
The upper par, Of the island is occupied
by Mr.. Sears, who has constructed eS,cn
sise works that have been very useful in
improving the navigation Of the river, and
he Is an applifs;t .lr LIEF, fer rendering
this public s6ryice For hateYer pur-
poses III ! island ms Y used, i diff ult
to see lsw the iae q The laad can be
otherv ise thar bfuatge by tie construe-
cessariy bc ggyUt b ay betty cen the
inter.ur .. the tautHant aHa u Il i, II not
at som- tn'ure aay, 's4esy tg.M aeean to
ocean.
The company fsei seeare ID ia If rights
TO proceed with their work th.l they would
not feel embarrassed the assertion OF this
claim on the part Of the War Department,
and would checr!uliy leave the adjudication
of the conflicting claims TO the decision of
the courts OF law, in the confidence that the
legality Of their proceedings would be es-
tablisheG- tic case has recently been
complicated, as we are informed ty the re-
sort OF Secretary Davis TO the extreme meas
ure Of sending an officer. to the island, with
instructions to remove every pers on from,
il, with the exception, as Is supposed, OF
those who occupy tract granted by Con-
gress on preemption claim, to Mr.. Daven-
port.
From the information we have received,
we think il probable that the officer detailed
for this duty will find he has difficult task
to accomplish. The company have large
force of men in their employ upon the is
land and in the beiefot the Legality Of their
proceedings, they will not retire except up
On compulsion. No troops have yet been
ordered to the island, and il viii be difficult
for the Secretary Of War to enforce his de-
mand even should he send all that lie can
spare for the purpose.
" 1t is difficult TO understand what motives
! intimate President Pierce in his conduct
with regard TO the great question Of a rail
F. road to the Pacific. The expressed opin-
( ions Of members in his Cabinet afford no
| clue TO his own, for they are directly in va
rance with each other. President Picrce's
influence carried through Congress with I'M
usual celebrity the appropriatng Of ten mil
Ion dollars, required by the Mexican treaty,
the great point Of which was the requisi-
,ioh Of a strip of territory for Southern
route to the Pacific; yet Northern comna-
ny. whose work is in actual progress for the
connexions Of the lines Of railroad beyond
the Mississippi with those this side, suffer
cd by the President to be interrupted by the
summary interferedcc OF the Secretary Of
Was.-
Congress Di5graced ty Drunkard.
The New York Times correspondent in
L.. lntrnr e La OCH tr,,r ,.tn,,,nL,