The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-01-03

Tho late action Of some ct the people Of
81. lone relative 70 this bridge, is Causing
some comment, and elicitng semc severe
rebukes from localities not directly interest.
ed in the bridge, We,ase the following
from the Buffalo Com. Ad,eriassr,--
The St. Louis papers inform Nc that
Meeting Of steamboatmen and merchants
was recently held in that city, ., which
committee was appointed 10 take legal
steps for tho removal OF the Rock lsiand
bridge, as an obstruction to tho navigation
OF the Mississippi river. They consider the
bridge preiudieial TO the interests Of 81.
Louis, and seem deiefsJl 10 spare noet.
forts 10 procure its removal But We teei
quiie certain TINT all exertons in that direc.
ton will prove uaavailing The trade and
travel that crosses that admirable structure
in the course OF twelve months. must be
nearly or quite equal TO the business uana-
o,ed BY the ahaky little steamboats, that 60
through the spacieus draw Of the tr'dge, up
and down the river. Practically, ths bridge
10 no obstruction to the navigation OF the
river, Vessels approaching the bridge, up
or down, ars visible at long distance IN the
day time, and the piercing whistle Is heard
quite Is soon in the night, The keeper
| with its assistants, is always on lhe aieis'
| aud the draw il swung OH 60 rapidly oy
| means Of powerful aud easy working ma
| ehinery, that the passage is FREQ before me
mos, rapid craft ON the river can De prepared
to avail itself Q. il, A gentleman who mad
an opportunity to witness the passage oil a
steam boat through the draw, down ntream'
with heavily laden barge on either SIDE,
| and from whom We derive our Information
on the subject, says tho bridge is SO srran-
ged and managed a. virtually to DO away
with the objections OF the rivsrmen. Az .hs
time he spoke of. the river was on the rise
and the current unusually rapid. ana yet tse
steamer with her tow experienced no ann,
Guilty whatever in passing the draw. hho
it in well known fact that the peril ana IN
convenience Of the transit are much grss's'
when running with the stream than whef
making head against it, There 10 never any
delay, and IL vessel is handled with ordina
ry skill and judgment, there Is less DANCE
| there than at any sharp turn in the chanhe
OF the river.
| But il there was some little toundsiioi
for the opposition of those who do business
, on The river, ard navigation was liable L
temporary obstruction BY means OF tni'
brikce, We have strong doubts whether II
! rem oval could or ought to be procured. l
| is now indispensable 10 the trade aud travs
OF considerable portion of the great ant
growing State OF Iewa and its immense i'm
por,ance ia increasing every day. The rive
Is frozen for more than one-thi,d OF the year
and during that period the suspension
business, which nothing but the bridge csl
prevent, would be ruinonsly felt througl
tina, rast region whose products now mn
, an outlet across the bridge. The raPiai!
changing circumstances OF the country ar
constantly working changes in the Popula
mind. The growing Importance OF sr.ine's
means Of communication between olnereh
localities, both near and remote, is Oh ninisn
| ing the value Of our great natural channels
Of trade, and the old tradition of the inyioia
bliity OF nRyigable rivers il fast becoming
obsolete The unitarian notion oil tn
Creates advantage Of the greatest number
i superseding the antquated msKims whicf
| prevailed before the iron horse began caree
ling through the land, and legislation oc'f
| state and ns'ional, must conform to the pop
ular demands. We have the highest res
ipect for the courts, and would under no cir
cumstances counsel disregard OF their de
crees. but il they attempt 10 interfere with
and ob.iruc; the enlightened policy which
opens rivers and thus facilitates social ane
commercial intercourse, and stretch theil
prs5oeatige ia behalf Of the numbering SLOW
coaches cf the cid time, we must modify sx
,ting Laws. or invoke The interposition o.
| Congress, which can surmount all Difficult
ties By adopting as post route every bridge
in the country, 20 il forms part Of . great
thoraushfare