The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-03-20

The Illinois River B!idge--AUothcrN ORD
To South SiuC.s.

The Illinois River B!id@c-- Another " ORD
10 South Sidc!s.
Jr Editor II discover Ivy your late is
sue that ruy few remarks on. this subject on
a former occasion have called forth some
structures from the editor Of the Elp45itcaH
and also vile and personal assault from
some low bred scamp who signs himself iu
mainly, and who doubtless is either a stock
holder in the Bridge Company or some dirty
scayengyr that suL>is.s o. the garbage Of
his owners. and does tL-ir barking when
ever his ears are rubbed. vii! now endea-
vor to meet the arguments Of the EePVjtt-
can in favor OF purchasing the present
bridge, and state what understand 10 DC
the true condition Of affairs Much stress
is placed upon the idea that the Bridge Co.
have expended large amount Of money IN
the rresent Bird e, and that 1t would not be
ri.ht now to buid a free bridge and thus
cause gseat loss TO the present stoekho!d-
ers Let Us examine the matter and see
whose money built the present bridge, and
how much the company have really expeud-
e. Of their own means before We shed many
tears over the loss and ruin Of private for
tunes. In the first place the Company re
ceiyed the round sum of $4,000 from the
town of Ottawa, at least oue-fourth Of the
whole amount expended. Then they re-
ceiyed g, 600 from the town of South Olta-
wa; this amount, ii must b. remembered,
was equivalent TO q free git to the COmpa-
ny. These two items alone are quite one
third Of the capital Invested, and | appre-
bend that f. " corporations would complain
by having onc-thifd Of the eutire capital be-
slowed upon them 10 use and manage at
their own pleasure for their Individual benc-
tit. Let Us look further and see how the
work was carried on and the bridge built
I am informed that the contract for the SUI
perstructure was let to a Chicago firm, who
took q large amount Of their work, say one
third, in stock. So too Of the contractor for
the stonework and that the eEnLankment on
the Ottawa side was mostly or all taken in
stock. And then the city OF Ottawa had TO
bleed in laying out and making 4 street run
ming to the bridge on the south side, for it
did not take long for the Bridge Company to
have the council open highway halt way
up q steep bluff and then bridge deep ra
vine once or twice at our expense Of some
81 600 as TO get travel 20 the bridge
Lock at it. How stands tie matter now ,
| think it is safe to say that the Bridge Co.
have not used more than one-half OF the
amount expended of their private means,
and had the profits Of the other half at their
command, and if they have failed to make
the most Of it, they have been more foolish
than the people give them credit for.
Now As to the great loss the Company
sustained last spring by the lreShet. Ii was
a severe loss and none felt it more than
those of us on the south side, and for one
90 not wish to have it occur again. And to
avoid this very thing is the reason why |
urge free bridge above the mouth of Fox
river 1t was a severe affair." and | think we
suffered more by it than did the Bridge Co,
Notwithstanding they made a great blow
about it. We all know that the tinbers of
the old bridge were mostly secured, and that
it was no very serious matter 10 rebuild the
woodwork, particularly so as the Company
had a sinking fund on hand Of several thou
sand dollars to Go the work with. The
stonework we all know occupied most of the
summer months, and that the tolls daily re-
ceived we're more than ample to pay the
workmen. However, it served as good
excuse to raise the toll, and it did moi matter
much to them if our lives were daily in jeO-
pardy in crossing the bridge whilst the
woTknen were engaged in rebuilding the
piers.
1t is not now, nor has it been my purpose
to NEEDLE with the present Bridge Compa-
ny, and now only allude to it for the pur-
pose of placing this matter Of individual
losses in its true light. 1t is an easy thi 8
for men TO try and enlist all the sympathy
they can, and thus enlist public sympathy in
their favor. 1t must be remembered that
this Company did not build the present
bridge, because they loved US so much that
they wished to do us a personal favor, but
they saw great many people with strong
arms and horny hands that needed such
work, and that their money thus invested
would pay better than at any other business.
I Il hnt |
ther think they love our money better than
ourselves. The editor Of the Republican
thinks we had better make ar effort to pur
chase the present bridge and make it free
than TO build new one. do not think so,
and for this reason. The present bridge is
in the wrong place, and like the Indians
gun, costs more than it comes to. Halt the
amount would build better bridge above
the mouth Of Fox river, for We all know that
the damage done last spring by the ice was
by the Fox and not the Illinois river. The
present bridge is poor property at best, and
this accounts for the high tolls we pay, as
the present bridge is liable to be swept away
at any time, and unless we pay enough be-
tween every thunder gust and ice flood to
build new one, it will prove losing bust
ness to the owners. This the Bridge Com
pany fully understand and if they have got
their fingers burned it is ne reason we
should burn ours. What we want and
greatly need is some safe and cheap means
to cross the river, and as We are not much
interested in town property we need not be
particular as to what street and section of
the city is to be benefited by the bridge. so
that we accomplish cur purpose of getting
across this stream at such rates as do not
threaten to make beggars of us all. do
not hold the Bridge Company responsible
for the low and vulgar assault made upon
"South Side" by writer over the signature
of Humanity" This much l do know,
that be has made an ass of himself, and shot