Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-04-24

HE RAILROAD BRIDGE CoMMIs-
sIoN.-The United States Commission con.
sisting of Capt w. Franklin, Capt. G.. G.
Mead, Capt. Humphrey and Capt. G. II.
Scott. Of the U. s. A. service, appointed by
the Secretary of War TO proceed to this city
and examine the position and condition of
the Railroad Bridge with reference to its
effect upon the navigation of the Mississip.
pi River, arrived in our city on Friday eve
ming, and are stopping at the Burtis House.
Before leaving they will take full and accu-
rate scientific observations in I iereIce TO
this matter, and report at headquarters a,
an early day.
What this commission will amount to yet
remains TO be seen but we venture the
opinion that it will end where it began, and
that the bridge will remain where it is,
though perhaps. wieh some needed modi-
flying, until by accident or the ravages
Of time it becomes impassable 1t is a
great work. and has its advantages and
and great disadvantages. That it is in some
instances an obstruction to the successful
passage OF steamboats, plying upon the river,
it were foolish to deny but that it is such
n medium Of uninterrupted intercourse be-
tween the East and West as will prove to be
Of the greatest Importance to the commerce
Of the country. is also potent, and cannot be
disregarded.
The farther our projected railroads are
carried towards the Pacific coast, and the
more the agricultural and commercial in
terests Of the State Of Iowa and Territories
west OF US, on the line and adjacent to the
line Of our roads. become developed, the
greater will he found the absolute necessity
of a railroad bridge which shall epan the
Father of Waters at this place. And not
only at iris place. but At other places in this
State. and At numerous points between Da
veuport and st. Paul, will there, before the
next quarter century shall have elapsed,
be fonnd heavy bridges across which
will pass the great overland ships Of the
nation-the railroad cars-bringing the pro
duet Of Eastern labor to the markets Of the
vast Western country and carrying back
the products Of our fertile and boundless
prairies. That the Mississippi River is to
be spanned with hundreds Of bridges is un-
questionable, and that Government will in
terfere with this structure is an idea which
no sensible mind can entertain. This is an
age of Improvement River navigation is
blessing that We have long enjoyed. and
trust we long may, but the iron horse era
has but Just commenced, and We might just
as well attempt to catch locomotive going
at full speed with spiders web as to hold
IN check the progress Of the great railroad
system in the West by requiring trains to
stop on one side-break bulk-and cross
over to the other side on ferry, and reship
Such state Of affairs was good enough
once. but 10 too old fogyish row to be
talked Of even in the extreme backwooda
Railroads and steamboats,, when brought
in competition are not often friendly-thsy
have mutual distasts fer each other, hence
there 10 more Of less strife and contention
engendered between them. They are both
friends to the vhits man. and - such, should
each recsivs our sJnpathies and warm sup
port.
That the petition Of our bridge IL in .
nsasars snfpstsssts. ws saaass dsay.-
That Il was ass beklsr located ws saa b,