, 1859-03-11
Shalt the Mississippi be Rridged 7-.-A
. Question for the Chicago Board Of
Trade.

There are some points in the controversy
in reference TO the Rock Island Railroad
Bridge, which, from the length Of our article
On Wednesday morning, NC had no room to
make The question may be nsked if the
losses by damage at tile bridge are 20 ridicu-
lously smali-only some fifteen hundred dol
lars for IN entire year, why do not the
Bridge Company pay those losses and save
twice the amount expended in defending
suits instituted against them for alleged dam.
ages! The Fight 10 institute such suits, atd
to recover such damages cannot bs admitted
tor moment. In that case, every old rotten
tub On the Mississippi would lc sunk or de-
ssroycd against the bridge, and suits would
at once be brought for twice tler value. It
may bc doubted whether any accidents have
occurred ut the bridge from the burning Of
the Efie Alton down to the present hour,
which have not been tue result of incompe.
tence On the part of tue pilot OF captain of
tue boats injured, to gross negligence ard
acknowledgement; or if the whole truth were
known, to tue direct design Of those having
the boat in charge. The principle, to be ric.
idly maintained III all this controversy. is
that the bridge, not being material olstru.-
tion to navigation, has right 10 be there.
and the owners Of vessels navigating the
Mississippi, must take their own risk At fh;s
as we'll as all other points OF possible danger.
The last, that during an entire wear. on1v
twcnty-four steamers ont Of one thousand onc
hundred and eighteen that passed the bridge
in any wise touched the piers, and that only
t"o or three were at all damaged, to the
amount, perhaps, Of a thousand dollars.
proves concluxivcly, that with ordinary skill
and care the bridge is not natural obstruc.
tien to navigation Malice and atupidity
there, as in all other cases, should tecojl on
those who yield to their suggestions, Let It
once he understood among captains and nj
lots, that it is as dtsgracefnl to hit the piers
Of the Rock Island Bridge, as it is to stick
upon the Rapids abeFe it, and the war of tl,c
st. Louis Chamber Of Commerce will din mt
for want Of material.
The manner in which st. Louis has onnos.
ed the Rock Island bridge clearly proves
that her hostility springs not from INV raj
obstruction it presents 10 the nayioation n
the Mississippi. 1t is plain that she i. on,v
anxious to prevent the bridging of that riycr
anywhere, that she may control its commerce
q heretofore for al time to come. GRANTING
that for her own selfish purposes onr s;s.os
city might tax immensely the Commerce ~
sue 'ase country weet Of the Mississipui with
COST Of franthtpment and fcrriagc, and or>.n
in winter With several days DELAY. Tho n,;,
service alone must soon demand The tr;do;nr
o. al the rivers in the country north Of tho
latitude Of st. Louis. Owing to the coro.
ing OF the ice during the past wilucr It res
Impossible to get the mail, people or rooss
Of any kind across the Mississjnpi NJ -
ialand by any mems whatever, e1ccnt tha
BRIDGE for nearly three weeks tocetber ~
this regard therefore the Rock Island hr;,na
Is already q national necessity.
"ereitcrate in conclusion Al, +,o
slrnents heretofore expressed toward. 81
, :. Du' IL Inc Chamber Of commerce Of |
Ehat city are determined to break dorn ~.
Rock Island bridge at all hazards 10 ~.
'ur os n Board of Trade whether th.. h 80
lot something to gay and something ~ ~ L":e :s
he premises. The st. Louis Ch.mher ~. :.
heir last report; That "they have .nno;s,as -
committee to instItnte PROCEEDINGS r. 49,.
he bridge abated as a nuisance md r .sa
ave raised the aesea4ary means to ,,n
oele suit to a termination. They are anil.
onhdent that every stick and stone .f H.
Feat obstruction will b. removed bv dns
curse OF law" Il great obstruction ~snra1,,
men II is proved that some fifteen hundred
oilafa viii pay all The damages caured bv
's,lce and stupidity for whole year.
oat We futn to the question will our Roa,a
i1ade look to this matter and inquire uh.t +
e'f interest and their duty require Of ,bem
me prenlseas Not only Chicago. bnt N
cities md The States eaat Of ms l,a4e "
Ct interest in tbe bridging gof Ill the rirer,oa
Q continent north OF the latitude OF 81. I~nss 8
e commerce OF Chicago imperattye1v - I
Tres = bridge over the li,.i.;nn1 ~ ~
-; :. =: ppl At I