, 1859-03-02

We respect st. Louis. As citizens Of the
great valley Of The Mississippi we are proud
Of her substantial prosperity; Of the intelli-
gence, energy and far-seaing eagacity which
direct and control her vast commerce. She
is great and ever must be. But We have
~someHhat against her," We would that
she were delivered from the mean spirit Of
Jealousy which took posses<;on Of her from
the inception Of the Rock Island Bridge. and
which like all evil spirits becomes more ram
pant and outrageous every gear that it pos
s:esee It's victim. Foiled in every attempt to
destroy the bridge by suits and injunctionE
carried to the highest courts Of the coupt1y,
she has changed her TACTICS and now resorts
to the low device Of instituting vexatious
law suits for damages that never were suffer
ed; and if possible with still more detachable
meanness her agents are appealing 10 the
fears Of the public by circulating Injurious
reports as to the safety Of the bridge1 OF
course ne do not charge this upon the people
Of St. Louis The high minded, honorable men
whom we met at st. Joeeph last week Would
despise such an act. Her Board Of Trade
would ecorn euch an imputation; but( the
agents they employ to " fght and break down
tile bridge" seem destitute Of eEory prfnci.
pie Of justice and honor. Il
We have specimen Of that kind Of tai lies
in The Rock Island Aryas of February th.
The artcle escaped our notice ut the ii c !:
and We are glad our attention has been Cd led
to the subject In that paper we find an} tti-
davit sisucd by Amos stillman, who claiJ Is to
De q civil engineer, to the effect thai the
bridge is unsaie !; in fact highly dangerop J. to
tie travelling public. On this precious Goc.
ument, one B. G. Cray p,etends 10 givexfotice
to the Rock Island Bridge Company t lat they
will be liable for mapslaughtez for any lives
that may thereafter be lost BY the 1ullins OF
The bridge. THAT Mr. Stillman's qua1ifca-
lions as au engineer may he we know not !;
but the value Of Lis Judgment in this regard
is worth nomtnnly just what It cost the agent
of the St. Louis Chamber Of Commerce, not
penny more. As TO Mr. 3. G. Gray, rerhnps
tue d.ga eau give us come account as to his
whereabouts. ls Le myth, or docs lie dwell
in the flesh as other mortals! Seriously, this
whole system of casting suspicion upon the
Rock 1slaad Bridge is miserable humbug OF
The meanest possible variety.
The Rock Island Bridge vas flushed in
September, 1856, aud of course If we'll built
il sill in good condition. But the St. Lptl.s
Chamber of Commerce, by their unwearied
efforts to destroy it have taken the surest
mcaos to keep in good order. But aside from
this, our readers kuow that Henry Farnam,
Esq ), the President Of the Rock Island Rail.
road. who also has charge Of this Bridge is
one of the most careful railway managers in
the country. He is withal uu eugiueer Of
high-stanGing and no effort which the iargcst
experience directed by the most mature judge
ment aud the highest scientific attalnmcnts
can command, will ever bc wanting to keep
the ROCK Island Bridge above The possibility
of dangcr. Every timber, and every pier is
daily watched with the CT ea!est care. There
is not similar structure in the United States
which is N orc carefully guarded, or one
which il mnrc likely to stand securely than
the Rock Island Bridge.
Our St. Louis uei .hbors may as well give
up this useless war. Tue necessities Of com.
merce will force the bridging Of the Mfssis-
slppl in at least halt-a. dozen places within the
next score Of years. NJ city upon that great
river needs s1,ch an irnnrovanoort mora flan
St Louis. We sincerely hope therefore, she
will cease her Quxotic warfare against the
Rock 1slaud Bridge and sct herself at work
with equal energy 10 build one at her own
doors to accommodate hcr magnificent and
1apldly increasing commerce.