, 1861-01-12
Tho Sc. louis Chamber of Commerce.
CHICAGO, J0n.7, 1860.

Tho s.. Louis Chamber of Commerce.
Cutc.Go, Jan. =, 1sGo!'
Editors Tribune:
In your issue Of the 5th inst. is IN article
relative to the Rock Island Bridge, Which I
think does great Injustice TO the st. Louis
Chamber Of Commerce rs body, and particr.
la1ly its President, afr. January. cannot think
yon would willingly do them injustice; but
the article in question certainly gives very
distorted view Of ,lr. Januay's testimony, and
ofthc objects and aims Of tho parties in their
cndsavors to: aid in the prosecution Of tue
bridge. I was q member Of the st. Louis
Chamber Of Commerce when the bridge con
trovessy was first brought before that body.
It Was then proposed to appropriate sum Of
money Il think 1--WE thousand dollans) to aid in
prosecuting certain suits then pending In the
Courts of Iowa aud Illinois against said bridge.
The friends of the measure alleged that the
bridge was nuisance and . great damage to
Tho aylgnt!on, and that the pleintiffs were to-
tally unable to prosecute the suits to final
Judgment. The money wns proposed to be
usett only IN procuring surveys, taking tcsti-
mony and feeling attcrncye. think the mat
ter was arranged at the time by employing an
engineer to make surveys and report eb1r.
Bisse1l, who had made some examinations, vas
employed, aud subsequently m appropriation
was made for the purpo:e designated.
opposed tl.is action By the Chamber OF
Commerce ut the time; believing rs did that
it wonl1 eugendcr i'll feelings in this city, where
you were I'LL -interestedoi in sustaining the
bridge. The impression prevails In Ct. Louis
and nearly all the towns on tic Mississippi
River that the bridge Is, owing to bad location
md faulty construction, o great obstruction to
navigation, nnd think this opinion is uniyer-
eai among river mcn and underwriters. All this
may arise from conflict Of interest, but it is not
Strange That they should manifest their inter
Ell, by appropratiug their money for the pur-
pose Of testing the matter before competent
l';0uA"!s. ~f -:.-t1 q
The standard Of mercantile honor and per-
eenal intcgrityfs as high IN tic Chamber Of
Of men ~ my country: at least such Is my
opinion, in which will be sustained by tic
united voice Of our own merchants, and our
country friends, who hare business with them.
have always regretted the action Of the
Chamber Of Commerce In this bridge case, hut
an noi wiling to sec their motiycs impugned
and thc'r actious unfairly stated. It Is ouIy
recently they were numerically criticised for
their efforts to procure ball for VIM, Bis.ell
Hcture doing 50, however, they sent IN emil
rent and Worthy attornry-C. D. Dsake, Esq.
TO investigate the matter, with explicit d.
'IeAAoua ~ ApauAOu Alt1 10 ElH late II there
Was any reasonable probability Of his guilt.
Tie letter Of Instructions Is now on tile with
the Hon. Isaac 7. Mum, President of cur Board
Of Trade, and docs credit to the body from
Which 1t cnanatcd, as well as TO the Hon. j.
IL o5les1y, thothcn acting Vice President, who
pcnncd It.
OF. Ms. January need only say, that he is
awort1y representative Of the st. Louis Cham
bcr Of Commerce, and the members cf that
body hare, within the last few days, shown
but just appreciation of his public worth and
private character, by rc.c1ccting him to the very
honorable position Of President thereof Tint
the bridge in question has been decided to
hare been properly constructed, is no evidence
that they wero not honest in their opinions
That it was moi Even now, after all the invca-
tigattons Ind In he premises, people who
ought to know differ In their judg dgmcnt In the
matter, and VIC must yet allow. the St. Louis
people 10 have their own opinions on the sub
icct. -: JoAS ]. MUpD.