The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-09-19
Covers Ferry Bridge.

EDITORS Qf.thE Adrcrtiscr, Gems I'VE
desire, through your improved paper, to
call attention of the voters of this county
to the matter of bridging Cedar River,
which has been brought to their notice
twice the last two years, and re-submit-
ted the coming October election. First,
will allude to the efforts for the bridge.
Second, to the opposition; from whence
proceeded, &c. Some three years since
the Board was petitioned for that object.
They set apart andappropriated so much
of the swamp land fund of said county rs
necessary to build half of two bridges in
said county-one on the Wapsy and on
Cedar Rivers, on conditions individuals
would furnish the other half necessary.
The one across. the Wapsy River has
been built on said terms, near Massilon.
Controversy arose about the site OH Ce-
dar River, and in October, '65, was SUBJ
mitted to the voters, whether at Covers
Ferry or Gray's Ford, (the latter site, no
road located to or from to this day; and
the former, OH one Of the Oldest roads
and best site). Unfairness in that vote
was complained of. Outside of our Ce-
dar county monopoly Covers Ferry had
the majority; and there the votes were
taken from the printing office to J. C.'s
store, and Gray's Ford inserted before
distributed to the voters. Thus said mo-
nopoly was carried, ten to one, for Gray,,s;
Ford and g tAat ate ay portion Of
the individual stock for the object; and
by the Board the same offer was made to
Covers Ferry, and complied with as to
raising the necessary amount of individ-
ual stock. A question Of law was urged
OH the Board that the amount involved
required its submission to the voters,
and it was submit ted in October, 'G6, and
waived in the Wapsy Bridge, with equal
necessity. The monopoly of Cedar pro-
ceeded as follows to defeat the object:
procured the Democratic votes printed
entire against said bridge, and the Re-
publican votes divided-a few for, and
the balance blank. Not content, but in
the last Issue of your paper before cleo
ton, was published an erroneous article,
signed Taxpayer" with no time to
give the voters the facts before election.
The frs. was, the Board had ordered the
voters to vote on $4,000 appropriations
from the county treasury, besides Sl0,-
600 or 49, 900 to bridge Cedar River, be-
ing an error of ten to one, OH the. facts;
and after election recanted it; besides
misreprcsenting the finances and liabil-
tiles of the county. Many voters have
expressed, they were deceived by it. A
fair vote is all we ask, and that we ex-
pect; and every rural township has an
interest in opposing combinations and
monopolies controlling the votes OH Pc
cuniary matters especially, and would
be very well to politically. That mo-
nopoly and alliance thereto has and does
exist in our county seems apparent;
some reasons will be given if asked for
through the advertiser. We think the
bridge II necessity, the time arrived for
its construction without embarrassment
OF taSatir1u, !" srnaf "n'' wen in,,on ou6
credit to the county, and travel general
~; the best site in the county, if not on
the river; and to insure its construction
is necessary for Q majority to vote for the
bridge.
Yours respectfully, II
*# REPS OF C.ASS TIP.
- DPS