The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-11-02
THE FREE WAGON BRIDGE
OVER THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER.
The Election Of HaWley will
Defeat II.

Many of our people think the building Of
the free wagon bridge over the Mississippi
river, at this place, has been rendered Ger.
tain, because the bill authorizing it to be
built has become law. This is a mistake
Its construction is not certain until the ap
preparation of money shall have been made
by congress to build it. Did not congress
enact law establishing a new mail route up
Rock River, from this city TO Sterling? Yes
Was the route ever established No. Why
Because congress appropriated no money to
pay for carrying the mail. Just 80 with our
free wagon bridge. Congress has authoriz'
ed its construction, but has not appropriated
the money to build it-and if John b Hsw.
lev shall be elected to congress, the money
never will be appropriated. John B. Haw.
ley is under the control of Spencer, Robin
son & Co. Just as every republican senator
and representative in our state Legislature,
from this district, has always been, and they
will use him TO defeat any appropriations to
build the bridge. All appropriations for
that purpose must originate in the house OF
representatives, and Hawley would be used
and controlled by Spencer, Robinson & Co.
to defeat any such appropriation. Last win.
ter he was used by them to write letter
and use his influence with Congressman
Harding to defeat the act authorizing the
bridge to be built; and he did succeed in
getting it laid on the shelf. And it would
have remained there if the people of this
city, Davenport, Moline and Camden had
not come down upon Robinson, Hawley &
Co. with thunders of Indignation, and de.
manded the passage of the BILL Have our
people forgotten that con,est2 Have they
forgotten how Hawley, alarmed at the rising
storm, crept into the board of trade meeting
and tried to create an impression that he
was for the bridge? 1t was not then known
(outside Of two or three of his friends) that
he had written the letter to Harding. But
now it is known that he did, acting under
the control, if not the pay, Of the ferry com
psny, write to Harding to defeat the bridge.
And we tell our people that if he goes to
congress the ferry company will use him to
defeat any appropriations for the bridge
and without appropriations it cannot be
built.
Gen. Singleton is a man they cannot ap'
proach or use. He is enthusiastically in ia
vor Of the bridge and of the most rapid con.
struction of all the great works at this point
the Armory aud Arsenal the water pow.
er the rapids improvement the canal, etc.
He is more familiar, to-day, with the great
plans of Gen. Rodman, and more enthusias.
tically in favor Of them, than Hawley. He
would have more influence in congress than
a dozen of Hswley,in carving them forward.
Hawley would ruin these plans because he
would be used by the ferry company to do.
feat the bridge appropriation-and with that
lost the whole plans fail in their perfection
Gen. Singleton hes the power and the in,
Ruence and the ability to carry forward
these appropriations. HaWley has neither,
and would be only tool in the hands of the
ferry clique to defeat appropriations for the
bridge if elected.