The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-09

let us fall, and give place to . race of live
men. If he we're in Robinson's place, he
would be in favor of any amendment to de-
feat the bill. q He did not appreciate The Cap.
sain1 benevolence, of which we had been
lisseniag to % much. He thought Il strange
thas ! man should slip off down % Washing
sou NH alsenr interests in ctarge. without
saying word to any body about his e1pe-
disioa. He should have given some of his
neighbors a chance to send their influence
along, to aid in the good work. He thought
the fairest way would have been for the Cap.
tain to have plainly avowsd that he had been
actuated by self interest alone, and there the
matter would have stopped. He had under
stood that the government would have repair
ed the bridges connecting with Moline and
this city, if this opposition by the ferry mo-
nopoly had not sprung up. Mr.. Osborn
said he was not so patriotic as TO be unwill-
ing TO see the government spend millions of
dollars. IN this locality nor did he propose
to discuss the propriety of the governments
improving the Moline Water Power. Let il
be done. We could stand it very comforta.
bly,. He didn't believe in fencing in Rock
Island in order to make people buy their
goods here. After further remarks, he clos
ed by urging that Mr.. Harding be informed
that he was expected to support the bridge
| bill with his whole influence.
DIR. Truesdale followed, stating that imme-
| diately after Gen. Rodman's return from
| Washington, he had an interview with that
gentleman, and learned that Hon. Hiram
Price, of Iowa, had refused to aid in obtain.
| ing an appropriation for the rebuilding of
the road bridge to the Island, destroyed by
the ice, because the people Of Rock Island
had commenced an opposition to the build.
ing of the free wagon bridge across the
river. Gen. Rodman, in view Of this, sug.
gested some public expression Of the feel
ings of our citizens, in regard to this matter.
DR.. Truesdale believed the bridge would be
mutually beneficial to Davenport and Rock
Island. He thought that it was a marrow,
selfish view to take, to suppose that it would
injare our trade or our town.
| P. L. Cable, Esq, took the floor, aud in a
few well-timed remarks, endorsed the opin-
ions of the two preceding speakers. He
conceded TO every man the right TO promote
his own interests. Considering human ma
ture, it would be strange indeed, if Capt
Robinson did see the proposed free bridge
in the same light that we do. He consid
cred that there were some objections to the
bridge bill. He thought that the railroad:
should pay for the bridge, not in proportion
to its cost, but in proportion to their use o.
IT, Buthe never looked eift horse in the
mouth. His patriotism did not spring up in
opposition to Uncle Sans magnificent prop
osition. He was in favor of it, and though,
that it would not be bad idea 20 raise q
petition, to be signed by our citizens, ant
forwarded to our representatives in con
gress. As s4
DIR. Truesdale stated, as an answer TO one
of Capt. Robinson's objections, that Gen
RoCman informed him on the preceding
] day, that no work was to be commenced oil
! the new bridge. after the passage of tn,
. bill. until satisfactory stipulations had beer
entered into by the government, with tn
: c. R. /. P. r. R. company.
Mr.. Cable made few more remarks, pay
J ing high compliment to the Iowa delega
7 ton in congress for its energetic action il
J securing appropriations for the arsenals
. He also enlarged somewhat on the vast ex
} tent of the plans laid out for the improve
} ment of the Island, which was destined L
eventually become depot fox the arms AM
munitions of the whole United States, an
deprecated any attempt to defeat the pre-
ject. t@' -'t3s-
DR.. Plummer made an objection or tw
TO the wording of the bill.
Mr.. Hawley took occasion to make it'll
electioneering speech, the objective point {
which was to show that Robinson hadn
2 bought him up. and consequently that b
had as good a right to run for congress a
Z anybody else. 1t had been said that he VIC
: opposed to the bridge, but this was falst
4 He closed by calling for q second reading c
q the resolutions, which being acceded 4
/, they were unanimously passed amid thur
. ders of applause.
The Board then adjourned.
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