Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-05-09
THE GOVERNMENT BRIDGE.
The Ferry Interests Alone
Oppose It.
Enlhosiastac Meeting of she Cit.
lxenO Of R~ck lplana.

OppOoO lI.
Enih0slassic Meeaang Of she Cit.
lxeno of Beck Island.
10 accordance with the call, for special
meeting to hear the report Of the Commit
tee appointed BY the Rock Island Board Of
Trade, TO investigate the alleged opposition
to the Government Bridge, . large and en-
tbusiastic meeting Of ths heavy capitalists
Of Rock Island, assembled ss the City Hall
last evening. The meeting Vas called to
order oy Mr.. Henry Bergowsr, who stated
that the object Of the meeting Was the hear
ing Of the report Of the Committee.
After some delay the following report
was handed in and read by the City Clerk /:
Gensktmen of The Board Of 1rdds
Your Committee. appointed al the last meeting,
to inquire into the truth of the report that "a
strong aud systematized opposition to the pro
posed improvement,on the island OF Rock Is
land, existed in the city," respectfully report
that they have been unable to lind any such sp-
position. aud think that such report grew out Of
the fact that 7. J Robinson opposed the build
ing OF the proposed railroad bridge across the
main channel OF the Mississippi river, for reas-
ons which he assured your committee are salts
factory TO himself, and which, We doubt not, he
10 perfectly willing to give 70 this Board.
J. X. McCALisrRR
j. II. BrToRp,
JosgPH RossNFIxLD,
a. Uavos.
Capt. Robinson being present, in accord
ance with the invitation then approached
the table. and after various apologies and
thanks for the opportunity sf clearing his
skirts, and giving his reasons for opposing
the bridge bill, (alshough the committee
could find no oppssition,) attempted 70
make the following points: That the bridge
would be detrimental to the interests Of
Rock Island. In this he said hs WAS hon
est and sincere, and aetuatsd by love for
Rock Island thought that all the vast trade
Of Rock Island would 20 10 Davenport
that through trains would not stop at Rock
Island. Wanted oil the bridges done away
with, then everything would have to stop
in Rock lsland-ths business Of Moline, ei
the O., r. l. p. r. r., and the Peoria road
would have to stop there on its passage
through Che forgot to mention here that i,
would have to cross the ferry.
He next thought that Gen. Rodman was
laboring under dslusion.
He had also written to Mr.. Harding, their
Senator, to oppose the bill. He went to
Washington to sec him, saw the bill. II
didn't suit him and his deep love for the in
tsrests of Rock Island. lswsuld cost . heap
Of money to build it-too much indeed for
the amount of business that would pass
over it Gt could all 60 on the fsrry)-didn't
want Uncle Sam to spend SO much money
for SO little bsnsfit-and the poor tax paw
ers to foot the bill. Qres bridge 75c every
time payer crosses ferry with team) ;
wonderful guardian Of his nsghbor's rightsl
mono know that he was spending his money
at Washington for them. Amsdal is sure
ly due par signe ds mepTis. Such waste for
bridge would defeat the appropriations for
o., X. |. i +. Railroad could cross it, be
wanted them oil to cross forgetting that he
wanted them all to stop in Rock Island =
Produced the bill to prove his points raid
the Q. X. |. J. p road would claim damages
for being removed from the Island-further
that the company wouldn't use the bridge
f the Government built-and Uncle Sam
would have . bridge with no railroad to use
it. Poor Uncle Sam, what would he do with
his elephants. For an hour the crowded
audience listened IN surprise 70 these weak, f,
lame rguments-surpriss that be should
bridge bill, when the Investigating Com
mttee had reported no opposition-and
with deeper surprise and humiliation that
one Of their own citizens should thus work
against their best intsrssts--ge to Wash
ington to represent their city aud they know
nothing Of tho matter; but they were pre-
pared for anything, and he had no sooner
closed than Mr.. Osborn presented the fol
lowing resolutions, which we're received
with applause
WHxxsAs, We nave learned with surprise that
sn effort has been made to prevent the necessA
ry appropriations passing Congress TO enable
the government 20 carry out ITS project of re-
moving the railroad bridge across the Nississip.
pi river, between this city and and Davenport,
and constituting in place thereof u railroad and
wagon brige combined; and
WHEREAs, That effort has stood in the way Of
procuring the necessary appropriations to ena
ble the government to repair the wagon bridges
recently injured by the ice. between tue island
of kock Island aud the cities OF Rock Island
nnd Moline and
WHsREAs, In the opinion OF The citizens o!
this city and surrounding country, all OF saie
bridges are cessary so the use Of the Island o
kock Island for the purposes OF an arsenal and
armory, to the unimpeded navigation Of The
Mississippi river. and to the business prosper
ty of the surrounding county aud
WHEREAs, Such opposition is enrely contned d
to a few persons representing the interests o.
the Ferry Charter at this point;
Now, therefore, in order that our Represents
tives in Congress may be properly informed, tc
the end that they may use their influence TO fur
ther such appropriations, it is by the Board 0
Trade Of the city Of Kock Island,
Hsslorei. First, That it is the opinion Of th'
people OF this region CT country. irrespective o
aud repaired st the earliest practicable moment
And to further that result, our Representative
in Congres are requested TO use all their ener
gies TO cause tine proper appropriations TO b
made, At the present session Of Congress, 4
enable the government to carry out its planS To-
for the building Of the railroad ana wsgor
bridge across the Aississppi river between th'
cities OF Rock Island, Illinois, and Davenport
Iowa. ss well as TO repair the wagon bridges bs
tween the island Of Rock island end cities Q
Rock Island aad Moline
Restored, second, That copy Of this pream
BILE aad resolutions, properly certified, be for
warded TO each of tho Senators and Representa-
tive from the States Of illinois and lews.
Mr.. Osborn followed in stssng, earnest
and practical speech in suppost Of his ress
lutious, and then, in . most able manner
answered the varisus points attempted b
Mr.. Robinson, whom he did not blame 70
his action, for hs was working for the fer
~, which IL the bridge was built would bs
useless. He spoke very strongly in favo
Of the bridge. his remarks on this poin
meeting with hearty applause. Captain Rob
inson, in his Interruptions, showed that hi
efforts to defeat the bridge had gone still
further than any supposed. Mr.. Osborn
thought that the interests Of the two citie
should be the sams-was in favor Of IRE,