The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-05-20

~ Il
AZ. Eprron You are, perhaps, aware Of
i. discussion Of the Bridge question, which
,ook place Ut the meeting Of the City Council
last Saturday night, in which the citizens ana
tho Railroad men we're allowed to present
their views.
From the war Of words, and the general
ill.feeling betrayed on this occasion, any one,
having no previous knowledge Of the subject,
would have supposed that the citizens and
the Railroad men represented interests, not
only distinct and separate, but interests hos-
Tile TO one another, and that in this bfioge
matter they were arrayed IN opposing sseA.'
6oht;no for the possession of some much
coveted prize.
This feeling Of hosliiity, as il appears 70
me. has a.isen from tie simple fact that fone
of our citizens, who represent the interests OF
the city, have allowed their private interests
and prejudices to carry them away, and cause
them to forget the important object IN view
Instead OF disseminating a,ing Of hoasl-sT
10 this enterprise, these citizens should lay
aside their private jealonses and animosi,iee,
asd deal with this matter calmly and impartial
II, for the interests Of this eitT, and OF thsse
Railroad companies, have been, ard arrays
will be, strongly allied. and in the matter CT
| this contemplated Bridge, it is impera'ively
necessary tha. they join hand in hand, and
rosIs strenuonsly together, 10 order that we
may mold car ON sg4inst OR sister cl,ies,
above and below, Who are bidding lar 10
! ontrun US.
An unnreiudiced view Of this matter will
cause ns to perceive, that notwithstanding
4 the hnb-bub Of The last three weeks, there -
hut one material aisefenes heiseen the
wishes and plans Of the representatives OF
the city and the representatives CT the Ksh
road CON panies, aud that IL as 10 the amount
I Of accommodation which the Bridge shall st
ford % the public. The former demand a
Bridge which shall a. every hour, ard at all
times, be open to wagon traffic; while the
latter state their Tiliingness 10 bRld Bridge
that gill be open 10 wagon tratisc al all hears
in the day EXCEPT two which two shall be
given UP 10 Railroad business The former
are not satisfied with the offer, Int have
staiawed forth Br;iga, which though Of
gigantic proportions and reqaiting an i'm
mense cntiay, has been deemed not rracti-
eabe;'' the latter reply, that although in a
general sense mot iniprac'lcasle, ibis
Bridge is to them wholly 30, inasmueh as i
! Involves an outlay Of money far greater than
they are able TO raise and altogether out OF
proportion 10 the requirements Of the ipsi-
ness anu they further slate. solidiy and def
nitely, that The Bridge planned iA them and
offered 10 The cisy, is Of as great msgai'ude
as as they are able 10 carry out successfully
that built il will be either into Ike city or
below The city:-ii below the city merely as
Railroad bridge, il into the city, "a ,aor-
ough Railroad Wagon Bridge, competent 10
fulfill the requirements oil the city and neigh
b1rhood for twenty years to come.
Nevertheless, the representatives oil the
founded On empty words alone, Tor i, is use
less TO SAP thai the Railroad Companies,
have not the power TO remove the location of
the Bridge to point below the city, for an
examination Of the charter, will show that
they can possess this power by merely pay
iag for the Dyke on lhe Other side Of the r;ser
It is useless TO talk Of the Bridge being an
obstruction 10 the lrvee, for an examination
such effect. Il is useless 10 continue 10 urge
the gigantic Bfidse plannel by certain citi-
zens, which ia proportions will rival the
bridge at Louisville, and 10 outlay, The bridge
drawn between the requirements Of these
places, and the requirements of keokuk 1t
is useless to say that the Bridge offered by the
Railroad Companies will nos be q thorough
wagon Bridge, for it would be against their
direct and best interests, to have it otherwise,
and the articles Of incorporation distinctly
and impsrativoly bind them, under pain of
forfeiture, 10 bni.i Waqon and HiqA,csg
B,idqs.
The question then. Nr. Editor II simply,
viii tie City Of keokuk allow the Bridge
Company 10 locate the terminus Of through
Railroad and wagon Bridge upon the L.vee
or will tle7, by refusing, compel the Bridge
Company 70 60 below. and bnil there mare
y a Railroad Bridge. write The b.,siaess o.
keokuk vi h tbs surrounding eonn.i,s, will
contipne to be crippled by the services Of the
indefaseable, bat very inefficient ferry boats,
Toledo, Perseverance, K Co
Thanking yon for The nse Of yoar columns
an. Mr.. Editor,
Yours truly, H.