Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-05-07
The GOVERNMENT BRIDGE :!
Great Excitement ever tho At
temps 10 stop she Government
Works and Prevent the Bu1ld-
Ing of the Bridge.

The psople Of our neighboring city are
greatly excited over the discovery Of an At
tempt, on the part Of several Of their citi-
zens, to stop the Government works on the
Island, under charge Of Gen. Rodman, and
the still more dsstardly attempt to prevent
the building OF the Government railroad and
free wagon and fsot bridge over the main
channel of the Mississippi river at this
place. The Board of Trade have held ;
large meeting, at which resolutions Of Sc
vere censure were passed and committee
appointed to investigate the matter and re-
port at a special meeting on Friday eve
ming, ct which time such action will be ia
ken as will be deemed necessary. There
will be no "whitewashipg" done BY the
committee, As they will probably give the
facts, and let them hit where they may -
The one caught at so dastard1y an act as to
thus work against the interests Of this Sec
ton will BE- shown up and receive the just
expression OF the universal and unlimited
contempt OF his fellow citizens.
1t is fact that work on the Island has
stopped, and that there are no immediate
prospects Of the building ofths bridge, and
As these things are Of vital importance to
the growth and welfare Of our city, ws shsl;
endsavor to inform our readers of the re-
suit Of the Rock Island committss's inves-
tigation.
We do not apprshsnd that the stopping
Of the work on the Island is due to the e.
forts Of any of the people Of Rock Island or
any other city. but rather TO the fact that
iron contracts cannot be signed until the
impeachment question 10 disposed. But
the opposition to the building Of the bridge
may have amounted to something. Al
least il 10 no idle fear. Az certain parties
have admitted tast they hare been to Wash
instsn and oppssed and endesrsrsd to defeat
tho Bridge Bill, for the reason - they say,
that it is bungling affair, and was framed
for the express benefit Of the c., r. I. I P.
Railroad Company and that it il better to
wait for something better in the future.
There may b. some features in the bill
that are Objectionable, - there probably
would be in almost any bill that could be
framed, but it 10 the best ws can get, and,
if il gives US The bridge, free 10 the people,
and % that all railroad companies can use
it, it will satisfy ~. Those who oppose
the bridge in any shape, citizens OF
this vicinity or Of any other vicinity. should
remember that they are dealing with peo-
p!e stcrnly in sarnsst-s people who. know
ing their best interests will dare defend
them.
We can say to the people Of Rock Island
that on the bridge question, Davenport is
with them even TO her last dollar. Let
your lnvestig eating Committee do well their
work, bring the conviction Of public ssnsi-
msnt down upon the heads Of any renegade
citizens who may be working against the
interest Of Davenport. Rock island. Moline,
and oil this surrounding country and We
will endorse ii to man.
LARGs RAFr.-During the heavy gale 81
wind last night, = large raft containing 100. :
600 feet Of lumber. that was fast on the rap
ids, got aflcat with only three men on It, to
guide il, and came down against the piers
Of the Railroad bridge. and was badly bro
ken up. The men made their escape IN
hurt, but great portion Of the lumber will
BE- lost. Il belonged TO Tbomss Scott, one
of the Upper river lumber dealers.