The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-02-27
Illinois River Bridge.

vel! rs a letter from the latter, state that the
bill to enable certain towns to purchase the
Illinois river bridge and mako it free, passed
the Legislature on the 10th, Friday OF last
week. and on the same day was approved by
the Governor, 50 that the bill is now law.
There has as yet no authenticated copy Of
the bill been received, although one is hourly
expected. The bill, however, provides, that
the towns Of Ottawa, South Ottaws, Farm
Ridge, Deer Park, Grand Rapids and Fall
River shall hold an election on the lst Of
March, 1859, (next Monday at the respective
places where they held their last town meet
ings, and vote whether they will purchase the
Ill. river bridge on the terms heretofore propos-
ed-that is, to pay si4 200, the town of Ottawa
paying Sa6,20O, tho town of South Ottawa
$4,000, the town of Farm Ridge 5000, the
town of Deer Park $4,000, the town Of Grand
Rapids $4,000, and the town of Fall River
$4,000. The vote is to be by ballot, the tickets
to read For the purchase of the Illinois river
bridge or against the purchase of the ILL
asis river bridge" A majority of all the votes
cast,is necessary to carry the question one way
or the ether. If the vote is IN the affirmative,
the Supervisors of the towns named are
authorized at once to proceed and purchase
the bridge, the Supervisors and Clerks Of the
towns respectively to issue the necessary bonds
for that purpose; and the Board OF Supervis-
ors of the county are directed to order the ex-
tension of the necessary tax on the tax books
Of the towns named to pay the interest on the
bonds thus issued. Any other towns in the
county may also, at any time hereafter, at .
regular or special town meeting, vote sum
to assist in purchasing the bridge
Sections and of the bill are " follows
SEC. &. The Supervisors Of the towns voting
to buy said bridge hereby created body
corporate, BY the name and Style of the Illinois
River Bridge Commissioners, and by that name
they may sue aud be sued-plesd and be implead-
Cd. The said corporation shall have two officers
namely, president and secretary said off.
GERS to be chosen by majority vote OF the super
visOrs composing said corporation. The sAid cor
poration shall, AZ soon said bridge shall be-
purchased take charge Of the Same, keep in repair
and MAINTAIN the same, and for that purpose may
appoint any agent it may deem necessary The
said corporation shall hold its meetings in Otta-
va. and keep a record of its proceedings All
matters shall be decided by majority vote Of
said supervisors and assistant supervisor Of the
town OF Ottawa.
SEC. Z. ALI moneys collected under this act
shall be drawn from the county treasurer by an
order of said corporation which order shall be
signed by the president of said corporation. and
couatersigned by its secretary, such ord ,r spe,-
flying the purpose for which the money 10 paid,
and the name OF the person to whom paid.
Such is the law, and now although compa-
ratiyely few who are called upon to vote next
Monday may see this issue of cur paper in
time. we cannot allow the occasion to pass
without expressing an earnest hope th6t the
vote on this law will be a favorable one in all
the towns included in the bill To Ottawa,
1t is simple question whether our city shall,
after the coming spring, advance or retro
grade. Cur trade for two years past has actu.
ally been diminishing. To avoid paying the
half dollar toll it costs every man to bring
lead Of grain to town, very large proportion
Of tho south side trade sought other points, so
that rival grain shipping and trading points
are spnnging up all around us. Ottawa 10
Losing more IN profit OH her trade every year
than the sum amounts to she is asked to pay
tor freeing the Iinois bridge. Our people
understand all this, and it is needless to say
anything more to them on the subject. There
will be Nv votes in the Negative on this ques-
zion ON Monday in Ottawa.
How about the other towns The bridge
company has collected annually in tolls tor the
last few years about $4,000. Of this sum the
people of the five towns on the South side Of
the river named in the bill have paid at least
$4,000 annually. Under this bill, to make
the bridge free, they will be called upon to
pay, as interest on their bonds, and to create
sinking as we'll ~ repair fund.- less than
$4,000 year--a quarter of what they have
paid heretofore One would think that men
Of ordinary business common SENSE, would not
hesitate how to act in such a cast TAX. the
town at Fall River, which lius IN a. .essment OF
about 100000. 4 tax "l ,niii ou the doliar
ior repair and sinking fund and , mills itr
interest will yield $500 ycar-lIcr whole
annual expense To HAYS irea. hri'iye, while
the same town is a, present paying annually
ut least 81 500 in tolls. Nearly the same pro-
portion will hold good as to all tia. other
towns Y
1t is common objection, that il the bridge
il made free, it will either 20 into immediate