The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-01-16

same evening to receive the reports, and, 1t
thought proper, to act upon them.
Accordingly special meeting Of the city coun-
Gil convened on Monday evening, and as the pro-
ceedings are quite fully reported in the minutes
of the city clerk in another column. We need re-
herse them but briefly here. Mr.. Rsddick being
indisposed. the report ON the proceedings Of the
citizens meetings was made verbally by Mr..
Lynch, and was, in substance, that, although .
portion of the stockholders Of the Fox Is well as
Illinois river bridge were willing to donate their
stock to the city, those holding the majority Of
the stock were unwilling to do 90, and it would
be necessary to purchase the bridges to make
them free. As to the deficiency in the sduca.
tional fund, it would be necessary to get spec
ial act of the legislature authorizing additional
taxation to meet the difficulty. The superinten-
dent OF the gravel road being absent, no report
could be made on that subject.
The report was, on motion, received. A mo-
ton was then carried to appoint committee to
prepare the draft Of . law to be passed by the
legislature authorizing the city to levy addition
al taxes for school and city purposes-the com.
mittee to report at the regular meeting OF the
council tomorrow evening; upon which the ooun-
Gil adjourned.
Tuesday evening council convened in regu-
lar meeting. The usual order Of bushes was
postponed to hear the report Of the committee ap-
pointed last evening That committee thereup-
on reported the draft Of statute authorizing the
city to levy . tax Of 10 mills on the dollar for
city purposes instead Of five mills, the present
limit, Nothing is said about additional taxation
in the bill for school purposes, as the school
board had prepared bill covering that ground.
The report was accepted. and request voted to
our senator and representatives at Springfield to
secure the passage Of the bill.
In reference to the purchase Of the Fox River
bridge, tho committee reported an ordinance, di.
recting the city attorney to take tho necessary
steps to secure the purchase of said bridge by
the city in accordance with the terms Of is char.
ter In support Of this ordinance, the commit
tee presented a very numerically signed petition
requesting the council to take the step. The or.
dinancs was adopted In reference to the ILL
nois bridge, the council directed the city attor-
ney to prepare the draft Of law, to be passed BY
the Legislature, authorizing the towns Of Ottawa,
South Ottawa aud others interested in that bridge
to purchase it for the purpose Of making it free.
Also to provide in the bill for board of public
works Of the city Of Ottawa.
Wednesday, in view Of this action of the City
council. meeting Of the stockholders Of the Fox
River Bridge company was held, the proceedings
Of which are published in another column. By
these, 1t will be seen that the bridge company,
with commendable Gberality, waive all their
rights as to time, terms, &C., of the purchase of
the bridge by the city under the 9th section Of
their charter, and agree to turn the bridge over
to the city forthwith, at price hereafter 70 be
agreed upon BY the appraisers, and on such terms
of payment as the city shall find itself able to
grant.
This proposition of the bridge company being
reported to Mayor Brewer, he took steps TO con.
vene special session Of the city council forth
with to act upon it; and accordingly the council
met again on Wednesday evening. The proceed.
ings of the bridge company were read, and on
the proper motion being put the proposition was
unanimously accepted. The council appointed
John Colwel appraiser on the part Of the city, to
meet the oths; appraisers provided for and fix
upon the price of the bridge; and, that there
might be no further delay in the purchase Of the
bridge, appointed committee to meet the com.
mittee OF the bridge company and consummate
the purchase at once.
The finale Of the whole Is, that the two com.
mittees met early Thursday morning, axsd mp
the papers, and at 8 o'clock the Fox River Bridge
was announced 70 b FREE.
We have been perhaps more minute in giving
the details Of the various steps by which this
happy contamination vas reached than was nso.
sssary but they form chapter in tho history Of
our city that may be read with interest hereaf-
ter. They mark, We oandidly believe, turning
point in our history; reversal Of the old. slow
coach style Of doing business, waking up from
topper, and tho beginning Of forward movement
that shall carry cur city ,hencsforth onward a.d
upward-not to stop here-not TO stop even with
making the Illinsis River bridge free; but TO
proceed from one great enterprise to another until
our city shall have attained that full growth and
development which from her advantages Of pos
ition and surroundings she is no obviously caps
BILE Of reaching.
Purchase Of the Illinois River Bridge.
The movement to make the bridge across
the Illinois river at this city free INVOLVES no