Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-11-27
WHAT THE PEOPLE EXPECT.

When proposition was first made to
Congress for a wagon-way over the Missis-
sippi river at this city, in connection with
the proposed new railroad bridge it met, at
first the secret and afterwards the open
opposition Of the Spencer & Robinson
ferry monopoly. They procured from Mr..
Hawley letter in opposition to it. They
formed secret combinations in Washington
to defeat it. 1t was by accident that the
discovery was made, but as soon as their
course was known here, the people were
greatly excited about it; meetings were
held in this city, Moline, Milan, and Day
export, and petitions sent to Washington
in favor of the wagon-way. In all these
meetings, discussions, newspaper articles,
and on the streets, it was unanimously I'M
derstood that the wagon-way was to be
free to the public, Spencer & Robinson
themselves understood it in this way, for
in their last renewal of their ferry charter,
in 1867, they provided that as soon as the
bridge should be free they should pay the
school fund only one hundred dollars a
year instead of five hundred And yet
they laugh at the idea of the people being
permitted free passage over the govern
ment bridge We shall soon see who the
government will heed-the ferry company
or the people
The people, of course, do not expect
the United States to furnish them, either
here or anywhere else, with free bridges
to cross rivers, but when the government
finds it necessary to construct such bridges
for the transaction of its own business, il
is not too much to ask that the people shall
have the use of such bridges, provided
they do not injure them or interfere with
the business Of the government In this
case there is "a bridge from the City OF
Rock Island over an arm Of the Mississippi
river to the lower point Of the Island of Rock
Island from which is very short piece Of
road, called Fort Armstrong Avenue run,
ming direct to the bridge crossing the mair
channel of the Mississippi river to Daven
port. Running along side of the Avenue
and between it and the Arsenal is high
and impossible railroad .embankment A
the Island end of each of these bridges i,
an opening under the railroad, to adnn
the passage of teams to or from the Ar
senal These openings are guarded By
men in the employ of the United States
1t will therefore be seen that the Who'll,
Island, with the exception of the extrem,
point described would be as isolated anC
secure from outside approach 10 the maiI
point Of the Island or government work.
as is any part of the lsland-in fact more
SO, for no person would be likely to clint
over this high railroad embankment with
out attracting the attention of the guard
1t is even more secure than the balance o.
the Island, which can easily be approached
at any time of day or night, in summer by
skitfs, and in winter on the ice.
/ of course the people expect, if they are
permitted to use these bridges and thi,
little bit Of road, without passes, to do 81
under such regulations and restrictions a.
may be necessary to protect the property
and interests of the government. And if
at any time. the use of the bridges ant
road should become a detriment in any
manner to the public service, the govern
ment would have the right to exclude
every one from their use All the people
ask is the privilege Of passing over tn,
bridges and road without let or hindranc,
50 long as they do no harm TO the publ,
property or in any way endanger publ,
interests. Is this asking too much? VII
not the Secretary of War hear and gran
these reasonable requests of the people