Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-10-26
THE OPENING OF THE BRIDGE.
Interview with Col Macomb, the Engineer
IN charge.

IN gil tnt tQNHb apo
this locality when il became known thai
John r. Hawlsy, at the instance OF Robin
& Co. had written TO Washington to defeat
IN, c.rriags-way over the contemplated rail-
,o,d bridge, and that the ferry company
were using all the power which money and
political influence could command for that
purpose. Petitions, signed by thousands of
persons, we're sent to Washington, asking
for the carriags-wsy to be built; many pub
lie meetings we're held in this city, Moline,
Milan, and Davenport, on the subject, and
speeches made arousing the people to action
to secure appropriations for the carriage
bridge. The city aud town authorities OF
Rock Island, Moline, Milan and Davenport
passed pointed and earnest resolutions on
the subject, eOndemning Robinson 4 Co.,
and urging the building of the carriage
bridge. And yet, in the face of these facts,
Mr.. Hswley's organ says:
Mr.. HAvlsy has been the firm, persistent
friend Of the bridge from the first. 1t stands
there to day signal mark Of his untiring
energy and success.
This will be news to oil our people. There
are thousands of people Of this locality who
think they had something to do with sseur-
ing the construction of the cArriage-way
But Mr.. Hawley's organ claims all the credit
for Mr. Hswley, when it is known that Haw-
ley wrote letters for Robinson to defeat it,
The carrisgs psrI of the bridge was opposed
BY Hswley and il stands there to-day be-
cause the people demanded il, And in spite
masters, Robinson 81 90. He knows that
he wrote to Washing ton TO have the carriage
part of the bridge defeated, and his organ
Is either ignorant Of the facts, or guilty of
a bAre-fAesd piece of impudsncs in claim
log any credit for dawley Tor the carriage
part of the bridge We admit that HAwley
slNays favored the railroad bridge, as diI
Robinson Il Co. and every body else. But
be did not favor the carriage part, toe
contrary he tried TO defeat it. So much for
that Nov for The Interview With Col Ma
comb.
On Thursday afternoon, the "a o too late
for tul report in Tbs ARuUs Of that day
; the editor OF this paper cale1 on Col
= Macomb, L. ). A, the engineer in charge oil
the construction OF the bridge, when about
Ebe following conversation occurrsd:
Editor-Col Mscomb, il is reported, sud
has been tor long time, about town, that
papers of some sort 10 regard to the open
ing OF the bridge have passed through your
hands. called TO ask the nature Of those
papers.
Col. NJ After some hssitation) | don'S
exactly remember whether they are here or
have bsen sent to Washington. A paper
vas sent 10 me from the War Department
for 9 report thereof, and | don't remem Der
whsth,r it has gone back TO Washington or
not.
Eiitor-It was the nature of the papers
Colonel. which | wished TO learn.
| Col. No il was rsmoastrauee against
the opening of tbs eArriage-Wsy to the pub
JIG, from Spencer & Robinson, who claimed
that they had au exclusive ferry franchise
till 1885, and that the opening Of the car.
riAgs-way 10 the public would be ao infringe
meuI OF their rights.
Editor-Do you remember, Colonel, whC
signed the reRonstraucs
Col. My recollection is that no one
except those interested in the ferry con
parry,
EdiIor-Colouel NJ, is there suy iupro-
priety in stating what kind of report yol
made on that remembrance
Col. M.-(Agaiu hesitsting,) Ny rseol
lection il that thought there vas something
in their claim.
Editor-Wheu did this occur-wbat va
the date Of tbis remoustrance, aud of You
report thereon?
Col. MI do not remember.
Editor-Somewhere near what time
Col. MI really cannot nov say.
/ Eiitor-Colouel NJ, have you any know
edge, proper to be made public, NJ to tn
action of the War Department on this re
monstrauce?
Col. MI presume no definite action be
yet been taken. Since | first reported IA
Vorably on the ferry COMPANY 3 rsnonStrsues
and since the question has agsir
been AgitAtsd here in regard to th
D opening of the cArrisge-wsy free Il
the public, have made two o
| AuES6 euOaciluout lePOEkes iuc NBeh
ing Of the bridge to the public. With on
/, of those reports sent . map, showing tina
! the roadway was below the railroad mbsnA
c nent, aud that the opening of these bridge
. and roadway to the public would 10 no mai
ner jeopArdize or sndanger or interfere wit
any interests on the Island or at the Arssna
\ and recon- mended that the bridges and read
, way be opened a. desired by the people
There il no law authorizing it, but | don
see any objection to it, except that it wi
lessen the revenues of the ferry company
The roadway is not yet completed, but whs
1t is think the passage will be open to th
public.
Thanking the Colonel for his courtesy il
furnishing the information desired, We left
and this is the substances of the interview.
1t is now plain that, before the bridge wa
built, Mr.. Hawlsy, in the interest of Robin
son g. Co., endeAVsred to defeat the car
} riage-WAy; that he and Robinson failed /
accomplish their object, and the carriage
way was constructed in spite Of them tina
J after ii was constructed the ferry compan
! brought their batteries TO bear on the Secre
.Ary of War to prevent the public from hAv
ing the use of il; that neither Mr.. HawIey
: nor his organ, nor any one connected will
the HaWlsy. RoOinIon.Ting have ever ad
vocated the opening of the new bridge aut
do not advocate It now; that Spencer ant
Robinson demonstrated against the opening
of it; that COL MAconb reported fAvorabl
on their remonstrance-but that since Tn
ANGUS commenced the agitation of the sub
Jsct Col. MAconb has reported in favor o
,ening il, and thinks ii will be opened fire.,
to the public when the roadway is com
pletsd. Col. Maoombs thoughts, however
are not Law. The Secretary of War control
it, and he is a political friend Of Hawle.
Robinson & Co. Are the people stronge
than HAwley, Robinson & Co II SO, WI
shall get the bridge opened. If not, ii vii
be kept closed. A promise to open 1t some
time may only be held out to keep tn
people quiet till after election and secur
their votes for Hawley. We shall see ho'
A