Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-08
THE NE W BRIDGE.
Facts, Figures, and suppositions

We stated last evening that the Daven-
port Democrat had contained very interest
ing account of 3 proposed new railroad
bridge to cross the river by way of Oredi.
Island. The article is we'll written, and we
give 1t entire:
And now there arises another important
question: How is any second railroad
company to obtain equal privileges with the
c., r. |. & P, over the new iron railroad
bridge. Supposing, for instance, that the
Pennsylvania Railway interests as repre-
seuted in the Peoria and Rock Island, and
the Davenport and St. Paul lines make the
effort? how is it to be done, and at what
probable cost? 1t will have to be- done ty
hrst getting right OF way from the present
terminus Of the P. 4 r. |. to the bank of
the river up along by the Island. Doing
| this, the first obstacle it will have to en-
counter, IS the real property Of the c., r. /.
q T., but admit that right of way can be
condemned through that property. The
next thing is to build an independent slough
bridge across to the Island, which will be
apretty heavy expense say BIS, 900. We
understand that corps of engineers have
already been on the spot with their instru-
ments, looking out line. Then the COM
pany will have to pay one third of the cost
of the new bridge before it can use ia
sun OF about $3.50, 900: then it he's got TO
buy right of way again at = high valua-
ton, to reach terra frma, at en- expense
say of 10000, (it cost the c., r | & P.
about s $50, 900 to do the same thing) then
after the right of way is secured the fills,
visducts, aud track have to be made az an
expense of SIS 200, and the work is ac-
Oomplished after many delays, much litiga-
ton, and serious complications accom-
plished at an expense Of not less than from
$3.50 600 to $780, 900. These are not
exact figures, OF cou,se, but they are ap-
proximste.
This is almost equivalent to building g
new hIitge. For little more than the
above amount another bridge could be built
at the lower end of the town, in direc, west
ward line with the Peoria & Rock Island
road, and reaching Iowa soil, rru the line
of the Davenport * ST. Paul road. from the
; Iowa end OF the bridge along up the bank o.
tee river to East Davenport, then following
tie line of survey as originally established
to Piue Hill, its present permanent Dsveu
port terminus. This would be better in the
long run than TO attempt to get across the
= new bridge The c., R. |. & P. has ALREADY
z taken its position on thst question, and il
such q way that il is evident that any com
pany that succeeds in gaining equal priv
eges with it over that structure will bav,
e to pay every dollsr il Is worth and as muel
more IS may be easy to pile on. Ii is
:. single track bridge, and ia time teeming
l eonmerc of tEo immense railroad corpora
lions would be much obstructed thereby. I
3 bridge at the lower eEd OF The city coolt
: obtain abundant approach room on eithe
: shore at low figure; II already has
/ the right Of way along the river from
9 Of this city, ana could get its e0nnec
: Iion in much .2ore satisfactory shape
0 tor all time, than in any other way
y There vii be second bridge nere som
day not far distant. The governmen
! changed the location of ia
C. X ! 4 P. bridge 10 order TO clear tn
Sc 5b,trucuons caused By the Old oBe, from
the Island, and TO establish crossing il
which all roads desiring to cross nigh
, have an equal interest The bridge is a.
) most done. Does any one imsa ioe that an
a or several roads, or ans TWO even, will eros
, upon 1t? rke question hs. been answered
practically, and tor all lime bT the logic q
VI events which all who would have beel
b reading for the pass two years. More thai
e his, the prospect of more approaches to tb
= Island from the Illinois side, Is glresd
freluGg tue government authorities, who
when after the enc line is completed. wan
e 10 be let sione.
n A bridge a! the lower end of the city, an,
= river road, a. above indicated. IS the nat
ursl bent Of affairs, 90 far as the roads il
ques ION are concerned--so fsr as the last
ing Interests 3f the great PeuGsy lv4ns part,
is involved