The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-18
HORSE OARS ACROSS THE ISLAND AND
RIVER,
Reasons Why the Ferry Company Should not
be Considered

1
i be Considered
! Last evening, after our paper was issued
we received the following telegram:
| WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. II.
To the Rock Island Argus:
Would people approve bin embracing
all existing horse railways and ferry own
ers, the Secretary of War to admit future
horse railways? This compromise can b.
effected; otherwise likely no Dill this ses
sion. Telegraph answer
AYLETT r. CoTToN.
Judge G cotton, as our readers know, is tn,
Member of Congress from the Iowa sid,
Of the river, and we telegraphed him that
in our opinion, no bill would be satisfactor,
to the people which included the ferr,
company
In addition to our telegram we will say
that there is no general desire for any
horse railroad at all, over the governments
bridges and Island but there is, in the
minds of very large proportion of the
people, decided opposition to any such
road. IF Congress shall think it best ia
authorize such road the people prefer
that it shall be only to such horse railroads
as exist on each side of the river. The
ferry company, including for long time
parties on each side of the river, and now
only on this side, has had an exclusive
monopoly of the ferry business for nearly
.
fifty years including its present charter.
Large fortunes have been made out of this
monopoly Many persons have become
rich out of it, and the people are most de
cidedly opposed to adding the Island rail
way to this ferry monopoly No reason
can be given why the ferry company should
be considered in the matter; but numer-
Gus and valid reasons can be assigned why
it should not the first of which is that it
has not dealt fairly by the people of this
city. In its charter of lS49 was the fol
lowing:
PROVIDED, that after the expiration of the term
granted to said Wilson, by act entitled An Act
TO authorize John Wilson to keep ferry across the
Mississippi river approved Feb 26, 1871, the LeEis
laturc or the County Court (when created1 may, if
the public good requires IT, grant to the President
and Board of Trustees of the Town OF Rock Island
the right to keep and ferry across the Missls-
sippi river between Rock Island, in the county OF
ROCK Island and Davenport in the county OF ScotI,
in Iowa. TO and from any land or ground not now
owned by said John Wilson
This privilege should have been secured
for the city from and after lS6l-but in
1857. j. W. Spencer, and T. J. Robinson, of
this city, and James Grant, of Davenport
succeeded in defeating the people, and
through the aid of VIM. Bailey, then May
or, secured an exclusive right to the ferry
business up to 1871. And they agreed to
pay the city 81 900 year, oue-half to the
city treasury and half to the school
fund,-but this agreement they have not
kept Read the following, from the files
in our city clerks office
STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Rock ISLAND COUNTY,
Alexander Steel, of the city of Rock
Island, in said county, being first duly
sworn, upon his oath says, that he was
one OF the Aldermen of said city in the
month of January, A. ID. 1857; that dur
ing the session Of the legislature of said
State, in said year, various parties were
anxious and DESTROYS To procure from said
legislature a charter for a ferry across the
Mississippi river at said city; that some Of
the members of the city council of said
city were DESTROYS to procure a charter for
and in favor of said city, authorizing and
empowering it to run a ferry across the
Mississippi river, between said city and the
city of Davenport, in Iowa That during
said session of the legislature John W,
Spencer, Thomas J. Robinson and james
Grant also desired and sought therefrom
10 procure an extension in their favor of
the charter granted to John Wilson hv
said Legislature, in February, lS4g. until
the year A. d, 1871; that during said
month of January. 4. u. 1857. rs near as
this atflant can now recollect, and while
said Legislature was in session, at a meet
ing OF the members of said city council in
said city of Rock Island, and at which
meeting a majority of the city council were
present. as near as this afiant can now re-
collect, including the Mayor, the said
Thomas j. Robinson, pretending and
claiming to represent the said John W.
Spencer, Thomas j Robinson and james
Grant, appeared before said meeting and
and promised that if the CITY
council Of said city of Rock Island would
not oppose or resist the application of the
SAID Spencer, Robinson and Grant ~ said
legislature for an extension of the said
privilege to them as aforesaid. that then
and in that case the said Spencer. Robin /
son and Grant, if successfulin their said an
pllcati0n, would pay annually to said city of
Rock Island during the time of such ey-
tension, the sum of five hundred dollars
and would also pay annually during the
like period, to the school fund Of said city.
the sum Of five hundred dollars. Afiant
further says. that to the best of his reeol-
lection the said Robinson also promised
and agreed that, in case of such extension
rs aforesaid, that then and in that case the /.
said Spencer, Robinson and Grant would
enter into bonds to said city of Rock Isl /
and for the annual payment of said sum of
I'VE hundred dollars to said city as afore
said; and that in consideration of said
promises and agreements the said city /
council did not further oppose the procur-
ng OF the extension OF said franchise in .
ayor OF said Spencer, Robinson & Grant.
md that at the special instance and re- /
quest Of said Robinson, no provision for
he payment Of said annual sum of five
dollars to said city of Rock Island 4
vas inserted in the bill passed by said leg
stature, in the year A. d. 1857, extend
~ said franchise in favor of Spencer.
johnson and Grant, the said Robinson
Eating to said meeting that he feared the
lsertion of such clause would leopard
re the passage of the bill
ALEXANDER STEEL.
Sworn to and subscribed be-
STAMP fore me, this 18th day of July.
A. ID. 1864.
ALEXANDER +. SwANDER, j. P.
TATE OF ILLINOIS. }
Cry AND COUNTY OF IS h
Rock ISLAND,
William Bailey, of said city, being first
uly sworn, upon his oath saws, that he
as Mayor Of said city of Rock Island in !
q nj A N