The daily Argus., 1874-03-16
WHAT DAVENPORT THINKS OF
THE FREE BRIDGE.
And Of the Rock Island Canal.
One Hundred Delegates Appointed to the Rock
Island Convention.

A meeting of the Davenport Board of
Trade was held at three o'clock Saturday,
according to previous adjournment, Presi-
dent Renwick in the Chair.
The Chair called for report of the
Committee on
BRIDGE AND RAILROAD MATTERS,
which was presented by Mr.. Ed. Russell,
and was read as follows:
To the Board of Trade:
GENTLEMEN:-You our Committee to whom
was referred the three several questions re-
lating to the uses Of the government
bridges connecting this city with the island
and city of Rock Island, respectfully re-
port as follows:
/. That they deem it inexpedient to
take any action in the matter of rates of
freight charges, or of charges for the trans
fer of cars, over the bridge, made by the
c., r. |. & p. r. II. Company.
2. That they recommend the Board to
suggest to Hon. A. r. Cotton, Member OF
Congress for this District, such a modifca-
ton of his bill House of Representatives
No. 966) as will secure to all who may de-
sire to use the wagon bridges specified In
said bill, only the same privileges now en-
joyed under the orders of the Secretary OF
War and Col Flagler.
8. That they recommend immediate
action by the Board in support of efforts to
secure an early connection of the cities OF
Davenport, Rock Island and Moline by an
extension of existing lines of street railroads
of the respective cities to and across the
wagon bridges and road on the island, now
connecting Davenport and the city of Rock
Island. Your Committee would urge this
recommendation upon the attention of the
Board with all possible earnestness, They
regard the long delay in the authorization of
this much needed connection by street rail
road as having been seriously detrimental
to the best interests-material and social
of each Of the cities interested in securing
such connection. They regard provision
for a convenient, reliable and inexpensive
transfer of citizens of Davenport, Rock Isl
and and Moline, over the bridges named, as
essentially necessary to the ready inter
course, in business and social life, which
ought to obtain between these
several cities And they are sur
prised that measure, which,
three years ago received the direct sane,
ton of the Ordnance Department, the
United States Engineer Corps, the Secre-
try of War, the Senate Committee on Mil
itary Affairs, and of the Senate itself, by
express enactment, should have thus far
failed to become law solely because of the
opposition, as your committee are informed
and believe, of single member of Con
gress, the Hon. j. B. Hawley, of Rock Isl
and,
Your Committee recommend, therefore,
that the Board make known its opinions
and desires on this matter, as represent
ing the wishes and demands of the busi-
ness men and citizens of Davenport and
vicinity. by a committee whose duty il
shall be to correspond with Hon. A. r. Cot
ton, Hon. J B. Hawley and Senators Wright
and Allison, urging the immediate passage
by Congress of the bill introduced by MIR
Cotton authorizing the street railroad con
nection, over the bridges named, now de,
sired by our citizens. (Signed)
VIM RENwICK, EDWARD Russell
THos. SCoTT, DANIEL GOULD.
SETH P. BRYANT.
Davenport, March IA, 1874.
After discussion of the various sugges
tions of the committee, the repeat wa:
unanimously adopted.
On motion, President Renwick. and thu
Secretary were appointed committee tt
confer with Hon. AR. Cotton and Hon. j
B. Hawley IN reference to the opening o
the Government bridge to the passage o
street cars.
On motion the committee on Conference
with Messrs. Cotton and Hawley were re
quested to report to the Board as soon a
possible.
One hundred delegates were then ap
pointed to attend the Rock Island Cana
Convention on the oath, and their name
appear in the Gazette of this morning.