The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-28
Mr.. HAWLEY'S PRETEN-
TONS ABOUT THE
BRIDGE EXPOSED
His Letter to Alex. Steel
Dissected.
The People, not Mr.. Hawley, Secure
the Opening Of the Bridge.
THE WASHINGTON coRREsp oNDENT OF THE
ARGUS WAS THEIR ORGAN 70 SECURE
THE PROMISE THAI IT SHOULD
BE OPENED.
AND THIS WAS DONE BEFORE HAwLEY
CLAIMS TO HAVE DONE ANYTHING.

support Mr. Cotton's bill but to claim
credit to himself for doing what others had
done before him. He says:
1t is a well known fact that when the bridge and
roadway were completed it was at my request they
were both thrown open to the pubic even before
the bridge was turned over by the government En-
gineers to the Ordnance Department. ] send you
herewith a letter of the Chief Clerk of the War De
partment on behalf of the Secretary OF War. dated
Dec. 3, 1872, and one from the Chief OF Ordnance
of the same date both addressed TO me and showing
clearly that it was upon my sugges ion that the
temporary order of November, opening the bridge
to the public, was made permanent No man has
done more than to secure tue construction of the
bridge, and am sure may say no one has done
as much to open 1t to the public.
A little history may, perhaps, show that
Mr.. Hawley did nothing at all for the pub
lie, until the bridge had been opened.
A BIT OF HISTORY.
From the Daily Argus, oct. 26, 1872.
The circumstances connected with the
building of carriage bridge over the Mis-
sissippi river at this point are still fresh in
the minds of our people, most of whom will
remember what an excitement was created
in all the towns and among all the people
in this locality when it became known that
John B. Hawley, at the instance of Rob
inson 4 Co., had written to Washington to
defeat the carriage-way over the then con.
templated railroad bridge and that the ferry
company were using all the power which
money and political influence could COM
mand for that purpose. Petitions, signed
by thousands of persons, were sent to
Washington, asking for the carriage-way
to be built; many public meetings were
held, in this city, Moline, Milan, and Dav-
venport, on the subject, and speeches were
made arOusing the people to action to Sc
cure appropriations for the carriage bridge
The city authorities of Rock Island, Milan,
Moline and Davenport passed pointed and
earnest resolutions on the subject, condem
ming Robinson 4 Co., and urging the build
ing of the carriage-wa There are thou
sands of people in this locality who think
they had something to do with securing its
construction. The carriage part of the
bridge was opposed by Hawley, and it
stands there to-day because the people de-
manded it. and in spite of Hawley's eff
fors, and the efforts of his masters, Rob
inson & Co. He knows that he wrote to
Washington to have the carriage part of
the bridge defeated. We admit that Haw-
ley always fov0red the railroad bridge, as
did Robinson 4 Co., and everybody else
But he did not favor the carriage part
on the contrary he tried to defeat it.
WHAT COL. MACOMB SAID.
From the Daily Argus, October o. 1872.
On Thursday afternoon, the oath, the
editor of this paper called on Col Macomb,
Z. 5. A, the engineer in charge of the con-
struction of the bridge, when about the fol-
lowing conversation occurred:
Editor-Co Macomb, it is reported. and has been
for u long time about town. that papers of some
sort in regard to the opening OF the bridge have
passed through yonr hands. called to ask the ma
ture of those papers.
remember whether they are here or have been sent
70 Washington. paper was sent to me from the
War Department for report thereon. and | don
remember whether it has gone back TO Washington
or not.
Editor-It was the nature Of the papers, Colonel
VIII oh wished to learn
Col MO. il was a rcronstrauce against the
opening Of the carriagc-way to the public, from
Spencer II Robinson. wdo claimed that they had al
exclusive ferry franchise till 1885 and thai the open
ing of the carriage to the public would be al
infringement Of their rights.
The interview occupied the best part OF
column, in which it appeared that Col
Macomb had recommended that the public
be allowed to use the bridge He remark
ed that it was better that the planks should
wear out than rot out. The object of the
interview was to show that an effort was
making to prevent the opening of the bridge
to the public. The article closes as fol-
lows:
The bridge is not yet opened to the
public, and THE ARGUS will not cease its
efforts in the matter until the public shall
have free passage over the Mississippi a
all hours of day and night"
As soon as the facts in regard to this eff
fort to prevent the opening of the bridge
were known, the people commenced writing
letters to the Secretary of War, from boil
sides of the river, urging him to open thu
bridge to the people. We wrote letter tt
him, enclosing articles from the newspaper
on the subject, and giving him an idea o
how the people felt in relation to the mat
ter. Mr.. Hawley did nothing.
WHAT lie NARD DID.
We also wrote to orr Washington cor
respondent to go and see the Secretary ant
lay the matter fully before him, with let
tiers, newspaper articles, etc. Here is tn,
answer, published in The ARGUS of Nov
5, 1872:
WASHINGTON, Oct 80, 1872. TO-DAY
saw the Secretary of War and. thanks Il
my letter of introduction, was treated will
the greatest courtesy and kindness. But
must tell you all from the beginning AT
ter having sent him the letter. his messen
ger returned with the message that I'm
few minutes the Secretary will be at liber
ty. Would | take seat in his room p
went, and before | had quite arranged m,
speech into the smallest possible compass
time is precious with him-he stood be
fore me, and shook hands | forgot III
speech and simply told him the facts of tn
case and what L desired: remarking tina
the Ferry Company had made fortunes
and were determined to make still more
but the people, knowing his (the Secreta
ry'sl strong sense of justice, knew that h
would decide in their favor if only the fact
in the case were brought before him; an
that they placed all their hopes upon him
well knowing that influence which nigh
be brought to bear upon a subordinat
would be powerless upon him. He wake
out for few minutes and then returned
telling me that the Engineers Bureau had
per order, turned the matter over to tn
Ordnance, and the Secretary informed N
that as soon as the bridge would be fin
ished it should be open to the people"
thanked him, and remarked that l shout
immediately write to my friends and te
them the good news and he gave me per
mission, adding that the system of passe
which had been used there did not NEE
with his appreciation, and should be abol