The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-15

The business meeting Tuesday evening,
at Timm's Hall, to consider the Rock river
bridge question was only fairly attended
and but little interest manifested The
meeting organized by selecting II. o.
Sleight, chairman, and Capt. W. G. Nor
ris secretary, The proceedings of the
previous meetings we're read aud discussion
commenced as to the best course to
pursue. A number of persons spoke,
among whom were Dr. j. W. Morey. Capt
Bennett. George L. Flickinger, Luke E.
Hemenway, G. w. Labdell and Maroni
Wheeler.
Mr. Lobdell proposed that the city bug
the bridge, and that bonds for that purpose
be issued, bearing per cent, the interest
to be payable annually or semi-anually as
may hereafter be agreed upon by the city.
Mr.. Lobdell also gave it as his opinion
that the receipts OF the bridge would more
than pay the interest on the bonds and
that, as the commercial interests of Moline
demand bridge, the city ought to buy
the present structure and rebuild it,
| A question here arose as to the legality
of the city issuing bonds and in answer to
question by Maroni Wheeler, Mayor
Wheelock stated that the law was plain
and that the city had right to bug and
build bridges anywhere within miles oil
the corporation.
Capt. Bennett then moved that 1T is
the sense of this meeting that the repor;
of the committee recommending the issu
/ ing of bonds for the purchase OF the Rock
river bridge and for rebuilding the same il
/ in accordance with the wishes of nearly al
our citizens" and moved the adoption Of
the report. JJf* s3.t rs5i
| Seconded by q. H. Deere.
Mr.. Lobdell stated that the city was not
lin debt in excess of the constitutional linn
lit, and could issue the bonds without any
difficulty arising of a legal nature.
| Maroni Wheeler stated that he hac
made an examination of the bccks ane
charter of the bridge company, and thai
the charter was perpetual, and that th,
receipts OF the company had Melted duriu,
the eighteen years they have operated thu
| bridge fully 10 per ceLt., aud that in biz
opinion the city ought not to buy the
. bridge, etc., etc.
Capt. Bennett replied to Mr.. Wheeler
and ridiculed the idea of the compau,
clearing any such amount of money, an,
urged upon the meeting the necessity 70
. (favoring the purchase of the bridge.
ii IA
, the present owners had eyer been solicite
) to rebuild and whether any regular offe
to sell to the city at $500 had been made
Several other points Of Importance wer
touched upon, and during the debate it wa
a developed that Hon. Ben. Harper and tn
! Gorton heirs had declined to build, an,
that the other owners, who live in Moline
9 were willing to do SO; that Mr.. Harpe
olai ad fhaf ha oavor hal
y of dividend on his original purchase, an
; that for himself the bridge might sink OF
:. of sight-he would not put any more none
I into it.
nj Mr.. Hemenway stated that, last sun
: mer, while member of the council,
proposition to sell the bridge to the cit
:" for 81 500 was made by the present owner
e and that the same difficulty existed the
Il as now, AT that time the Moline stool
:. holders were willing to join with the cit
and rebuild the bridge. and agreed to tax
three-ffths of the stock if the city weul
}. shoulder the remaining two ffths. II
u committee reported this proposition to Il
le council, but it proved, On examination,
a be an illegal mode OF procedure and the
. the matter rested
ri Mr.. Hemenway stated that he was
~ tue opiuiou tuat the CITY V0uiu not reQull
Dr. to exceed $4,000 in bonds to buy and RI
build the bridge aud repair the roads. Fl
had talked with MIR. Robert Gregg abo,
o the matter and that gentleman had offere
K to give the city all the stone and gray
D needed if the, bridge was rebuilt.
rs Mr.. Lobdell spoke of the necessity fl
te acting cautiously and understandings,
He was in favor of issuing bonds an
thought that there would be no Difficult
" in negotiating them and had no doubt b,
e the owners of the bridge would be will,
to take their pay in this way.
After some further discussion the que
ton was called on the adoption Of Can
on Bennett's motion which was adopte
ut almost Unanimously.
" Dr. Morey then moved that commit
n of three be appointed to confer with Il
,ss council about the bonds, etc. The cha
an appointed the following gentlemen Is Il
ne committee: DR.. j. w. Morey, G. o. N
ch son, A. P. Fisk. Eeg
to The meeting then adjourned.
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m | x,rs