The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-05-12
THE UTICA BRIDGE CON -RoysRsy.
EDITORS FREE TRADER:


/ am utterly opposed to trying legal contro
versy in the newspapers, but since the FREI
TRADER has seen tit in the interest Of Utica, tc
make personal attack upon the officers Of Dee
Park, and in SO doing has grossly mss.ated the
facts in the case, deem it my duty, in Justice to
our side, to present the record as it is.
! The first Official act ia the Utica bridge mat.
Ter was visit Of the Utica commissioners to the
Deer Park commissioners, which resulted in a
meeting being held on Feb. % 1876, at which
the proposition to build bridge was voted down,
two voting in favor Of the same three voting
against it and one Of the Deer Park commission.
ers not voting.
Second March 18th following a meeting was
held IN Utica. Present, the three Utica commits.
sioners and one OF the Deer Park commissioners,
the one that did not vote at the previous meet.
Ing, the remaining two refusing to attend At
this meeting proposition to build bridge was
ed carried, two Utica commissioners vot.
ing yea, and one of them voting nay, and the
Deer Park commissioner not voting. By the
same identical vote it was decided at the same
meeting that the cost of the bridge should not
exceed $4,000, and that the commissioners of
Utica and Deer Park advertise for sealed propos
ais.
hir&. March odd 1876, meeting was held ut
ltlca. Present, the same as ut the last meeting,
the other two commissioners refusing to have
anything to do with it.
On motion form Of advertisement for propos-
ais TO build bridge was adopted, which was after
wards published and was the only call ever made
for proposals, Upon this motion the vote stood,
two Of the Utica commissioners voted in favor
OF IL. of them against IL and thp Deer RI;
commissioner not voting.
FOuJth. April Sd meeting of the commits
slOncrs was held at which some bids were re-
ceived, but no action taken except 10 adjourn
until after the town of Deer Park had voted up.
on the question.
FUM. April l2th--a notice signed by all of
the commissioners Of Deer Park was served up.
on each Of the commissioners Ct Utica that they
would not enter into contract for the construc-
ton of bridge or incur any expense about the
saDe until Deer Park should vote to borrow
money for such purpose
Sirth. May Gothic town of Deer Park, by
vote Of II majority, authorized the commission
ers Of Deer Park TO borrow money to bull d
bridge" leaving the location, the cost and kind
of bridge to the discretion of the commissioners
OF said town, who Immediately decided to do
nothing Before this election was held, howev-
or, the work of building the bridge was com
menced. The contract for the stone work was
let and boat loadof stoncwas on the ground.
SercHh. June 2d-A notice was signed by the
supervisor town clerk and two of the commits.
siOners of highways Of Deer Park, stating that
upon advice Of their attorneys they had decided
not to borrow money, issue bonds or enter into
contract to build a bridge or incurr anv liability
whatever in or about the construction of the
bridge IN question. and forbdding the use of the
highways Of Deer Park for the purpose of erect
M such bridge. This notice was served by
copy upon each of the commissioners of the
town Of Utica and upon the contractors for both
the suHstructurc and the superstructurc OF the
bridge.
The c0mms sioncrs Of Utica caused the bridge |
10 be built, oac commissioner Of Deer Park with |
them, the other two refusing TO have anything
To do with IL.
EighN. In December 1876, after the bridge
was opened for travel, one Of the amt. bridge |
of Deer Park became bridge
man and joined the one who had always been In |
favor of it, and hey filed the petition for writ
If mdH3dHHS to compel the supervisor and
,lerk TO issue bonds The writ was issued and
m appeal prayed and allowed. At the last annu-
II town meeting another anti-bridge commits |
ioner was elected as well as the supervisor and
'lcrk reelected, and the commissioners have
low ordered the supervisor and clerk not to is.
sue bonds and that the suit brought to compel |
he issue Of the same be dismissed. 1t is fair to
state that since the bridge question has been |
sprung the party advocating 1t have not been |
Ihle to elect single town officer In Deer Park |
having anything to do with roads or bridges or
ponds, they having been defeated at the last two
annual town meetings by from 90 to 81 majority, |
md the vote to borrow money would have re-
suited the same had it been Il fair expression Of
he legal voters of the town.
No contract was ever made by Deer Park to
build the bridge or to pay for the same, and Of
curse the supervisor and clerk could not have
gone back" on one.
In view Of this record and the advice Of able
attorneys that the bonds, II issued would be void,
respectfully submit whether the officers of
Deer Park should be compelled to take lessons
n municipal Integrity from the FREE TRADER
until it LAS first corrected the abuses under that
lead in its own town of Ottawa, or at least en-
leavored to do so,and whether it would be more
to refuse to incur debt at all, than
o issue bonds and having sold them TO innocent
parties all over this broad land and obtained
heir money, to rcpudatc and refuse to pay
hem.
The writer Of this abhors personalities, ana al
hough Ac has been personally attacked bv the
opposite side ia public print because Of his OPP
position 10 them in this matter, does not desire
ne use Of Your columns for any other purpose
han simple Justice 20 the town officers OF Deer
'arf, Ci which he is one. H.