The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-02-16
Seneca Jubilant.
GIOEITICATION OVER HER FREE
BRIDGE,
yuipr Of Guns--Oratory, and EloG uchce Ec-
You'd Measure.

Wednesday last marks new epoch in the era
ofScncca and the surrounding country, and hcnc'
il was despite the unfahomablC mud, that the
pooplr-lar and near-gathcrcd from all quarters
at that cntcrprsing young city to celebrate. The
occasion was the formal declaration that the new
iron bridge over the Illinois river there was 10
he thcucciorward and forever free TO the people,
and it> dedication 20 the public as hcncc'ortI I'M
ubstructed by an obnoxious toIl-kccper
At So'clock ON the day named the loud boom
INC of the cannon attracted the people to cen.
trail point near the canal, and terrified numerous
rrangcrs' horses which filled every available
space for several blocks in every direction. The
national salute of thirteen guns having been
iir,d, order was called; but not before our orator
ical friend, Alex. Naughcy, had loosely remark
I'd that he like the cannon, was loaded to the
muzzlc-not like that weapon, with anything 50
destructive as gun powder, but with speech
This caused a laugh, but when some one said
Touch him off" the laugh became mixed with
rhcers and the mirth became universal
Mr.. Vaughey had brought to the speakers
stand flag, which, when nailed to its place and
urfurlcd, was the signal for cheers for the flag,
three more for Mr.. Vaughcy, and three for the
free bridge The asscmbagc was then called to
order.
Hon &. W. Armstrong, the president of the
Seneca Bridge Co., spoke as follows:
Geatlcnaca It might be well upon this occasion
the opening of the Seneca bridgc--to call the
attention of the citizens of ManliIs and Brook
field to the history of this splendid structure
alike a credit to both towns and their cntcrpris-
ing citizens, 10 the history Of its struggles and
trumphs, and as we are here to-day to celebrate
It's freedom, we may be proud Of its benefits and
our success Our work is step in the right d
rection, and is only in the spirit Of progress the
spirit Of the age in which we live. our history
was one Of difficulties and Encouragement in
starting ii, from the very beginning, and only for
the efficient aid of the worthy gentleman on my
right (the secretary and Others, it might have
never been built. At first every prospect was so
discouraging, that opposed il as being mpOssi-
bic. On one Sunday Il number of gentlemen
came To my place and said. that ! must 20 to
Springfield to secure Il charter from the lcglsla.
iurc. went on my way by Jolict-thcn Uncle
sam was calling upon us for troops for the war
and to Springfield. Mr. Burchard then in the
house, since congressman, and Mr. Hopkins Of
Norris also in the house, gave me their aid. /
got Il clerk to copy new biIl-thc old being
somewhat dcfcctive-had it before the committee
reported back and read second time. Hopkins
got the rules suspended, had the bill read Il third
time, got II in the omnibus bill and passed In
two days Mr.. Lansing, from Frceport, reported
1t in the senate, and Senator Bushnell, of our
county, manully came TO our assistance, and il
was passed there and became law. paid See
rotary of State Tyndalc s. and got from him n
certified copy IN due form. The bill named MS
charter members Jerry Crotty John Armour DR.. |
Underhll, Isaac Gage and A. Bruce, and author !
ized them 10 open subscription of $4,000. |
Three OF these men were active and energetic, |
and the others not.
A meeting was called June :, 1860 The Off. !
GERS elected were, Armstrong, Crottv, Armour !
IiOlderman and Miller, directors; and Armstrong
chosen president DR.. undcrhill, treasurer and
:. \. Miller secretary. II should Dc stated that
the original stockholders were g. W Armstrong
Jerry Croty, John Armour, Abe Holdcrmnn and
Reuben Miller, but afterwards Bruce succeeded |
Armour, ana David Lindsay succeeded Miller
and that The plans were prepared 10y Alex. Bruce
and e. v. Armstrong, and the amount which
the bridge cost did not exceed the estimate one
dollar The personal or contingent expenses
were borne by these two men individuality
At the time Oi the meeting stated, subscription,
were solicited and after most strenuous efforts,
from The IN OF June 10 the 26th, $4,000 was oh.
tanned in signatures. The contract was let to
Mr.. Bruce. From this We had to deduct 800, |,
parties who did not pay leaving us minus SlOgiS ,
for which we had to give our personal obliga-
lions, which We carried and paid up by help and
libcraIity Of others. You have turned out today
10 show your appreciation of II free bridge and
which, 10y the new law, must be made free II
has hitherto been the custom Of the county TO
appropriate about onc-fourth towards all cNpcn.
sive bridges, and thus Peru, La Sale, and other
places have been benefited, but Seneca has ucy.
er, while building her bridge, received one dol
lar from this source. This bridge was built by
private subscription and private means, while
YOU have been helping others to free their bridges
The bridge mt Ottawa just freed, Is the oldest
bridge ON the Illinois river III this county and
the only one that has ever paid reasonable
amount on the investment ! had one share of
500 lin 1t. sold it for Sl0G and put ii in the
Morris bridge and never received cent for II 10
this day, IAughtcr) Our new iron bridge here
IS put IN at ST. 500, which is less than il l. worth
and II viii need no repairs for years to come
while some Of the other bridges are now nearly
dccaycd. La Sale county has recently applied
t35,OcO to free six bridges, the expense borne
equally by all Of the tax payers of the county
the theory being that all county taxes should be-
equal. have lived ON the south side of the hi
Dois river the most of my life and have paid |
enough for crossing this river to buy good /
farm. ] have wadcd, come over in skiils, canoes
and even swan across il and il has been Il con.
slant tax upon me, which people who live north
OF II know nothing about. This large river is a
source OF lnestmablc value To La Sale county
rs It's very center Of drainage, and rs il benefits
you who live north ofitin this respect YOU should
help us who live south To bear The burdens of
crossing il to get to market
The bridges across this river in La Sale coun.
ty have cost about 5000 600 and the people ON
the south side have paid largely over Onchalf Of
lhls expense. IL costs, every farmer on the
south side knows, not less than half u cent Il bu
shell on every bushel Of grain that they bring TO
market.
This splendid new iron bridge is free, and the
only remaining bridge, at Marscillcs, will soon
De. While many Of them will soon have To be re-
bullt, or al least require new supcrstructurcs,
uurs j. lasting. II is In that shape that any piece
or joint can be removed by any common iaGorcr
10 repair H. not requiring skilled mechanic.
We built ii 10 that end. Even the history of La
Sale county recently written, speaks Of il rs he.
ing splendid and substantial bridge, and is the
only one mentioned.
Let H. refer to the business Of Seneca In 1876
there were shipped $4,000 bushels of grain, at
least one half from the SOUTH Side Of the river
paving toll; 22j ears Of freight taken from here
There are twenty-five shipping points in La Sale
county, sending away 7,6iD, 69j bushels and Sen.
'ca furnished ne-scyenth Of the whole OF the
- shipping points in thi, county, Seneca shin.
pea norc than any save Ottawa. Marscillcs the
ZANE year, shipped 600, Utica 10000, Peru
nlWD. Ottawa, inclusive Of used for starch 100.
gu, tf~1lN Ia Sail. ,i, hmm,