The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-27
A SCHEME.
Toll to be Collected on the
Government Bridge.
Kellogg Introduces a Bill in
Congress.
Trade between the Cities
forced on the Ferry.

Considerable local excitement has been
occasioned by the Geographic reports from
Washington, which contained the inferma
| ton that certain Senator from Louisiana
has entered bill into the United States
Senate looking towards the collecting Of
| toll by the Government bridge between
this city and Davenport. The news that
such bin had been presented was general
| surprise toThe citizens of Rock Island, as
it was not known that such scheme was
ever contemplated.
The majority of the people in this To-
cality are decidedly opposed to the bill,
and they are severe in their denunciation
of the originators who ars thought to be
connected with the Reck Islanj Ferry
Company.
- THK BILL @
| in question is as follows:
: That the sum of So. 600 be, and the same
| is hereby. appropriated. out of any money
| in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated,
fer the purpose of repairing and maintain
/ ing the bridges across the Mississippi riy-
er between the city of Rock Island, in the
state of Illinois, and the city of Davenport,
/ in the state of Iowa: Procided, That all
| travel and traffic over the Government
bridges across the Mississippi river be-
tween the city of Rock Island, in the state
of Illinois, and the city of Davenport,
in the state of Iowa, and the roadway be-
tween said bridges on the island of Rock
Island, shall be subordinate TO the rights
of the United States, under such regulas
| tions as may be prescribed by the Secretary
of War to provide for the payment of the
current expenses of the maintenance and
care of said bridges and roadways and the
| improvements of the avenues thereto. The
Secretary of War for that purpose, shall,
from time to time, fix and establish rates of
toll, and levy and collect the same which
shall be uniform and in conformity with
the rates allowed and fixed for the trans
| portation of persons and traffic over bridges
| and ferries across the Mississippi river at
st. Louis, Keokuk, Dubuque, and other
prominent points on said river: Aad pro
0fded also, That the use of the bridges and
roadways aforesaid by the public may be
restricted or suspended by the officer COM
| handing the Rock Island Arsenal when
| necessary repairs or the interestof the pub
lie service may demand the same.
| RUMoR.
The bill was introduced by VIM. Pitt
Kellogg, of louisiana, aud was referred to
the Committee ON Commerce. 1t has been
referred to Col. Flagler, Commandant on
the island, and it is stated that that officer
has reported adversely to the contemplated
change.
| Ii is further said that the bill originated
with the Rock Island Ferry Company.
which corporation would be greatly benes
fited by making the Government bridge a
| Euff aEfa1f
The president of that company has re
Gently visited Washington. ostensibly in
the interest of the Hennepin canal Major
Beardsley, the nominal postmaster at this
place, has also been at Washington.
Beardsley and Capt Robinson are great
friends, while Beardsley and Kellogg have
also been training together as the manu-
facturers of southern outrages in Louisiana,
and as the originators of the somewhat Gel
ebrated Eliza Pinkston, of New Orleans.
The knowing ones pretend to claim that
ley, secured Kellogg's influence, and thus
the bill was presented.
In substantiation of the theory that the
ferry company has had its hand in the pro
posed legislation, it is stated that a short
time ago a representative of the Herdic
coach company was in this city, and pro-
posed to run line of coaches between
Rock Island andDavenport Through the
influence of the ferry company. Major
Beardsley arguing the case before Secre-
tary Lincoln, an order was obtained from.
the War Department refusing the use of
the bridge to the Herdics.
At an earlier date, the right to run line
of horse cars across the bridge was also
refused, owing to the antagonism of the
ferry company.
THE CITIZENS
of Rock Island interviewed during the
morning were generally opposed to the
bill. The stated that they were in favor
of the present arrangement, and could see
no good reasons why toll should be exact
ed.
The phraseology of the bin also excited
general comment among those who had
given the subject any consideration. 1t
proposes to make 'fthe rates OF toll uni
form, and in conformity with the rates
allowed and fixed for the transportation OF
persons and traffic over bridges and ferries
at st. Louis. Keokuk. Dubuque and other
prominent points on the river" This, 1T
is claimed, viii make the rate by bridge the
same as Is now charged by the ferry, and
must of necessity cause large increase of
business TO the ferry company