The Rock Island Argus., 1882-06-21
LOCAL NEWS.
The Memorial on the Toll
Bridge Bill.
Rock Island Men in the
Mining Claims.
Gen. Henderson aid his opin-
ion On Current Affairs.
LOCAL NEWS.


The following is a memorial to congress
protesting against the passage of the Kel
logg bill making toll bridge of the govern
ment structure at this point:
To tie Members of Congress:
1t has recently come to the knowledge
of the undersigned that a bill has been
introduced into congress, the purpose OF
which is to provide for the establishment
and collection of tolls upon the govern
ment bridges between the cities of Rock
Island and Davenport In behalf of the
people of this vicinity especially, we beg
leave to state few facts and make some
representations concerning this bill, which
we hope and trust will aid you to judge of
its merits and dement's, when it comes be-
fore you for consideration.
We think we can show by a simple
statement of facts that the bill was not
planned and introduced in the interest of
the government, but simply and solely in
the interest and for the benefit of a pri-
vate corporation, also that it was framed
with the design of creating false impress
ion upon and misleading members of con-
gress, and that the passage. of the bill will
inflict very great injury upon the peoplelof
this vicinity, and to less extent the peo
pie of the whole country.
The ostensible object of the bill is to
provide for the collection of tolls sufficient
to reimburse the government the cost of
maintaining the bridges. There would
appear at first glance, some little plausi-
bility and propriety in this propositions
but when we come to consider the absurd
and even ridiculous attitude in which it
would place the government-that of be
ing engaged in the bridge toll business
and the insignificant cost that accrues to
the government by reason of the public
use of the bridges, it does seem to US that
such proposition should not be enter.
tanned for a moment
The bridges have been open and free to
the public with very few restrictions about
ten years. This use has furnished suffi-
cient data to carefully estimate the cost of
their maintenance; also how much the
public use adds to that cost. From care
ful estimates made from the ordinance re
ports said additional cost does not exceed
81, 600 1t is true, annual appropriations
have been made amounting each year to
about $1,000, but $4,000 of this is ex-
pended in paying men who run the draw
bridge, guards, watchmen, ETC., all of
which expenses are necessary independent
of the public use.
As we understand the provisions of the
bill, it does not give the secretary of war
or any other person discretionary power to |
adjust the rates of toll so that the re-
ceipts shall equal the cost of maintenance,
but makes it obligatory upon the secretary
of war to fix the rate of toll as charged by
the Ferry company and toll bridges at st. |
Louis, KeOkuk, Burlington, Rock Island |
and all important points on the river
We will now present some facts which |
will forcibly Illustrate the wide difference
between the avowed purpose of the bill,
and the real object obtained, provided it
becomes law
During the year 1SsO-s1 422, 392 foot
passengers passed over the main bridge
During the same year over the main
bridge there passed 325, ,74s teams. The
number of each the preceding year was
even greater. Now suppose the lowest
ate charged for each foot passenger that
S charged by any toll bridge or ferry COM
Dany on the river, the aggregate amount
Will be $40, 1880. And for each team a
rate of 25 cents to be charged-which is
over than is charged by ferries or toll
bridges -$S1, 1877 will be the aggregate. and
he total for foot passengers and teams is
s101, 305. Now it is fair to assume that 1
the bill becomes law. the travel will
iivide about equally between the bridges
md ferry; this result following, the gov
would collect $50, 900 in round
numbers, being, we think, a rather ample !
for the $1,000, which it
'osts by reason of the bridges being open
o the public. The balance of the $10O.-l
'OO will go into and enrich the
:offers of an already rich corpora
ion, corporation which has had
monopoly of the ferry business here for l
he past forty years. Hence our convic- |
ion is that it was in the interest of this I
'rivate corporation that the bill was fran. s
and introduced into congress, and not, {
s we have alaeady stated, in the interest s
I the government. 1t has been urged as l
n argument against free bridge that it '
1terferes with the franchises of the Ferry {
ompany, that it has ruined their business. S
hat it has lessened the amount of their {
usiness is unquestionable; that it has not |
estroyed their business may be proved by {
he fact that the company has recently L
large new ferry boat, the lar I
est and best they have ever owned. s
The Chicago, Rock Islsnd s. Pacific r. {
+ company being joint owners with the 6
overnment in the bridge over the main $
hannel, having paid half the cost of t
he superstructures have been interrogated 8
oncerning their views and wishes in the {
natter. Their reply was 'they did not I
now anything about the proposed legisla- I
ion concerning the bridges, did not want 6
ny, and were satisfied to let them remain L
s they are, free to the public" {