The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-03-10
That Piaindealer Petition Again.

hd~ob~ bhU olsitot.
That Plaindealer Petition Again.
EDITORS FREE TRADER In the FREE
TRADER OF Feb. cath appears a communl-
cation ircm citizen OF The town of Allen,
Mr.. VIM. II. Conard, in reference TO tho
above named petition, in which the writer
takes strong ground against the passage Of
such law by the Illinois Legislature as
the signers OF said petition invoke.
while ] congratulate Mr.. c. on his laud-
able effort n expose to the scrutlnizing
gaze Of the public the injustice of such
law to the outlying towns OF La Sale
county, which towns embrace not only a
large majority of the population, but like
wise u vast preponderance of the wealth
of the same, and while heartily endorse
his views so lar AS they 30, yet am frank
to say that he has not assa,led 1t III its
weakest points, to.wit: extravaganza, peoh
able corruption and fraud. Let us exam
inc. The town Of Rutland, where the pc
t,,lon originated, would seem to need the
benefit of such a law as much as any other
town IN the county, as the numerous
streams of the above town heading in the
town of Miller Incrcaase in force and vol
ume as they approach the Fox and Illinois
rivers until they become good sized
creeks, neca5si;ating large outlay Of
money for the bridging of those streams,
besides the smaller ones that have their
source within the borders OF the town.
The town of Rutland is not only noted for
her rich and productive lands, nearness to
the county scat and canal, easy facilities
for marketing, large herds of blooded
stock of various kinds, comfortable, yea,
many elegant houses, barns, &c, but is
equally noted for the honesty, industry,
thrhs hospitality and good judgment--in
most things-oi her citizens, and especial
ly Of the pioneer portion, who manifested
their superior judgment by the selection
of this particular Eden, wherein to Sc. up
their household gods and rear their alters
and their fires"
The names OF those carly pioneers--the
Debolts, Groves, Brumbacks, farrs, Tram.
Dos, Shavers, Butterfields, Pitzers, Duna-
vans, Millhgans, Hollowells, Hlses, and
many more that we might name had we
space--arc familiar to the readers OF the
FREE TRADER, and to many Of the people
of La Sale county. Among other things
in which the people of Rutland have
shown their wisdom and set an example
worthy Of emulation, has BEEN the i'm
provemcnt of her roads and the bridging
of her streams. AZ all the bridges rIquir
cd in the town would cost, even upon The
cheap plan, . large sum of money in tho
aggregate TO build them, they resolved &c
nut I'D good, substantial structures 0t stone
where practicable, and of stone and IRON
or stone, wood and iron, where MI stone
would not do Nor was the stone to b.
of the cheap and perlshable sandstone, bu
the adamsn,ine Joliet rock. They have
taxed themselves heavily year after yea
/ for that purpose, have born half the ex-
pense Of spanning the Fox river at Wed
ron with noble structure Of stone an'
iron, have been at great expense repairing
the Limos river bridge at Marsellles, an,
vet have heard no word OF complain
Iron any one of the heavy tax payers c
the town.
The disastrous foods Of last year di'
great damage to many OF her bridges
sweeping some entirely away, but with al
energy that never faltcrs, the people hay
REPAIRED and rebuilt most OF them, and to
day they have the satisfaction Of knowing
Ithey have the best bridged town in tn
Icounty. Ienceforth the taxes tor bridg
4 purposes IN Rutland should diminish yea
by wear, aud with reasonable prudence an
economy think, Will, UHless--yes there
where the danger ls--thc petition OF tn
Piajndedier prevails, or some rockies
Ischeme like il. II that should come
pass, then woe betide the already ovcrbu
dened people! While it would be fun fo
/ iron bridge manufacturers, stone contrac
tors and corrupt local officials, it would i
financial ruin tp many tax payer. A
the large streams in the county that al
= not areaoy spanned by fair!y good bridi
es, which by hook or crook, fair means {
foul could be- made 20 appear TO requll
. 81 900 bridges, would have them as 500
az the money could he raised by taxatio
Ito build them. Not only so, but towr
like Rutland, having good bridges but sc
ling the reckless extravaganza manifesto
: IN other towns, would hasten 70 rebui
|. where, by a comparatively SINAI! outlay
. labor and money, the bridges alreac
b1ilt could be made To last for man
G many wears. OR lauiio should be, l.
/ good enough aiosG' Each town shou
bear IL own burden when not too npPrc
4 ave. The state should not dictate 20 u
G counties III the matter of relief to town
G l,,l,, nnnu thp.ciearrSt evidence that by