The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-24

That Bridge Petition.
The Marseilles Plaindealer Of Peb. Is
has In 1t a petition to our legislature pray
Ing for law to compel the counties o.
this state to build and repair all bridges
that equal or exceed 81, 900. which petition
the Ptd,adealer says is being circulated
along the Illinois and Fox rivers and
wherever It will avail anything for sign
era, and goes on to say that the Importance
OF this Issue to La Sale county at least
cannot be questioned. Now let us see.
Take the map of La Sale county and give
It close, impartial study, and l must say
that this petition If favorably acted upon
by our legislature and becomes law will
do great injustice TO the majority of the
people of this county, and for the follow
Ing reasons; In the first place, tho petit
ton If granted will benefit few towns
and townships along the Illinois river, and
one or two townships along the Fox river,
while 1t will be detrimental to the balance
of the county. Now. to prove this, let us
go back little and see If il is right for
the outlying towns to help the river or ca
nal towns eren as much as we are now do
ing. II is conceded that the toll from the
bridges before they were made free bridg.
es gave to the stockholders fair profit on
their investment. Now, admitting that
there was good deal more travel then
than now, We think we can prove without
doubt that the towns along and adJoin.
ing the river and canal can well afford to-
pay the proportion that Is already assessed
to them for the building and repairs of
sand bridges. without any burden to SAID
towns. Let us figure little and see. Ev.
cry bushel Of corn sold IN the river Tor
canaD town markets brings from two to|
three cents more per bushel than IN the|
railroad markets, and ali other grams In
proportion. Now, allowing forty cents
for toll, double that in former times, (his
is allowing great deal more than the de-
crease IN travel over those bridges
Will warrant, but we must DO liber
al with those burdened river towns
A from one Of those river towns starts
for market, but is stopped at the bridge
hands over forty cents toll for crossing,
ana gets fifty cents per bushel, realizing
twenty-five dollars minus the toll. Bfrom
one of the out.lsying towns. being too far
away cannot reach canal market and
goes to railroad town and gets forty.
eight cents per bushel for his corn, reallz
ing twenty four dollars tor the load, sixty
cents less than his poor brother from the
river town, and allowing that eighty acres
of land well tarmed to produce forty loads
OF grain per year to market 1t leaves the
river town man twenty.four dollars ahead
of the railroad market man, enough to pay
hls taxes, town, county and state, for one
aud half ears and that too after allowing
HIM enough to build those 5urdensome
bridges. and yet IN the face of these facts
these river town people will get down on
their Bonded knees and petition the Hon.
Drable Senate and House of Representa-.
yves OF the STATE Oh ILLINOIS, Ianu .,uo.
Loo honorable to grantthis dishonest peti
Iion) to compel their more burdened neigh.
5ors to help them. And now. Mr.. Peti
TONER, to be candid, If yon should get
your petition granted do you think It
would be just law for pc County of La
Sale,
A word to the outlying towns that may
have one one thousand dollar bridge to
build: Don't be drawn IN by this one
dollar clause, tor mind you for
every dollar that you get In tax from the
county you will pay five dollars in return
If this said petition prevails.
WV. II. COWARD.
RANSOM, Feb. Goth, 1888.