The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-17
THE RAILWAY BRIDGE.
Meeting OF the lncOrp0rat0rs Last Ey'
cning---0biect of the Company
Benefits for Rock Isiand...
Location Of the Bridge.

The stockholders of the Davenport &
Rock Island railway bridge company met
in Davenport last evening to discuss what
action should be taken now that they
have secured from congress the right TO
construct the bridge between this city and
Davenport. There were present from
this city Messrs P. L. Mitchell and V. NJ.
Blanding. The principal, and in fact the
only business transacted was the appoint
ment of a committee of three, consisting
of Messrs. George II. French, of Daven-
port, president of the company, V. NJ
Blanding, of this city, the compar Us Sec
rotary, and Judg& Gould, of Moline. This
committee is given full power to conduct
negotiations with view to securing one
or more railroads to come in and use the
new bridge. The company desire that
lit be understood that the bridge
is not in the interest of any railroad cor>
poration out is open to any and all rail-
roads which desire to obtain right of
way, thereon, il they pay for the use of
it. 1t is expected that it may be the
means Of bringing one or more new roads
into the city. with new connections in all
directions and that at least two roads will
use the bridge and cooperate in its con
structl0n
The citizens of the three cities will be
asked to assist in this matter, that the
bridge may be built as early as may be-
There are approaches TO be secured and
depot sites to be selected, right of way to
be granted, on either side and through the
city. lis estimated that the bridge, with
the approaches, etc, will cost not less
than $1,000 This great expense cannot
be incurred unless the people do their
share in influencing railroads to come
here and use the bridge by promises of
support. 1t was stated at the meeting
that Rock Island would do her share,
which undoubtedly she will for she has
not been waiting for years for this oppor-
tunity, only to let it slip by on account Of
her inertia
Three routes We're surveyed u little over
q year ago, any one of which would be
feasible for the contemplated bridge
One of these, the lower, started at the
boat yard and crossed The river and Offer
mans island at right angles. This is the
poorest route of any, the river being very
broad there and the bottom hard to get
to. The upper route would start at
Eighth street and cross Willow Island on
the other side, near Fillmore street. The
third and last route, and the one selected
| by the stockholders as the one to be used,
! crosses the river at Fourth street, landing
on the other side near the glucose works,
and not far from where the Davenport,
Iowa & Dakota railroad survey COM
menced This road was surveyed and
had its officers elected for the purpose of
furnishing a northwestern outlet in case
the bridge should be built and new
company, coming in from the cast should
wish TO extend its line in that direction.
Thus an entirely new field would be
opened up both to the east and west
Rock Island has another good reason
for wishing to have the new bridge and a
new railroad. It is sanitary reason.
The only ground which would be apt 10
be selected for depot sites, yards, shops,
etc, would be the low slough lands, which
at present are only a source of pestilcnce
ana i'll health To use these the railroads
would have to FIJI them up The land
could be secured by them much cheaper
than any other and the location is con-
venient of access. 1t would increase the
value of property around there, and would
help TO build up that part Of town. The
many vorkmen which the railroad would
necessarily employ, would find it con.
vcnicnt to their work and build new
homes. This would employ carpenters
and laborers of all kinds cause boom
which has not struck this city in many
long years.
May the committee of three be speedily
successful in their endcavors and secure
one, two or half dozen railroads to cross
the bridge. The more the better.