The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-06-20

| Basil Green, OF Dayton, mas the loiIo"
lowing to say concerning the rebuilding o
the DAYTON bridge. The plea entered b.
the gentleman in behalf of that project Il
certainly strong one, and should receive
the earnest consideration of all interested
in the welfare of that township. There cal
be no question that the rebuilding Of tina
bridge is of vital importance to the inter
ests of our northern suburb, and It's detea
at the spring election must certainly be at
tributed more to an oversight on the part o.
the people than TO any actual opposition
Mr. Green writes;
ut is years since the bridge across the
Fox river, at Dayton, was carried OF BY
high water II spanned the river at poin
re a State road is located and has beer
travelled for about half Il century, The
bridge had been useful TO the public IL
general, and especially to the residents OF
the north part of the township OF Rutland
and 10 many of the townships OF Miller
Manlius and Mission for the purpose OF
trade in the village of Dayton and in going
10 and from Ottawa. II has not been re-
placed The river is the line between the
townships of Dayton and Rutland. For al
least half the year 1t is a dangerous stream
to ford, owing to high water and rough
bottom. AT the annual town meeting last
April, the voters of Dayton township au
thorized the commissioners of highways
to borrow money to aid in building a
bridge. Certain citizens of the village OF
DAYTON we're so DESTROYS for bridge that
they subscribed and guaranteed to the
commissioners of Rutland the sum Of 81 :.
600 as an inducement to the voters of Rut
land 70 empower their commissioners tC
raise 81 500 TO aid in building bridge
At the late special election for that purpose
there was fair majority in the second pre-.
cinct, where the people are more Interested
in favor of the proposition. But in the first
precinct, which includes the city of Mar
settles, the majority against II was sufficient
to defeat the enterprise, IL Is only little
while since the people of Marseilles were
very much incensed because those Of Fall
River and adjoining towns failed to respond
quickly to call for bridge across the IL
linois at Marseilles. 1t occurs to me that
an impartial observer may well be surprised
at the lack of sympathy on the part of Mar
settles for Dayton and the second precinct.
We are willing to believe that many of the
voters of Marseilles did not know the true
situation. Neither do we want the public
to think that we lay all the blame Of our
defeat at the door of Marseilles. Certain
farmers in the eastern and southern parts
of the township seemed to be frightened at
the prospect of small increase to their tax.
Let us consider the tax question for mo-
ment. Fifteen hundred dollars was called
for. The township Qsseesor told mo that
tho valuation for The year 1884 VAS about
$562,OOO. The average laboring man, so
referred to on the day of election, is not
assessed TO exceed 800 His share of the
tax woulc be 1OO.5G2 900 of the amount
called for-aboat twenty cents, the price of
about two hours Of common labor. The
well.todo farmer and manufacturer, and
the capitalist, would pay in the same pro
portion. We are unwilling to believe that
gentlemen who opposed us at the late cleo
ton would do so again after knowing the
true situation We are grateful to gentle
men who gave US their votes, and doubly
grateful TO those who gave us their active
influence. We thank those who opposed
us at the polls for gentlemanly courtesy
The reader may ask the object of this
letter. We answer that time will continue
and the Fox river willIhow on, and the bus
mess and travel of the country will continue
to ask for a bridge until the request is com
piled with"