The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-02-01

especially Of colts newly broken and
there will be colts to break every year
for many years to come yet. There
are many old horses, too. | have a
pair of them-like old dogs-that are
TOO old TO learn new tricks, that
would die first, or be the death of
someone before they could get used to
the noise and the light of the electric
cars.
There are many nervous and timid
horses that would 60 through almost
anything rather than face car upon
IA bridge But If the farmer could get
safely into town without meeting the
car, he might possibly restrain "A
frightened team upon the street, bu t
it would be difficult for him to do so
on the bridge.
Tam O'Shantcr'S mare was safe
after she had won the Keystone of the
bridge, but the farmers team is not
safe until he has them installed in Il
fced-yard, for it would be impossible
for him TO get there without meeting
one or more OF them.
have also been told, as palliative
or sedative, that the conductors on
the Street-cars are very cOnsderate and
obliging; that they always stop when
they see a farmers team running of,
or about to smash up things general
ly. 1t is very kind of them to do so,
for they are not obliged to stop for
such trifles. 1t is not business. Yet
| cannot help but think than an
apology is poor excuse for a broken
head" The farmer has but little else
TO do than to accept the apology and
thank them for their courtesy. His
grievances are redressed by telling him
thrt he must get used to the changed
that the world moves
and he must move with it.
Ottawa has become manufacture
ing town, and takes but little stock
ket. There was a time, when the
venerable John Hossack was in his
prime, and the ArmourS and the Cush-
mans and the Richardson's were living,
and the old starch factory bought up
what grain the others refused, that
the farmers crops added to thegrOwth
and the wealth of the city. The old
bridge was built for his accommodate
tiOns mostly, and was subsequently
made free for the benefit of all. 1t
was the connecting link between the
city and the country, and was intend
ed to be used in cOmmon-aS a carriage
and wagon way-with no other re-
strictionS than not mot to drive
faster than walk" until our board OF
in their wisdom saw tit to
assign all their rights to the same to
the city authorities. The farmer
crosses the bridge, not by his own
right but through the courtesy OF the
city council. He has no rights now
the cOrpOratOrs of the street cars is
bound to respect. For the ity coun-
Gil, through a mistaken idea of its
own Importance, with an eye to the
grandeur of the city, aside from the
interests of the country, has granted
to a corporation the sole use of the
bridge, not entirely to the exclusion
of the farmer, but to his great hinder
ance, annoyance and Inconvenience.
The bridge was not built wide
enough in the first for a load Of
straw and carriage to pass without
crowding each other, and the street
car railway does not make the bridge
any wider. And if Ottawa should
ever become grain market again
there would be scarce room for the
wagons and the cars.
There used to be law, dating back |
to time immemOrial, in regard to pub |
lie highways and bridges, which read: |
Keep to the right, as the law di-
reefs"
The farmer now that he has for
feited all his rights by an act of his !
legislators, is expected to keep to the
left when he meets Street-car, and |
give it the widest berth possible. If
he should presume to exercise his |
ancient right, the right of keeping to
the right, his conduct would be re-
garded as outrageous and reprehensi-
bic. He would render himself amen
able to city ordinances, and be sub
iected to fine and imprisonment, ac-
,ording to the magnitude of the Of
tense.
But it is not my intention to dis
paragc the city railway or the electric
care. They are excellent in their
way. They serve the purpose for
which they were constructed. and add
much to the convenience Of the Citi-
zen and the prosperity of the city.
They make a town Lively, and do
away with monotOny when times are
lull
I have no quarrel with the city
but with the city council.
do thlnk-and | am far from being
Lhe only one that thinks so-that
great Injustice has been done the
farmer on the south side 10y giving
away half of his bridge to corpora
ion. that controls, in measure, the
other half He is subjected to loss of
5ime-to stoppages, delays and him
frances to all manner Of inconve-
lience, and last, but not least, to
hanger of life, limb and property. 1t
S Il nuisance, and how can it be
lbated? "A. W. GRIFFITH.
The occasional use of BigelOwS
Cough Cure will heal and strengthen
,hc pulmonary organs, you will breathe
,asier and feel better in every way.
You can buy the dollar size of Bieglows
cure for limited time at SOC of any
lruggist.
A. l.. HenneSSey, of the La Sale
was in town yesterday.
This gentleman states that the last
Meeting of the board Of health there
no new cases of diphtheria,