Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-02-15
Mr.. Fred Hnss and the Mayor Putting
In Good LIeks for the Public Inter-
ests---A Letter From Mr.. Hass.

committee, copy OF whiCh L enclose
herewith for publication so that the peo-
pie can tell in Just what shape the viaduct
matter stands The prospect is favors-
BILE for having the bill repealed l think
have been talking with Messrs. ALI
son, Cullom, Gest and others and have
been informed that the report Of the sec
rotary of war will be favorable. Tomer-
row the mayor, Mr.. Ainsworth and my
self expect TO call on the secretary TO
urge favorable report. We had an in
terview with the president this morning
The Davenport committee have not ap-
peared yet. We cannot say when we
shall return, but PROBABLY will Monday or
soon thereafter.
am yours truly, FRED HAss.
Following is the report to which ref
erence is made in the above commuuica-
tom
WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb ~
To Hon. John G. Cannon, Chairman of the Gen
eral Appropriation Committee:
DEAR SIR:-We, the undersigned, re-
presenting the city of Rock Island, in the
state of Illinois, pray your honorable
committee may deem il consistent aud
advisable to recommend the bill repeal
ing that part of the sundry civil sppro,
priation bill for the year ending June
30, 1889, mo. 154) contained on pages
twenty-seveu and twenty-eight thereof,
where il reads:
For the construction of viaduct
from the south end of the wagon bridge
between Rock Island and the city of
Rock Island over the railroad tracks
which adjoin the approach to said
bridge. thirty-five thousand dollars, pro-
vlded that this appropriation shall not
be available until the city OF Rock Is,
land shall by proper instrument have
conveyed to the United States title, an-
thorlty and control over the premises To
be used for the construction and main
tenance of said viaduct, nor until all
holders of property abutting on the same,
shall have executed release of all dam
ages that might accrue to them by the
construction aud maintenance thereof in
such form as the secretary of W ar nav
prescribe; provided further. that the
work shall not be commenced until the
city of Rock Island shsll deposit in the
treasury of the United States one half of
this amount towards reimbursing the
United States for this expenditure
The latter part of this act where il
reads:
provided further. that work shall
not be commenced until the city of Rock
Island shall deposit In the treasury of the
United States one half of this amount
towards reImbursing the United States
for this expenditure" was added to the
bill by way of amendment upon an enron,
eous impression that the city of Rock Is |
land had some peculiar interest in said |
bill.
As matter of explanation we beg
leave to state that the city of Rock Island |
has no peculiar int eat or benefit in said |
bill any more Than the cities of Daven> |
port. Moline or Milan or other people of |
Scott and Rock Island counties.
This United States government wagon |
bridge is used by the United States gov
eminent in the transaction of its business /
between the arsenal and the Illinois side |
of the Mississippi river and it has been a |
general thoroughfare between the states
of Illinois and Iowa at this point The
said government wagon bridge connect
ing the Rock Island arsenal and the II |
llnois shore in the upper part of the city |
of Rock Island and the approach thereto, |
are owned and controlled by the United |
States government and neither the city of |
Rock Island nor any company or corpor- |
alton have any right to extend or change |
in any way the approach 10 the bridge.
In order TO sustain our views In this |
matter we desire to call your attention to |
page eight of the last annual report of |
the chief of ordnance made to the scores |
Of In. q. l.
as follows:
The sundry civil appropriation act ap
proved March 2, 1899, contains an APP
of S35. 200 for the construc-
lion of visduct from the south end of |
the wagon bridge between Rock Island |
and the city Of Rock Island, over the
railroad tracks which sdjoin the approach |
TO said bridge, with a proviso that the |
work shall not be commenced until the |
city of Rock Island shall deposit in the
treasury of the United States one>half of |
this amount towards re imbursing the |
United States for this expenditure.
The Hon. W a. Gest, representative
in congress from the Eleventh congress
sional district of Illinois, represents that
this proviso requiring the city of Rock |
Island to pay one-half the expense of
this viaduct is based upon an erroneous
idea that that city has some peculiar iu-
terest therein, and recommends that con
giess be asked to repeal this proviso The
commanding officer of Rock Island ar
senal indorses his views and | concur
therein and recommend the repeal of this
proviso
The approach to the said government
wagon bridge now terminates against
number Of railroad tracks that were there
when the said bridge and approach there's
to were built At that time the railroads
using these tracks were doing only a
small business and it was not considered
that the tracks would interfere with pub>
lie travel across the bridge. Since that
time the business of the railroad using
these tracks has increased to such an ex-
tent that the crossing is wholly unsafe for
traffic to and from the said bridge. Mir
aculous escapes have been made by gov,
eminent officers and employees and by
other persons going to and coming from
the arsenal. We therefore ask your hon,
orable committee to make such recon-
mendation as will secure the repeal of
that part Of the sundry civil appropris-
ton act which we have quoted above
The city of Rock Island will convey
without expense to the United States
government by proper instrument. of con-
veysnce the additional amount of ground
that will be required in the building of
the viaduct-spproach to the said govern
ment wagon bridge. The city of Rock
Island will also give bond in such form
aud amount IS shall be required by the
United States government to protect and
keep harmless the United States from all
damages that may be rendered by any
court Of law in any aetion against the