Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-22
GEST AND THE VIADUCT.
His Whole Work in the Matter an
Injury.
Trying His hest to Aeeommodate n
Friend He Leaves the People 20
shift for Themselves.

Inc Cnso7t says u was through the ef.
forts OF Mr.. Gest that We got the viaduct
The Unson knows and Mr.. Gest knows
and the people know that such is not the
fact. 1t was in spite of NJ Gest that the
viaduct was secured. II Mr.. Gest had
been given the matter In charge the peo
people Of this city and surrounding coun.
try. or whoever wished to be benefited
by the viaduct! would never have had
the matter attended to.
Mr.. Gest not only kept the bridge
closed against the people for the benefit
of his friend. Captain Robinson, but he
also did what he could to prevent the
construction OF the v;sduct. He had an
extra clause tackled to the bill which re-.
CURED the consent OF the property own.
ers along the proposed route. which clause
virtually made the ill of no effect. 1t
was not the wish of Captain Robinson
that it should be built. The
wish of Captain Robinson governed
the actions of Mr.. Gest. What
ever Captain Robinson told Mr.. Gest to
do he did it. Capt Robinson owned
property along where the viaduct was to
be built. Whether he bought the proper
ty there to be used as an obstruction
it is not necessary here to state. Any
way he had it. This Objectionable Sec
tion of the bill! was that property owners
along the line should sign a release OF Sill
prospective damages that might accrue
through the building of such work. 1t
was not to be expected that they would
40 such thing. 1t was known that
Captain Robinson would never listen to
such proposition If his wishes were
consulted he would not have the viaduct
built, whether he was reimbursed for
damages or not. 1t is an open secret
that he threw everything in the way of
It's construction. He was the active
spirit at this end of the line; Mr.. Gest was
the 81 ent spirit at the other-in WASH
ington. When the captain wished any
thing done he nodded to Gest. Gest
nodded back that he understood the
scheme. They worked in perfect har
mony. Everybody talked about the want
OF such safeguard Everybody saw the
danger to life and property in thu vicin>
ity of the tracks. Everybo y wanted
something done in the matter There
was no use in appealing to Gest unless
the consent of his manager. Captain Rob-
inson, was obtained. Before Mr.. Gest
went TO Washington the last time, Mr..
Fred Hsss implored him to do some,h ne
in the matter He promised. aud would
have given daily promise
ever since for that mstter. Did he do IL.
Not he. He never intended to. Mr..
Hsss saw him again in Washington and
there impressed upon him the necessity
for prompt and Intelligent action. He
wriggled aud hes iteted and spoke of
difficulties aud made the usual mum Der Of
excuses but did nothing. Captain Rob-
inson had and has a fer y company. The
building of visduct would do il an 10 ..
Jury. The people might be killed on the
railroad tracks for want of protection,
but the profits of the ferry must not be
lessened.
Is 1t possible 10 point TO anything
Gest has ever touched in the way of legis-
lstion in which he has not blundered,
To laundering he has added psrtissn>
ship of the worst character. To ser.e
his ends be would sell the peoples ill.,
terests
This is one phase of the viaduct
Others may follow. Let IL suffice here 10
say again that il the energy. good will
and general services OF Mr.. Gest had
been depended upon in the matter the
work would have never been accom-
plished. The only constituent Mr.. Gest
has is to be found in the person of Cap
tain Robinson.