Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-29
gresham Gear of Iowa. Whereupon
Mr. Gest made no comment, bet walked

but be did not give any particulars as to
the bill he had introduced. Mr.. Hass
then looked up the bill. and found it was
to repeal the part where it said that the
city OF Rock Island was to paw for one
half for the building of the viaduct, but
also found that Mr. Cast had reinserted
in said bill, as q clause. to have all the
abutting property released before the bill
could go into force. Thereupon Mr..
Hass called upon Senator Cullom, who
then cslled in Senator Allison. These
two later gentlemen then blocked ont a
bill, which was drawn up. with three
copies written in type. Senator CuIlom
introduced one copy into the senate. and
Mr., Hsss handed one copy to Mr. Gest,
whereupon Mr.. Gest said that such bill
would never pass; that the government
would never build q visduct until ali
admitting property was released Mr..
Hass argued the matter with Mr.. Gest at
considerable length, and said that il the
property had to be released before it was
damaged that the property holders would
not know what TO charge. and if price
would be made it would be as large, like
ly. as the cost of the yiaduct would be,
and no viaduct would ever be built under
such circumstances.
Dir Gest then said: Can you people
not release or buy the property abutting
the viaduct? Whereupon Mr.. Hass an.
swered: No. we cannot obtain release.
nor do believe that we can buy the
property at any reasonable price whatso-
ever. Mr.. Gest then said he would in.
troduce the Cullom bill, but he said be
knew that it would not pass.
MIR. Hsss brought the third copy of the
type written bill home, and reported ac>
cording to his promise received from
Gest and Cullom. that the proper repeal
bill, for the Objectionable clause had
been introduced Oy Senator Cullom in
the senate and by Mr.. Gest in the house.
copies printed from the one be brought
home. He gave number of them to
the members of tie Citizens Improve
ment Association who sent them to their
friends IN the house and S nate. in a
manner as he had done, and asked them
to be supported, as we all supposed that
this bill had been introdu ced in the house
as well as in the senate. Mr. Hsss then
received advice from friend in Wash
ington that Mr.. Gest had introduced DO
snch bill in the house and received an
other copy of the Objectionable bill that
Mr.. Gest had introduced IN January last.
requiring abutting property holders to
release before the law could go into eff,
feet
Six weeks had then elapsed since this
bill was to have been introduced BY Mr..
Gest On March Goth Mr.. Hass called
upon Mr. John J. Reimers, relative to his
position in the foregoing circumstances
Dir. Reimers on that date wrote Mr..
Gest letter, from which we quote the
following:
As representative citizen and friend
OF yours, would say that q meeting was
held by the representative citizens of
Rock Island to discoss your bill intro.
duced January 9th, for visduct. II the
bill passed as it reads it would be simply
impossible to build the same, as you well
know that your friend, Captain Robin
son, owns about 200 feet, and the Case
estate the whole length on the east side.
and they would ask more damage than
the constr uction of the viaduct would
cost, and you well know that the con-
stTuction would be more benefit than
real damage.
I'VE have examined the bill suggested by
Senator Allison, and introduced by Sena,
tor CullOm, and find it to be the very bill
we desire, and would. therefore, ask you
either to intro duce or substitute the said
bill for your house bill when before the
committee. And. as lend l would
urge you to do your very best to see that
the said bill is fsvorsbly reported, and
civil appropriation bill d"
Thereupon on April 1st. Mr. Gest in
troduced the Cuilom bill, which sets forth
that the city shall paw no part OF the ex>
pense of building the said viaduct, and
that the abutting property shall MT be
be released upon the building of the via
duct, but that a bond shall be given to
protect the United States government
against all damages that NAV accrue to
the abuttiLg property holders upon the
erection Of said visduct. This is the bill
tina. has became law. aud by which the
vi aduct will be built,
Mr., Cable, upon being informed as to
this law was the first gentleman tha at of
fered to. and did sign. the bond, protects
ing the United States government against
sbuthng property holders npon the cree
ton of the viaduct. Mr.. Weyerhauser is
the other gentleman who signed the
bond with Mr.. Gable. which bond is now
executed and ready to be turned over to
the United States government.
Does this not clearly show that Mr..
Gest opposed both the opening of the
bridge and the visduct. He was afraid
to move without getting the sanction of
Captain Robinson as both their interests
were identical. The building of |
the viaduct means the building of |
a union depot. which Mr.. Cable is as |
heartily in favor of as he is of the con-
struction of the viaduct. To MIR. Reimers
also much is due for his persistent efforts
in actual y compelling Gest to move in
The matter.
A Silver Lining Wife: Horrorsl Hus
Iand. I've just heard there is case of |
ImallpOx in the fiat above us. Husband