Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-03-24
TALKING NEW BRIDGE.
Interesting Report nerore the Dav-
export Business Mems Ass oc iation
Last Evening".

Interesting Report nerore the Dav-
export Business Mems Ass Ociation
Last Evening".
At last nights meeting of the Daven.
port Business Mems association the
special committee TO whom was referred
the matter of new bridge across the
river between Rock Island and Daven-
port, made its report, in which it's plan
of procedure was outlined as follows:
In planning its work your committee
deemed it important TO try TO ascertain:
(D The approximate cost OF bridge;
(2). To what extent the various railway
companies will encourage the enterprise
by promises of patronage. With these
facts ascertained il hopes to be in posi-
ton to 60 farther and accomplish more.
In furtherence of these objects the COM
mittee has authorized its chairman TO ex.
peLd so much OF its funds at its disposal
as may be necessary in securing from
some competent engineer. careful esti-
mates of the cost of a bridge, both rail-
way and wagon combined
As soon as these estimates are pro-
cured it is proposed by the committee, il
the condition of the treasury will war
rant. to send someone TO interview per-
sonally the officials of the various rail-
roads that would seem to have an inter-
est in the matter, and ascertain what they
are willing to do. The work of the en-
gineer in furnishing estimates will be
greatly facilitated and made of moderate
cost. by reason of the soundings taken
some years ago, the record of which. with
complete proties. have been kindly furn-
ished by w G. Wadsworth.
Through correspondence by Mai.
Marks. chairman of your committee, win
ex-Msyor Gobble, of Muscatine, some
items of interest and importance have
been sscertained in reference 10 the bridge
recently built at that place. 1t is learned
that the bridge there is high bridge and
a wagon bridge, but with piers and abut-
ments bailt of sufficient size and strength
to support a railway b-idge also, should
it ever be needed. If ever thus utilized
it will be built under the wagon bridge,
and that part OF it will be draw bridge
We may state also that the wagon bridge
is q toll bridge. 1t was built by COM
psny. and the funds for its construction
were raised in three ways; by stock sub
scriptions, by bonds. and by local aid, the
city of Muscatine voting 8 per cent tax.
The tax was voted under chapter Is of
the acts of the twenty-tirst general as
sembly of the state of Iowa. which pro-
vides that a tax not to exceed 5 per per
cent of the assessed valuation NAV be
voted, levied and collected to aid in con-
structing wagon and high bridges
across the border rivers of the state.
The tax voted at Muscatine was
made payable half in one year and
half in two wears. 1t was carried
by vote of 1864 10 1877 against.
Your committee. in conversation with
the business men of the city has been
much encouraged by the strong feeling
expressed in favor of another railway
bridge al this place, one individual going
50 far as to say he was in favor of tax
to sic the enterprise, and if it were found
necessary to do more, would donate $500
out of his own pocket The general
sentiment so far as learned seems to be
in favor of positive action of some kind
in the matter.
Maj Marks made q supplementary
| statement. He had talked with Civil
Engineer George T. Baker. who had ex>
amined the available papers and would
make proposition as 10 the cost of a
complete estimate Engineer Baker su>
perintended the construction of bridges
at Burlington. Keokuk. Muscstine, and
is now in the same work al Lyons.