Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-18
Mr. HASs EXPLAINS.
The Viaduct Matter Disc used in
Detail.
WHERE THE MONEY WAS USED.
what was Asked Ofthe Railroads and
How Much was Re- ceived-An
Interesting Letter.

make the following explanation through
your columns in reference to the attack
made upon me at a meeting of the Cit.
ems Improvement association THURSDAY
evening, Apr. 8
On Wednesday, April s. was advised
hv a friend that an attack was to be made
mon me by some parties at the meeting
of the Citizens Improvement association
gp0n something or another about the
v!gduct, etc. This being the first iut;ma
ton that had Of the matter, | called i'm
uzGiateIy upon President jackson. He
said be mad intended writing me upon
this subject and was glad that l called
Nj. Jackson theIeupon advised me as 10
what he had heard from Mr.. Sudlow, etc.
,hereupon invited Mr.. Jackson to nv
Office and showed him the pressed copy of
nv letter of Oct. II, 1890. to R. R. Cable,
president of the c., R. l. g. P. railway
company, which is as follows, and will
explain itself:
Rock ISLAND, H., Oct. IA, 1890. R.
r Gable, ESQ, president c., R. /. s. P.
R R. Co., Chicago, III. Dear Sir-We
have completed the bond protecting the
United States government against dam
ages from abutting property holders upon
the erection of the viaduct. Fred Viewer.
hsuser signed in behalf of the railroad
companies and Ben T. Cable in behalf of
the city and We now have Henry Curtis
al work preparing and examining every
thing in this matter, so that when the pa>
pers arrive at the department in Washing
ton they will not come back to be changed
or fixed. l have advanced about 1926
il this matter in addition to the $3.50 ad-
vsuced by the c., B. & @ railroad COM
pauy. The $3.50 that your company gave
was paid for the plans that first went to
Washington two years age. | understood
you to sag last Feb uary that you did not
wish to advance any more money until
the bill had become a law for the building
Il the ViaduCt and that you would then
be willing and ready al that time to share
expenses with the c., B. & Q. railroad
company that had accrued. ask nothing
for my time but think that actual ex-
panses should be refunded to me which
understood you to say was your Intention.
I ask you now if shall also write to the
c., B. & Q as to this same matter or
will you fix this matter among yourselves
and then remit me tie actual amount ad.
TsnCed by me.
Please let me hear from you and oblge,
Yours very truly.
FRED HISS
considered Gt that time when | wrote
SAID letter 10 MIR. Cable that ali prelim-
iDsries were then completed but | found
soon thereafter that all papers, deeds, alb
stracts, etc, were returned to Mayor Nc
COu0chie with a numerous lot OF objec.
lions and part of them of very serious
nature. All papers. deeds, abstracts, ETC..
were then taken back to Henry Curtis
office, who saiq that he did not have the
necessary time that this viaduct matter
required and therefore recommended NJ.
b Sweeney 10 do the work. NJ. Z.
Sweeney thereupon started in TO rectify
acd make satisfactory TO the government
these papers that were turned over to him.
Il was found necessary that NJ. Z.
Sweeney had 10 prepare an entire new
abstract and did prepare all deeds; al
50 E d. Sweeney and Oliver Olsen as
sisted days and days in looking over these
papers, deeds, etc. correcting them and
they were rewritten. We did work to-
gether day after dag for some two months
or more until all was finally completed.
At the last examination E. D. Sweeney
did then express himself by saying that
the papers were then as near right as the
city could ever make them, but that he
had grave doubts as to the government
approving them without personal explain
alton. Whereupou Oliver Olsen then
spent weeks in Washington in MAKING
said explanation and did after a very Diff
ticult task succeed in having deeds, Sonds,
abstracts. etc, approved by the attorney
general for the building of the viaduct.
Sometime thereafter all deeds were re-
turned by the government and were re-
corded here at the recorders office l
thereupon wrote again to Mr.. Gable, pres
ident of the G.. R. 81 P. railroad com
pany on A pril l. the following letter. the
contents of which will explain itself:
Rock ISLAND, III April l, 1S9l.-R.
r. Cable, ESQ, President c., R l. & P.
r. r. Co., Chicago, Ill.-My Dear Sir:
Up to this time l have not received any
reply from you to my letter of Oct. IA.
1890. When I spoke to you about the
matter some time ago in your office, you
asked me to let the matter staEd until all
details as to the visduct were completed.
| am now happy to inform you that all
are now com Lleted; that the government
Yesterday recorded all deeds that were
made by the city of Rock Island, C, R.
l. &P. railroad company, c.. B. q @
railroad company, Moline & Rock Island
street railway company, and others and
the matter is now in charge of the COM
handing officer at the Rock Island ar
senal for the erection of said viaduct and
there is nothing that l or anyone else can
do to further the same, as l understand
tie commanding officer is now the only
one who has charge of the building oil
said viaduct and needs no further assist
ance. As stated in my letter of Oct.
a TO you that ! was short at that time
about 1925, and having since advanced
for sundry minor expenses to the amount
of S25, leaving my actual shortage about
$780, and as have said before do moi
want any compensation for all have
done in this matter for the Last two and
one-half years past, but think that &C
tual expenses should be made good to me
and, which l understood, that you would