Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-08-26
EARLY TRACK TALK
Some Past History of the Rock
Island Road.
THE FIRST FRIDGE AT THIS POINT

" eresthb auuress on the Subject
The Retirement of Master Mechanic
Morrill, and the Promotion of Foreman
Stocks - General News of the Rail and
the Men who Control and Traverse 1t.
At a meeting of pioneers held at
Des Moines the other day, George F.
Henry, formerly of Davenport, read
paper on the early railroad history
OF the west. The iron horse crossed
the Mississippi at this point, and his
westward progress was first made
from here. SO the following has more
than a passing interest here:
The Chicago q Rock Island Rail-
road company was organized in 1851.
Judge Grant, then of Davenport and
now deceased, being its first presi-
dent, and was completed to Rock ISL
and in 1854. 1t was the first rail-
way connecting the lakes with the
Mississippi river, and was con-
structed on practically the route
designated in 1928 in "A Sketch OF
the Geographical route of Great
Railway, between the Atlantic States
and the Great Valley of the Missis-
sippi." In the fall of 1852 SURVEYS
were made for railroad which
should have its initial point at Daven-
port and be practically an extension
of the Chicago Il Rock Island, then
| being constructed.
sept. 26, 1858, the contract was
let for the first work on the bridge
across the Mississippi between Day-
EXPORT and Rock Island. The struc-
ture was completed April y, 1886.
| This was the first bridge which span
ned the Mississippi. Much Iitiga-
ton followed, instituted by the gov
| ernment and steamboat owners, and
April 3, 1860, ain order was issued by
Judge Love in Il case before him, re-
quiring that the three spans and
three piers of the bridge on the west.
or Iowa side of the middle of the
flyer, be removed as nuisance.
That learned Judge, in his opinion.
speaking OF the effect of allowing this
particular bridge to remain, with the
| probability as he says, if this pre-
cedent be established, of having rail
road bridges in no great period of
| time at every 40 or 80 miles of its
course, asks this question:
What. then. would be the future
consequence OF bridging this river at
| short intervals, when in the course of
events the commerce floating upon it
| shall have increased until it will sur
pass in amount and grandeur all that
ever entered into the most eXtrava-
| giant calculations of the economist,
all the dreaming enthusiast ever saw
in glowing and splendid visions?
| Therefore, he SAYS. although ! am
/ deeply sensible of the vast pecuniarv
sacrifice involved in the removal of
| this bridge, vet | consider it triiling
compared to the great mischief which
must inevitably flow from the precc-
dent if maintained.
This was the view of one of the
truly eminent men of his day and
generation and yet how imperfectly
did he foresee the growth and devel
| opment of the railroad traffic of the
future upon this and similar bridges,
and to what enormous extent it
would surpass the commerce of the
uPpSA AAlS'ASSl II ia wen dS SOCh ~ CliS
dreamiest enthusiast.
This order of Judge Loves was
reversed, however, by the supreme
court, mainly on the ground that the
removal of the three spans and piers
referred to would not remedy the OBJ
struction complained of, which chief
" grew out of the location of the
draw pier. which was on the Illinois
side of the stream, and thus not
within the jurisdiction of the
court, which was limited to the
middle Of the stream. 1t will
interest YOU to know that
Reverdy johnson was of tine coun-
sci for the railroad in the supreme
court and Abraham Lincoln was the
attorney for the prosecutor. The
question at issue was subsequently
settled by the supreme court of the
United States. when it was held that
the act of congress declaring SINH
lar bridge at Clinton "a lawful struc-
turc," was constitutional and con-
elusive upon the courts Many a
ride did have rs boy on the draw
of that first bridge. The railroad was
completed to Iowa City Jan. /. 1886;
the Chicago Rock Island IL Pacific.
Railroad company was incorporated
March 2S. 1896, and on July 20, 1855,
bought all the property and fran
chises of the NJ. & NJ. company.
Aug. 81, 1866, the Chicago u Rock
Island company, and the Chicago,
Rock Island Il Pacific company were
consolidated, the consolidated COM
pany retaining the name of the Chi
cago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
company. AT this time-Aug. 81,
1S66-the main line extended to
Kellogg, in Jasper county. 1t was
completed and operated into this
city in 1867. and into Council Bluffs
in June, 1869