Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-05
FORTY YEARS AGO
The First Railroad Bridge Was
Commenced.
TO BE RECONSTRUCTED IN 1895.

Spanning of the Mississippi Between
Rock Island and Davenport In the Early
Days-Railway Notes.
Forty-one years ago the 18th OF
next December the spanning of the
Mississippi between Rock Island and
davenport with railroad bridge
was commenced. In view Of
the demolition of the present
structure, which succeeded it, the
following extract culled from q
report OF President. j. B. Jervis,
of the Rock Island, dated Dec.
10, 1854. by Ben b. Bray ton,
present division engineer for the
same road, is interesting: :Author-
ity has been granted to build the
proposed bridge and the work has
been commenced.
In Gen. Flagler's history of Rock
Island arsenal, a letter from John a.
Dix, president of the Chicago 4 Rock
Island Railway company, and adj
dressed to Jefferson Davis, then secrc-
tary of war, with reference to title of
right of way across the island, was
found. from which the appended ex-
tract is made:
The brid ge is already commenced;
the Chicago 4 Rock Island road is
open to the Mississippi; the Missis-
sippi & Missouri railroad is in pro-
gress to Iowa City, and it is of the
utmost Importance to them all that
the application should be dispo sed
Of"
Rock Islands First Contract.
Here's a bit of historical informa-
ton from a one-time prominent rail-
roader:
The first contract for grading on
the Chicago & Rock Island railroad
was signed in April, 1852. Total
length of the road lS1 miles; and the
first steam horse drank water from
the Mississippi river on the morning
of the 22d of February, 1854. 1t was
big day in Rock Island; there was
a big dinner and big drunk. Big
men came from Chicago, and in the
new freight depot there was long1
big table. and those who sat at it
made big talk about the railroad and
about Chicago; but when journeyed
to Chicago in 1919 to get stock taken
in the railroad, not man would sub.
scribe one dollar. All with whom l
talked, said: go and see Long John
Wentworth l went to see him.
Long John said: Tut. tut, young
young. What! A railroad to Iowa?
l would not pay for the grease for
the whecls!' 1 tramped back home
disgustcd, went to work, and for
years held meetings, collected stock
subscriptions, and worked for three
years alone. The road came"
| Depot Echoes.
George SCOTS engine is back from
the c.. Il. l. L. z. shops at Trenton,
Mo-, all frightened up.
Engineers Thomas Greedy, James
Smith, Thomas Dunn and John DAILY,
of the Rock Island. are off duty.
Frank Wiegand is acting as night
yardmaster for the Rock Island dur
ing the illness of James Greenwich.
d. F. c. Rice, superintendent of Illi-
nois lines for the c., Il. & e.. was in
the city yesterday on official business.
Six of the Rock Islands new mo-
guls constructed at the Brooks Loco
motive Works, Brunswick, N. T.,
passed through to Stewart, Iowa,
this week.
There was little wreck in The
Peoria yards near Thirteenth street
last night. three freight cars being
piled up with nominal damage. The
cars, two empties and one filled with
coal, were being switched when the
collision occurred.
j. NJ. Pelham, for two years con-
nected with the local c.. Il. & q. Off
ces as day operator. has resigned to
accept a more lucrative position as
dispatcher for the c., p. L. st. l.. at
Springfield, where he reports for
duty Monday. Mr.. Pelham's familiar
presence will be greatly missed at
the local depot.
The report recently prepared by
the grand trustees of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Fireman shows
the following interesting statistics:
Total number of lodges, 500; total
mem nership, $4,000; total receipts
for the last IL months were $780,
6ls.7S; total disbursements, $4l6,-
39S.73, leaving a balance of $l4,-
225.O4. The beneficiary fund has
paid out 1884 200 and the protective
fund ell, 900.