Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-21
POPULAR PROJECT.
That Of the Wagon Bridge to
the Lower End.
MERCHANTS UNANIMOUS FOB IT.

the Suoject-S0m sthlng Should be Done
to Remove tho Barrier to Lower End
Trade-rhis Would Lead tho Way.
The wagon bridge to the lower end
of the county crossing Rock river
near its mouth and also near the
mouth Of the Hennepin canal, re-
vived by THE Argus in view of the
proposed railroad bridge of the Rock
Island, Muscatine & Southwestern
Railway company. is subject which
has been more or less discussed the
past week. Without exception all
citizens agree in support of the pro-
ject, but some ask, how is such a
bridge to be built? The ARGUS first
submits that the first thing is to de-
termine the practicability OF the
proposition and then ways and means
will develop. Nor is it unreasonable
to suppose that the necessity of the
bridge once demonstrated it would
come outside the pale of proper
county jurisdiction the same as any
other bridge essential to public con-
venience.
Two Main objects.
There are two main objects to be
gained in advocating such a bridge.
One would be the effect of removing
the tolls from the city's present
Rock river bridges between here and
Milan and thus encouraging and in
viting the farmers of the lower end
to come to Rock Island, and the
other would be the bringing of the
mouth of the Hennepin canal nearer
to Rock Island than the final location
Of the route to the Mississippi has
placed it. These are advantages
worthy Of great consideration, it is
believed. and if our people take hold
of it and go after it with one accord
the proposition can be carried
through to ultimate success.
Citizens Express Themselves.
The ARGUS has heard many ex-
pressions favorable to the undertake
ing and number of the same from
representative men of Rock Island
are given below:
Phil Mitchell, of Mitchell & Lynde
The bridge would undoubtedly be
a good thing. Something ought to
be done to improve trade with the
lower end of the county.
l.. S. McCabe, McCabe Bros.-I
think all the people will uphold the
improvement of Communication with
the lower end of the county, and the
proposed wagon bridge across Rock
river will tend to serve that end.
Let US have it by all means.
w. NJ. Reck. president of McIn-
tyre-Reck Dry Goods company-It is
unquestionably splendid idea. 1t
will have tendency to remove the
tolls of the bridge across Rock river
and hence to tear down the last YES
tige of the Chinese wall around the
city.
Charles McHugh, manager of the
Harper-Yes, let's have the bridge.
I'm for anything that helps Rock
Island. and better communication
with the lower end of the county,
whether through another bridge at
the mouth of the canal or by removal
of the present tolls, will contribute to
that end.
w. o. Negus, OF the Rock Island
house-It means everything to the
city and its merchants. We should
have it.
David Don-A new avenue opened
upt the people of the lower end would
be the grandest thing ever happen
ing to Rock Island. People don't
seem to realize the Importance of
this matter. but we should keep agi-
tating it until they wake up. Ever
SO many farmers have told me they
preferred coming to Rock Island, but
could not afford to go by such a
long round about away. Let's pro-
vide them with bridge and their
patronage is assured.
Eli Mosenfelder, Of NJ. & Kit
would certainly be a great advan-
tage. But the question is how to
get it.
c. b. Marshall-The bridge would
be a good thing, and we certainly
need and should have it.
M. c. Rice, of the London-While
I'm not very we'll acquainted with
the proposed location of such a
bridge, the city is sadly in need of an
inlet, and a free one at that, for the
country people. The charging of
tolls on the Milan bridges is an impo-
sition on farmers and Keeps many of
them from coming TO Rock Island.
The day is passed when people will
pay to enter city, and the sooner
we remedy this condition the better.
DR.. S. G. Plummer-We ought to
have had it years ago.
E. u. Sweeney-Surely we need a
better means of getting the country
people into the city, and an addi-
tional bridge would be a great i'm
provement. But l think if the toll
were removed from the Milan
bridges it would make a decided
change in the present conditions.
States Attorney Searle-You bet
we want bridge-one for wagons
and railroads alike-and want it
badly.
S. r. Wright, of Wright & Barber
Let her come. The bridge would
be splendid thing for our mer-
oh