Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-25

around, StflkinS dSdihSl the SOutf
lspan with crash, and was soon ii
i flames. and sinking. The bridge
caught fire and one span was de
lstroyed by the fire. No lives were lost
and the energetic bridge company
commenced rebuilding the burned
span the next morning. An attempt
was made at night to burn the bridge
! by placing bundles of lath with tar
thrown on them after having been
placed on the bridge from boats be
meath at mid-river.
The worlds first suspension bridge
was erected by the Chinese and was
in good preservation in 1911.
After stalking soundings and max
this now completed Mississippi bridge
|. in November. 1915, drew up mem
orial to the senate and house of rep
resentatives of the United States. re-
questing a grant of land to construct
n railroad from Davenport to Council
Bluffs.
To obtain signatures to these pc
titions. and secure stock towards the
construction of the road. | held meet
ings in many counties. O. how long
and hard did work, through cold and
heat. Not this alone. for the people
and the journals, north and south,
ruthlessly made war on me. Musca-
tine sent their talented Lawyer O'Con-
nor to follow me with a counter pc
tition and stock list, and to combat
me on the stand, in favor of Musca-
tine. Not this alone, but | had TO.
alone and unaided, defend the rights
of our enterprise against such emf
nent Journals as the Burlington
Hawkeye, and the State Gazette. See
sample of my defense in the Daven-
port Gazette, of July 25th. 1850.
1. as one of the Pacific Railroad
committee. and as an interested citi-
zen. procured and constantly sent pc
titions CR to Messrs. Dodge and Jones
at Washington, and later 10 Hon. LET
fer. of the house; but all three were
opposed to our railroad and
TO granting land to it. Their interests
were north and south and they de-
three grants of land or none.
Finally during the session of 1850.
Hon. q. w. Jones presented bill that
long fingered.
On Jan. /. 1878, |. as chairman of the
committee of five to construct rail
road from the lakes at Chicago 10
the Pacific ocean, petitioned the first
general assembly of Iowa. in extra
session. to aid us in procuring FRONT
The United States the right of way
and a donation of land for railroad
rom Davenport by way of Iowa City,
Racoon Forks, of the DeSMoineS river
% Council Bluffs, on the Missouri
liver. Then on the oath day of Janu-
Try, 1s4S. the general assembly of
owa instructed our senators and re
Iuested our representatives to pro-
,ure from the government of the |
Jnited States the grant of land. The /
.itizens and journals of Burlington |
Protested against the act (see rec
ords).
\ committee of three consisting of !
F.. Grant. III. Price. and y. c. Fulton
vas appointed by n meeting to draft |
memorial 10 congress for the grant
# land. This committee adopted \.
:. Fulton's original memorial, that he
ad long been circulating.
In january, 1850, the most exciting.
Interesting and momentus convention
hat ever convened in Iowa assembled
n the senate chamber at the capitol
n Iowa City. 1t was state railroad
to establish the line of
owa's first railroad, grant of land
eing in view, and every man desired
he road TO pass near his door.
'ineteen counties were represented
Y their most talented and energetic
zen. The number of delegates We're
ot limited. Davenport's most ener-
etic and talented men were selected.
udge Grant, Judge Mitchell, Ebe-
ezer Cook and Old Sailor /, and 9th
RS with a brass band made a grand
ntry into Iowa City.
A vast majority of the citizens of
he then little city of Davenport
realty feared Metropolis Muscatine,
18th her money and talented men.
davenport had been on the wane I'M
il two large steam flour mis- had
cen erected to bring money in.
L concluded to Offset the Musca
ne money and power by procuring
lterested voters on or near my Pa
ific surveyed line of 1s43, north of
Iuscatine. / made long. cold and
Ostly journeys to the towns of Roches-
n and Moscow on the Cedar river;
allied town meetings and appointed
We delegates at Moscow and seven
Rochester The first contest in oar
was over the question of
eating those delegates. Editor T.
!. Eagal, who was a delegate, pub
shed in his Democratic Banner as
blows: "A motion was made to de-
rive the delegates from Moscow,
ochester and adjacent townships to
leir seats. a. c. Fulton defended
ieir rights and contended that they
ere duly appointed and gave evil
ence of the whole procedure; stat
g that ne had recommended the citi-
ms of those townships to call meet
gs and appoint delegates. The dele