Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-29
Merchants Lend Support to New
Bridge Over Rock River
in Upper End.
TWO COUNTIES TO PAY FOR IT
Increase in Taxation Would Scarcely
be acknowledgements
for the Banquet.

hood OF Cleveland ferry to cOnnect
Rocl, Island and Henry counties at
the meeting Of the Retail Merchants
association last evening. The project
in the form of a petition has been
before the boards of supervisors of
both counties, but sufficient pressure
has not been brought to bear to in
duce the counties to act Jointly.
Each board, after discussion,
lagreei that il was a big and expen-
sive undertaking. when in reality, it
is stated by those who have gone
thoroughly into the question. the cost
would be comparatively light when
cut in two and divided between the
Fcounties. The farmers on both sides
Of the river at that point are anxious
for the bridge. The greatest benefit
would accrue to the business com
munities of Rock island and Moline.
The Rock Island county board should
revive the project at its next meeting.
The petition adopted by the mer-
chants last evening is as follows:
The undersigned. citizens of said
Rock Island county, respectfully and
earnestly petition you to order. in ac-
cordance with the provisions of the
statutes of our state. the building Of
a wagon bridge across Rock river at
the point crossing 10 the northwest
corner of Henry county. that. in your
Judgment and in the judgment of the
honorable board of supervisors of
Henry county, Illinois. would best ac-
commodate the largest number of cit
liens travelling between the two coun
Ties, said bridge to span the river
either at COlona ferry or at Cleveland
ferry. or at the intermediate point.
viz: between Rarstow and the Co
Iona sandstone quarries below the C.,
Il. d q. railway bridge.
Tax Increase Small.
We respectfully suggest that the
cost of such bridge to the large pop
ulation Of the two counties would he
so small that il would not noticeably
increase their taxes; that the present
private ferries not only consume much
time Of the travelling public, but also
there are weeks every fall and spring
that the river is an impossible bar
r;er to travel, that such Il thorough
fare woulG he WORTHY Of the people
.lf t..v fs,. counties. and Ne sucn
convenience as such people every
where would be expected to prnvide
a map and statement showing the
comparative convenience of the three
locations suggested For the con-
struction of such bridge as soon as
possible your petitioners do humbly
and ever pray.
Rock river forms the northern boun-
dairy between Henry county and Rock
Island county for the entire distance
l. J
connecting Rock Island and Henry
counties. The nearest are the govern
ment bridge, four miles south of Mo-
line, and the Erie bridge. 20 miles
northeast of Moline.
Near BarstOw Desirable.
In the summer season, when the
wind does not blow too hard. Rock
river can be crossed at Colona ferry.
nine miles east OF Moline. and at
Cleveland ferry. 12% miles and Il lit
tie north Of east from Moline. The
point that would accommodate the
most people in Henry county nearest
the cities of Rock Island and Moline.
is near Barstow and ColCna sandstone
quarries. n quarter of mile below
the C.. r. & q. railway bridge, nine
and one-half miles east of Moline. y
bridge here would make the distance
from Culcna to Moline about the same
{ rs by way of Colona ferry, and il
would make the distance from Cleve-
land TO Moline one-half mile less than
by way of Cleveland ferry.
All people residing in Henry county
5 three and one-half miles east of the
west line of the county are nearer the
business center of Moline by way of
a bridge at Barstow or ColORa ferry
than by way of the government
r bridge except Il very few in the eN-
IRENE north Of the county.
An Henry county people south. and
j many of those north. Ct the C., Il. l.
= & =. railway are nearer the cities of
; Rock Island and Moline by wav of Il
= bridge near Barstow or at Coloua fer.
T. than by way of Cleveland ferry.
: The wealth # these tive Vcpuloue
b lama prosperous counties would scarce
10 ~ 5e perceptibly taxed hy this worthy
r enterprise, while the commercial. so
! ciaI and professional interest of the
great majority OF the people. in oUr
= opinion. demand such a thoroughfare.
Plans for the Bsnqu-t.
W. r. Mcintyre Is TO be tcastmaster
ct Aiit aAtlAAaA AtlAAt VI III ia
T chants To be held at the Y. NJ. {. -A-
auditorium Thursday evening Of this
? week. There are 70. hC addresses bv
+ J. Burns formerly raiing-book Sec
rotary: C. w Mueller. Of Decatur. q nd
Others. y prominent railroad man
whose name was not divuiged by L. Il
/ McKown. chairman Of the banquet
Y committee. has promised 10 give a
talk if he can so arrange his engage
5 ments 10 be in Rock Island on that
= date r T. Stackhouse- = prominent
: entertainer of Davenport. i TO APP
] pear in a program Of recitatiCns and
D stories. The banoueteyyili he served
P nv the ladies' :.Ixiliarv Of the Y. NJ