Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-22

vance.
Col. Hilton. of Lincoln. Neb.
Maj Myers, of Dubuque.
Commander J. F. Wright. command
er-in-chief of the field forces, Rock
Island.
Gen. Jacob Buch. St. Louis, Mo.
ally those in St. Louis. were incredu-
lous. II was thought that the mighty
father of waters could not be bridgCd,
and if it should be, that the ice gorges
in the spring would crush it like an
egg shell. The Yankee knows no such
word as fail. The bridge was built.
unfortunately for all interests, il
was placed too high up on the rapids.
where, owing to the swift water and
cross currents, it was dangerous for
vessels passing through the draw
Many steamers were wrecked. and
many lives were lost. Soon great Cd
position was manifested and efforts
were made to have il removed. Once
1t was partially destroyed by flames.
said to have been caused by throwing
Greek fire upon the structure.
Again the steamer Effie Alton took
it. This rendered it useless for a
time. Eventually as was proper, the
fight was carried into the courts. The
opponents of the bridge claimed. that
it was not only an obstruction to navi-
CATION, but would eventually destroy
the commerce of the river Contend
in this, were the steambOatmen. tho
people who desired to retain Rock Is
land as the terminus and especially
the merchants and shippers of St.
Louis. who desired to retain the profit
able trade of the upper Mississippi.
Right 10 Cross River.
I'm answer to this argument a law
yer, then unknown TO fame, but now
the world has ever known, was the
opposition attorney. He claimed that
a person had as much right to cross
a river when he came to it, as anoth-
er person living along its banks had
to travel up and down it. This view
was held by the courts. That lawyer
was Abraham Lincoln. Rock Island
was no longer the end of the road. on
" a station on it's advance to the Pa
cifc.
THE Rock Island did not stop when
it crossed the river, but has continued
to grow and branch out until today it
is one of the greatest railroad systems
i'm the United States. Nor did Rock
Island stop. but kept right on getting
railroads. 1t now has in addition two
other great trunk lines, the Milwau-
kee and Burlington. These. with her
local roads. together with the Missis-
sippi river. give her unexcelled ship
ping facilities.
From here have gone forth some
of the greatest railroad men of the
age. Marvin Hughitt, of the North
western, r. r. Cable of the Rock Is
land. Charles NJ. Hayes. of the Grand
Trunk, and w. II. Truesdale of the
Lackawanna.
John Deere PIOw.
Time will not permit me to make
special mention of your many indus
tries such as factories, saw mills. boat
yards. foundries. machine shops and
other plants | desire, however, to
especially call your attention 10 one
industry in this county. | refer TO the
establishment of John Deere of Mo
line. The John Deere pillow has made
the circuit OF the globe, and has been
A blessing. not only TO the people OF
our country, but wherever man tills
the soil This concern had small
beginning. No one ever dreamed that
il would reach such vast proportions
and employ such an army of men
John Deere. after laboring long and
diligently. made a selfscouring pillow
II was claimed that in our prairie soil.
no plow could be made that would do
this. He not only experimented in the
sbop in making the plow. but went in
IN the field, saw it operated. observed
where its shape could be changed 10
make if a success. He made changes
from time TO time. until success
crowned his efforts On top OF the
beam no doubt. with much satisiac-
faction. he had painted, "Self-Polish-
er" II was no misnomer. the pillow ala
it's work satisfactorily. mankind was
benefited and John Deere made MS
fortune We can learn lesson from
the career OF this sturdy old pioneer