Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-15
md the speakers secured for these

and the speakers secured for these
occasions.
As to Toll Question.
In discussing the toll question, Mr..
Medill put the matter as the request
of favor, stating two reasons, the
good of the city generally, and the
opportunity to test the arguments in
favor of raising the toll permanently
He stated that the indications are
that thousands of people are coming
to the city from the nearby country,
and many from as far as Cambridge
and Galva will drive to Rock Island
The political days, with their great
pyrotechnic displays, will be among
the chief features, and Mr.. Medill in
cidentally stated that the fireworks
will be the greatest pyrotechnic dis
plays ever seen in this locality. The
question of free bridge traffic has
been given consideration for years, by
the council and the commercial and
retail merchants organizations. In
view of these, Mr.. Medill suggested
that an accurate record of the traffic
is allowed for the traffic originated
by the exposition, the city can esti-
mate the result of raising the tolls,
| from practical standpoint.
Never Free Before.
The exposition representative told
how his grandfather. in 1910. walked
| to Springfield and secured from the
legislature the grant of the right to
construct the bridges. These rights
were acquired later by the Rock Is
land and Camden Bridge. company.
and the toll was fixed at 80 cents for
each team. Later, in the sos, the
bridges were acquired by the city of
Rock Island, and the toll reduced to
% cents and later to 90 cents. About
20 years ago the toll was reduced to
| 10 cents. Mr.. Medill being one of those
who urged the proposition to the
council. of which Mayor Schaffer was
a member For years there has been
agitation for raising the toll but so
| far as is known, the city has never
| allowed free traffic over the bridges
since it acquired them, and free traffic
was not allowed by the original own
ers of the bridge rights 1t was be-
cause of great public agitation of the
matter that the city first secured the
structures and the Ninth street road
rights i'll the first place. Mr.. Medill.
, in passing, stated that he approved
of 10 cent toll as a means of keep
| ing up fund to keep the bridges in
| repair. but he argued that as there
is wide difference of opinion on the
subject. a practical test would be of
value to the city in considering the
matter. AS he stated, the raising OF
the tolls for the week will advance
the interests of the company the aim
of which is TO advance the interests
Iof the city in general Thus it will prove
a direct benefit to the business men
and citizens generally, besides furnish
ing interesting figures for comparisons
as to the traffic when toll is charged,
and when the bridges are free.
Has No Opposition. .
DIR. Ostrom, who offered the motion
10 grant the company's request. stated
that in his opinion this action was
composing the Exposition company.
but was a real duty of the council.
I"I think the council should regard it
as an honor to raise the bridge tolls,
if the trffic is made free only for a
week" he said He referred briefly
to the considerable work of the COM
pany in preparing for the exposition,
and of the expense incurred. His
motion carried by unanimous vote
of the alderman.
City Is Advertised.
John w. Parker thanked the council
on behalf of the Exposition company
for this action, and spoke regarding
the advertising of the city by
the publicity committee in connec-
ton with the exposition. There are
1870 newspapers within radius of
about 60 miles that have once each
week for six weeks had something to
say of Rock Island and the exposi
I'D in so of these display ad
,ements have appeared also. II
uan be seen that the city is being
advertised. At Cedar Rapids. where
/ it is stated that between $4,000 ant
100000 strangers were in the city dur
ing the last exposition, and the banl
deposits during that week increased
100000 over the preceding year.
/ Mr.. Parker asked the official en-
dorsement of the exposition project b.
the council, and also requested tina
La proclamation be issued urging tn,