The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-11

Y,rst tsiass across NJ
lIssissippi Tivsr. Upon this
. kI1er restod The nrst bridge to !
n the Mississippi river.
tming tt original connect
y Ink r. uniAtefrupted
kdlrood tralllc between the At
11oatic and Hacihc oceans, Con-
fruct1on conmenced July 1S,
LIS. compiofsd April n. 1856.
r the ChicGeo and Rock Island
s3nliroad. Henry FafnAm. chief
engineer. the nfst train con-
ksoieting Of locomotive end eight
ears, passed oyer the bridge
April 81. 1856. This tablet was
a@aveiled oct. 10, 1921. at th0>-l
vsommemofation Of 70 years i
eryice of~the Chicago, Rock
Sslsland ana Pacific railway
compaAy. Rock Island Arsen-
al, Oct. 10, 1874. D. N. King.
Col. Ord. Dept. y. 8. A, COM
A.1handing. "
OTO0ze LoUiet Will thiS iuSeA AZ
IT, was dedicated yesterday aft
ernoon before 200 people in }coil-
6Gmoration Of the 70th anniversary
dsthe Rock Island lines "nrst1
eThe tablet dedication was climax !;
az the trfcities' celebration Of the
s1niversary day--a date notable INF
iris community because It brought
" mind that the first railroad
teidge and the first train across the
Mississippi river are forever linked
With this city.
3 Dedication OF the pier tablet was
10 important feature of the ami
1ersary programs along 5000 miles
1ok night Of way - the reenacting
OF the original run from Chicago to
Joliet and In addition nve memoria:
frees were planted In this COM
nunity as Incidental to the cole
bfation. In Rock Island tree WIS
dedicated to X. II. Cable; in Mo-
line to Abel Kimball: in Davenport
no James Grant; at Rock Island
Arsenai to John B. Jervis: in Sill
Va to Elbridgs\ G. Allen. Ninety
Hlxht trees wsrs planted yesterday
n cities all along the railroad
line, Thirty-six communities held
programs commemorative OF lie
e7ent.
Col. David Matsdn King, COM
mandant of Rock Island Arsenal,
deiivered an impressive address al
The unwilling of the tablet. The
keremony took place ut the old pier
On. which rested the south end OF
the first bridge across the Missis-
oippi river. The pier was covered
II huge American nag and at the
gnal for the dwelling two SOL
Bers at the peak of the pier lifted
TIE Stars and Stripes which COW
eeod the tablet. A firing squad
from the arsenal stood at attention
Hrring the unwilling. The after.
ION program was interpreted BY
Mdsical selections by the Angus
a4nA band. Students from the col
A4ge were also present.
Builders Fought Hxrd
'The first bridge across the Mis-
sfssippi river was built under {
great many difficulties" Colone
King said. Before travellers wer'
accommodated by this great piec'
Of construction which connected
the east and west, they braved Ia
dangers Of the wild 0untry and re
csiyed In return for their advsn
tire death in almost every casa
a Everyone of u.s." Colonel Kim
| 00ntinued. should cherish tn
memory Of this construction an
Sbo4 proud to tell our children Of
and teach them to revere and hon
FOR The men who were responsible
/ pR0r It. This island was the favorit
Nhaunt of the Indians and Fol
Armstrong which was built in 1S1t
sMas recorded in history by ii
iBlack Hawk war.
..As commanding officer Of thi
arDenal. It is my great honor q
I this 6me to unveil the tablet on tn
1 tDler Of the bridge. which was bull
/ fnder extreme trials and dihicu
tiles by the pioneers Of this sectio
0the country. and which links tn
east and the west"
Wayne Cook. attorney for tn
y Rock Island lines in Davenpor
presided. He made few intrt
dnctory remarks.
fillmore H. Stafford, attorney Il
the Rock Island lines In Rock l,
Hand, opened the program with
HI lengthy address in which no gav
many Interesting statistics Of Il
travel, costs Of building and Il
,A&ht in opposition to the buildir
aof the bridge.
r. Honor . Pioneers.
/ ION this very island almost witt
II tho sound Of my voice, was he
L sthe first meeting which consuu
mated the link between the ca
md west Thirty pioneer settler
were responsible for this great col
nection and held the first meetir
tosmake plans in the home Of Co
onsl Davenport. = short distan'
i from here.
"One Of the big factors whit
x1xe impetus to the building Of Il
SAFtdge was the discovery Of gold
Malifornia in 1S4S. On Oct. /. 1S5
Il hork ON the railroad from Chicaa
Negan and on Oct 10, 1864. 70 yea
i ~ today, the first train passed b
AgVeen the two points. River u
II S14eamboat Interests put mp strol
n6position 70 the discussions
i hi1ding = bridge but this "
il eAvaly and successfully combat
L ~ our fAthers who lived to see 4
Nwfien the Great body Of wat