Navigation was closed four days short of four months last year, and
during this time while the river was of no use this road and bridge were
valuable. There is, too, a considerable portion of time when floating or
thin ice makes the river useless while the bridge is as useful as ever.
This shows that this bridge must be treated with respect in this court
and is not to be kicked about with contempt. The other day Judge Wead
alluded to the strike of the contending interest and even a dissolution
of the Union. The proper mode for all parties in this affair is to 'live
and let live,' and then we will find a cessation of this trouble about
the bridge. What mood were the steamboat men in when this bridge was
burned? Why, there was a shouting and ringing of bells and whistling on
all the boats as it fell. It was a jubilee, a greater celebration than
follows an excited election. The first thing I will proceed to is the
record of Mr. Gurney and the complaint of Judge Wead that the record did
not extend back over all the time from the completion of the bridge. The
principal part of the navigation after the bridge was burned passed
through the span. When the bridge was repaired and the boats were a
second time confined to the draw it was provided that this record should
be kept.
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