are connected with this case only as some witnesses are in it, and thus has some prejudice added color to their testimony.”  The last thing that would be pleasing to him, Mr. Lincoln said, would be to have one of these great channels, extending almost from where it never freezes to where it never thaws, blocked up, but there is a travel from east to west whose demands are not less important than those of the river.  It is growing larger and larger, building up new countries with a rapidity never before seen in the history of the world.  He alluded to the astonishing growth of Illinois, having grown within his memory to a population of a million and a half; to Iowa and the other young rising communities of the Northwest.

“This current of travel,” said he, “has its rights as well as that of north and south.  If the river had not the advantage in priority and legislation we could enter into free competition with it and we could surpass it.  This particular railroad line has a great importance and the statement of its business during a little less than a year shows this importance.  It is in evidence that from September 8, 1856, to August 8, 1857, 12,586 freight cars and 74,179 passengers passed over this bridge.  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.  That is the simple history of that book.

“From April 19th, 1856, to May 6th—­seventeen days—­there were twenty accidents and all the time since then there have been but twenty hits, including seven accidents, so that the dangers of this place are tapering off and as the boatmen get cool the accidents get less.  We may soon expect if this ratio is kept up that there will be no accidents at all.