Page 277 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE. 273

mainly, of attending the bridges. But after the construction of
the Oneida Street Bridge, it not only refused to support
Spring Street Bridge, but, as was asserted, maliciously and
wilfully run a vessel against it and broke it down. The West
Warders considered that they had just cause for wrath and
retaliation, and thereupon arose a great controversy. The Trus-
tees of the West Ward claimed absolute jurisdiction, territo-
rially, to the middle of Milwaukee River, and a resolution was
brought forward in the Board of Trustees to that effect. But
the Trustees of the South Ward joined with those of the East
Ward-and the decision of the majority was that the river was
common ground-that although it had two banks yet the water
between was common territory, and to be held and occupied in
common by all concerned. This was something of a damper
to the valorous members of the West Ward. For, mind you,
the objeot of gaining an agreement in Council by the West
Warders, that the center of the River was the boundary of
each Ward, was that they might, under the right of absolute
and undivided authority in their own dominions, and upon
finding that the middle of the river mas the boundary of the
Ward, then proceed to remove exactly so much of all of the
bridges as laid west of that line, out of the river. The propo-
sition, however, after having been stoutly and ably argued, was
lost. But under the old maxim, there is no great loss without
some small gain, it was incidentally settled that the boundary
of each Ward did actually go to the water's edge at low water
mark, and here the West Warders took their stand-absolute
authority and control in their own Cerritory! The Chestnut
Street Bridge was a huge structure, standing upon high mass-
ive llbutments, with an immensely heavy draw, running off
upon the west aide, on a sort of rail-road track. It was found
that the entire abutment on the west end of Che bridge stood
considerably upon the undisputed territory of the West Ward.
Whereupon the Trustees of the West Ward ordered that so
much of said bridge as rested upon and was located in said
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