Mr. HARDING, of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I feel a deep interest in the subject of briding the Mississippi. My district lies 150 miles along the east.bank of that river, including, r both rapids; and across the river into my district run 4 great lines of railroad which penetrate the great West beyond the MissisSippi. My constituents us well as those of the gentlemen on the other side of the Mississippi are anxious to carry their business across that river to get their produce to market. My constituents are equally interested with those of other gentlemen in maintaining an unobstructed navigation of the Mississippi. Sir, for 30 years I have fought against obstructions in the Mississippi. I foug it against the construction of the bridge at RockIsland; and I have been opposed to all such bridgesas would obstruct the navigation. Now, sir, after weeks oflabor, we have here a bill prepared upon the information of the ablest engineers of the country, and with the sanction of the War Dept, by which it is provided that the railroad interest and those concerned in the transportation of freight by that mode of communication shall be accommodated, while the shipping interest upon the river shall also be accommodated. I am in favor of the construction of a bridge at Keokuk. Those interested in that enter prise have had a committee here; and I have assisted them in their efforts to get a bill through Congress. But I do not wish that that project shall be tacked on to this bill so that the whole thing may go over to the next session. I had hoped. sir, that this bill would be referred by the House to some friendly committee that would report it back. It contains, I will state to the House, all the elements of a system of laws for the regulation of the construction of these bridges. The draw at Quincy is 160 feet in the clear, a width far beyond that ot the bridge at RockIsland, which was built without the authority of any law of Congress, and was a great obstruction. This bridge at Quincy, the proiosed bridge at Burlington, and the one at Hcokuk, are all unobjectionable, so far as I can judge from my investigation of the question. lam aware of the zeal with which my colleague from the Galena district [Mr. Wasn ncuxu] protects the navigation interests. I know very well that there is a very great prejudice against bridges; but I am happy to see that the honest sentiments of my friend have been modified, and that he nblicly assents to the bridgin of the river ississippi. I beg him now todiave this bill referred to a friendly committee if it must be referred at all.