Mr. GRlMES. It virtually amounts to that he Senator insists that these bridges shall be erected 50 feet above high watermark, as I understand his proposition. It is ver probablethat such bridges can be well built. across the Ohio river and across many streams where the bluffs approach near to the river, but on the Mississippi river, where there are 6 or 8 miles in extent of low bettom lands, and the rise and fall of the river does not exceed 12 feet, the water then spreading all over these bottoms, the construction of such bridges as the Senfrom Missouri proposes will be attended with immense expense; much more money than many railroad companies can af fordnto expend, even if they can be constructed at a Then, again, nearly all of these bridges are proposed to be thrown across the Mississippi river where there are towns already built, or partially built, tipon the low bottom lands; and the construction of such a bridge with embank ments of that height in these towns or in most of them, all except in the town of Quincy I do not know where the bridge is proposed to, be built there would be ruine us to the towns, and the commerce of the country would receive no corresponding advantage. I cannot conceive why it isnot possible to build drawbridges on the Mississippi river that shall not obstruct navigation as well as you can build them upon other streams. Gentlemen say that in a short time bridges will be thrown across the Missis sippi river every few miles. They never will be thrown across the river except where the railroads terminate. We know that capitalists are not in the habit of building railroads very close together. Perhaps in time there may be bridges across the Mississippi river once in 50 miles. The obstruction that they will afford to the navigation of steamboats up and down the river will be merely a detention of 15 minutes when they approach a bridge. Will that furnish any such obstruction as would jus tify us in refusing to all the commerce of those States that desire to pass eastward or west ward an opportunity to cross the river? I do not know anything in regard to the particular location where it is proposed to build this bridge, nor do I know whether it is proposed by these companies to go on at present and construct their bridge; but. I desire to say to the Senfrom Missourithat he is alto gether mistaken as to some of the other railroad companies and bridges that are proposed to be constructed if he includes them in the same category with the one now under consideration. I know that it is proposed to build some of these bridges this summer. I know that the water has fallen and is low, and that they now can go on upon the upperMississippi river and construct the bridges.