Venice Newspaper Articles
MADISON AND ST. CLAIR PLANK ROAD COMPANY
Source: Alton Telegraph, April 9, 1847
Books will be opened in the town of Venice in this county on the
11th of May next, for receiving subscriptions to the stock of the
"Madison and St. Clair Plank Road Company," chartered at the late
session of the legislature of this state. This road will be of great
advantage to the fine country through which it is intended to pass,
and we hope that the stock will be taken promptly, and the work
urged forward without delay.
FEARFUL ACCIDENT IN VENICE
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 27, 1847
We are deeply pained to state that an appalling accident, which it
is feared will result in the loss of several lives, occurred on
Tuesday last in front of the dwelling and store of Joseph Squire,
Esq., in Venice, in this county. It appears, according to the
information which has reached us, that a man with a loaded gun in
his hand was walking in front of the building, when a number of
persons came up in a wagon, and as the parties were in the act of
passing each other, the gun went off and wounded four of them it is
supposed mortally. Those injured are William Cool, Sarah Matthews,
Isaac Street, and a little girl, name unknown. How the accident
happened or what was done with the man who caused it, we are unable
to say.
MERCHANTS BRIDGE AT VENICE
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 23, 1889
Work on the Merchants’ Bridge at Venice is progressing favorably.
VENICE WILL PAVE WITH ALTON BRICK
Source: Alton Telegraph, January 12, 1893
Contractor Dave Ryan is happy having secured the contract for paving
2900 feet of street at Venice. Mr. Ryan had six competitors, and a
close call. Among the bidders were John B. O’Meara of St. Louis, who
was not in it. Venice will use Alton brick, and will be the first
town to do so. The contract will foot up to $26,000 in cost of
paving and laying the curbs. Mr. Ryan’s bid was $1.55 per square
yard. The contract calls for 6 inches of sand at the bottom, and two
courses of brick.
VENICE STREET PAVING
Source: Alton Telegraph, June 15, 1893
The pavement of Main Street, Venice, with vitrified brick by
Contractors Ryan & Burke of Alton, under the direction of Engineer
E. E. Rutledge, will be finished in two weeks, when its completion
will be duly celebrated by citizens and several visiting municipal
boards from neighboring towns, who will inspect the completed work.
The work is an Alton job throughout, as not only the contractors and
engineer are Altonians, but the brick was made in Alton.
VENICE RAILROAD WAR
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 23, 1895
During Wednesday night, the tracks laid by the Merchants Bridge
people were torn up by the village authorities, aided by the
Electric Street Railroad Company. A number of men and teams, armed
with jackscrews and tackle, removed the heavy rails and tumbled them
into ditches.
VENICE - TROUBLE ON THE RAILROAD - WORKERS REVOLT
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 4, 1903
The Chicago and Alton Railroad has had large gangs of Italians at
work along the road, working as extra section gangs. One gang of
about 100 worked in and around Venice, and were housed in cars. They
were under contract to work for $1.30 per day. Thursday, they struck
for $1.50. There was an awful shouting and a fearful jumble of
language in the vicinity of the boxcars, and people became very much
alarmed as they didn't know whether it was a concert of the
catacombs or a funeral dirge that was going on. Roadmaster Maurice
Donahue was notified, and he went to the scene of the racket. The
entire force made for him as soon as he drove in sight, and knives
and imprecations filled the air. Mr. Donahue backed up against a box
car, and drawing a revolver pointed it at the head of the leader and
began to use some language of his own. He could not understand the
Italians, but they appeared to understand the look in his eyes, and
they stopped. An interpreter was secured and explanations followed,
but the gun was kept trained on the leader. Mr. Donahue tried to
quiet the men but they wanted more money or blood, and he finally
advised them through the interpreter to lay their grievances before
President Roosevelt or the King of Italy, or both, and said the
company would probably give the whole mob transportation to
Washington or Rom if they would step down to the local office. The
mob took the bait and appeared at the local office within an hour.
They were met by a strong guard of police and an improvised
paymaster. The latter paid them off; the former ran them out of
town.
