February 4, 1851 – Governor Stephen B. Hempstead vetoes a widely-popular bill that would have allowed the construction of Iowa City’s first toll bridge over the Iowa River. This set off a political firestorm across the city.
In the early 1850’s, Iowa City was growing rapidly, and with the flood of Easterners flocking to California to pursue golden opportunities, traveling through Iowa’s capital city on The National Road was a must.
Iowa City’s own Gilman Folsom offered to build a toll bridge over the Iowa River, but needed the state legislature to approve it. That part came easy, but on February 4, 1851, Governor Stephen P. Hempstead vetoed the plan, setting off a firestorm, and keeping Iowa City bridge-less until 1854!
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