The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-02-24

the Davenport Democrat, OF the 22d inst.
Railroad Meeting.
Pursuant to a call numerously signed by
the merchants and business men of this city,
q large meeting was held at LeClaire Hall
last evening, for the purpose OF publicly stat
ing the many wrongs pracslcsd upon the
business men of Davenport by the Chicago
Railroad Companies to confer together as
to the best means of securing q change in
the oppressive policy of these roads; also to
take initiatory steps tending to the establish
ment of other railroad facilities.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor
Lowry, and on motion the mayor was chosen
chairman, and John L. Swits, ESQ.,, score
tary.
The chairman stated the object of the meet
ing in short and pointed speech. after
which he called for general expression on
the part of business men.
A. j. Preston, of the hardware house of
Sickles Preston, read to the meeting the
following statement of L. P. Coates, of Coates
& Mitchell, Pork and Beef packers:
The cost of cars for stock from Grinnell
to Chicago under joint tariff 10 $S0 10
Cost ofsame from Grinnell to Davenport, 66 90
Same from Davenport to Chicago oo Oo
sl26 90
Now it is to be presumed that Joint tariff is
relatively lower than a local one, but this joint
tariff of the Mississippi s Missouri and Rock
Island and Chicago railroads diserimnates against
Davenport SGT, 90, or more than one third. The
effect of this was, the present year, to prevent us
from buying any stock at points west OF this and
bringing them here to be slaughtered and packed;
since for every so hogs 10 cattle
charged $36 00mors than il we sens them direct 10
Chicago. And this fact know has done much to
prevent operators coming here TO do business
49, ,of anaU
pounds Chicago, $50 miles, and 81. 40 to 81 90
from Chicago to New York, distance of 900
miles, or five times far. Now the reason OF the
difsrerceis, that having no competing lines this
side of Chicago, the C. r. l. Railroad charges
their local tariff aud we get no through rates.
Now, TO secure connection east eth
by way of Savannah or Sterling, or over the
Coal Valley road to Galya or Peoria, the competi-
ton would give equitable and fair rates of
freight compared with other points, lift did
not reduce them. As, if we had stock to bring
in on the NJ & NJ. Railroad for the purpose of
dealing in the same here, the c. 4 r. /. Railroad
would permit il GO through at the rate of joint
tariff, in order to vent any competing line from
securing the freight At this point. And the same
reason would operate freight coming west
There is no doubt but proper and just tariff
one that would not discriminate against us as
city, would add to the business of The city half
million dollars in the articles OF grain and live
stock alone. In a few years, under the influence OF
increased facilities, such as packing houses and
elevators, this amount would be increased ten
fold.
Mr.. Preston produced shipping bills to
show that the price of freight from Plttsburg
to Chicago, los miles, was So cents per cwt,
and from Chicago to Davenport, $50 miles,
65 cents per cwt. He also stated that freight
could be shipped from Chicago to Grinneil at
about the same figure that it could be ship
ped from Davenport to Grinneli-shas crush
ing the mercantile interests of this city
Mr.. Odiorne, of the hardware house OF Nc
Gosh & Odiorns stated that on a bill OF wag
ON material from South Bend to Chicago, S5
miles. the freight WINS $23 from Chicago to
Davenport, $50 miles, Sl06. Allowing the
latter road the same rate as the former, its
bill should have been $50.
Henry Selby, in the furniture line, presen.
ted freight bill showing that he paid on a
lot of goods from Wasertown, Wis. to Chica-
90, S6l0; from Chicago to Davenport.
S28 79. Other evidences of extraordinary
prices of freight were also presented.
The meeting was also addressed by How
ard Darlington, ESQ.,, j. r. Graham, David
Higgins, Major T. j. Saunders, Richard b.
Hill, Geo. Il. Hubbell, Geo. H. French. DIR.
Judd, and others, the general drift of which
was that our present railroad connection was
q monopoly, soulless corporation, acting tor
its own interest, the same as would almost
any individual who monopoiized any branch
of trade-and that it was perfectly useless to
look for any redress for wrongs, no matter
how burdensome, as matters now stand that
the only way to bring . railroad to terms was
to touch its vital interests, and those could
not be touched by holding indignation meet
ings appointing committees. nor by publish.
ing remonstrancss the only way to bring
monopolies to their senses was TO put them
in the way of competition and In this case,
the only way to throw off the yoke was to get
another eastern connection by rail.
Further than this, il was the duty of this
people, % was we'll stated by Maj Saunders,
to look out for northwestern and southwest.
ern railroad connection that the future
prosperity of this city does not depend so
much upon getting certain little freight quib
bles adjusted, as in striking out and helping
to build roads in different directions, thus
making Davenport q eentering point on the
river.
Mr.. Hubbell, in this same connection, said
some plain things. He remarked that there
was dormant capital enough in this city to
give 1t tve or three new railroad connections
that throwing sand at the G. & r. I. r. r.
did no good; that it was . monopoly that
the road was doing just what our millsrs are
doing-who sell their Hour Is per cent. less
in Chicago than they sell here, thus discrim
mating against Davenport |; or just - any
dry goods, hardware, grocery man Or lawyer
would do Il he had the monopoly Of Ill the