The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-13
RAILROAD INTERESTS OF ROCK IS
LAND.

There perhaps never was time In the his
tory of Rock Island and the surrounding
country when the public interests, both i'm
mediate and prospective, demanded at the
hands of her citizens more prompt and ener-
getio action, to secure for themselves such
facilities in the way of public improvements
as will add largely to the present business,
wealth and population.
From present indications the future of our
city and surrounding country presents q
brighter appearance of progress in all the
great material interests than it has for
many years past Men of means, business
experience and energy are being attracted to
this point by reason of our present advanta-
ges and future prospects, and are locating in
our midst. Many more can be induced to
come if they are met by a proper spirit of
public enterprise and liberality.
An enlargement of manufacturing interests
can be secured, and new and additional es
Establishments can be put in successful opera
ton. New and competing routes of railroads
can be built to be employed in carrying the
surplus productions of this fertile valley to
the Atlantic seaboard and to foreign mar
ket.
There are now several important railway
enterprises in such q state of organization
and forwardness as will ensure their early
completion to this point, if they are met in
such spirit of just iberality by our citizens,
as their Importance, as identified with our
interests, demands.
These railway enterprises or projects,
through their official agents or engineers,
have lately been attracted to this point as an
important radiasing centre, from the fact
that, In a commercial point of view, we &C.
cupy, at the present, a positian second to no
other in the valley of the Mississippi, from
St. Louis to st. Paul, and with certain pros
pect of rapid increase in our trade and traf-
ic in the immediate future.
We cannot in view of the facts, and our
suspicious surroundings, urge too strongly
upon our citizens, at this point, and the peo
pie along the lines of these projected rail-
roads, the Importance of promptly aiding
these enterprises in their efforts, by such
moral and material aid IS will rapidly secure
their success, open out additional and in
creased facilities for our surplus productions
to home and foreign market, and add large
~ to the value of property and wealth OF our
community.
A committee was appointed, sometime
since, by the city council, who were author
lied to confer with the officers and agents OF
the American Central, and with other rail-
way companies looking towards this point,
on the Mississippi River, with view to in.
huence them in this direction. We learn
that this committee have met with such en-.
couragement IS justifes additional efforts
and with strong hope of success. We
would suggest the proprlety of enlarging this
committee, by appointments, of some of our
most experienced and energetic business
men and that the public become impressed
with the necessity of prompt and united
action upon question so vitality affecting
their interests, lest, by q want of proper eff
forts ON our part, these advantages may be
secured by other localities less favorably sit
uated and circumstance than ourselves, but
who have acted with more promptness and
energy, and with more viglant eye in ref.
erence to their future interests.