The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-11-21

BOgue, o. j. Dimick, Gilmore, i. Huber, j. r..
| Huber, Sweeney and Shearer.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
approved. .6.. zsr-s .a
| Mayor Truesdale presented the following com
| munication to the city council in reference to
matters between the city, Mr.. Cable, and the r
| I. Il P. R. r. Go.
| Gentlemen of the City Council
This is adjourned meeting, held for the pur-
| pose mainly of considering and making some dis
position OF the proposed contract between the
city and the r. I. & ?. r. r. Co." which was
| submitted to you for your approval or disappro-
val some time since.
Aa you are all we'll aware, the matters to
which this contract relates have been under dis
cussion and IN dispute for long time in our
| city, and have been the cause of much amin I'D
version among our citizens.
Some eight months since, you referred them to
a special committee, of which had the honor to
be made chairman. This committee, very soon
after it's appointment, and after free and full
consultation with the city attorneys, with their
advice and consent, together with the approval
of majority of the council, entered into negotia.
tons with Mr.. Cable for the purpose of making
amicable settlement of all matters in dispute
between the city, Mr.. Gable, and the RI l. PR.
r. Co.
Your committee, after spending much time and
labor, and exercising no little patience, matured
too distinct propositions which were approved
by the council, and ordered by them to be sub
M tilted to Mr.. Gable for his acceptance relec-
ton. Both of these propositions were rejected.
On the Sd of Sept. by resolution of the city
council, this committee was instructed to again
renew negotiating with Mr.. Cable, or devise
some plan or basis of settlement and report the
same.
Your committee complied with your instruc-
tions, and the result CT their conferences with
Mr.. Cable is the proposed contract now before
you
Your committee, in submitting this plan or
basis of settlement, have simply complied with
your instructions. They have refrained from
recommending its adoption, prefering to let each
member of the council judge for himself, as to its
merits or dement's.
After mature elaboration, and in view OF all
the circumstsn l have come to the conclusion
that it would, perhaps, be unwise in the council
to adopt the contract before them, for the rea-
son that there are legal questions involved in re-
lation to which, there are many conflicting opin-
ions.
In the event that the contract is rejected by
you, it will, in all probability end all efforts at
an amicable settlement of the difficulties. Il
will therefore become An important inquiry with
you, as to the best course to be pursued by the
city in erder to effect final settlement.
Sometime since, the city commenced a suit
against Mr. Gable and others. This suit has
been delayed and could not be prosecuted, for
the reason that Mr.. Cable, in the name of Mr..
the United States for the purpose of forcing the
sale of the oity's stock in the R. /. P. Z. r.
Go. thereby cutting off the rig hts of the city in
court as party in the suit against Mr.. Cable.
| would therefore beg leave to suggest that
you make some provision for the debt due
Mr.. Cable, thereby preventing the sale of the
citys stock, and also for the purpose of enabling
the city attorney to prosecute the suit against.
Mr.. Gable and others, to a speedy and final con-
clusion.
would further beg leave to suggest, that in
order to determine what the rights of the r. J.
L 2. r, r. Co. are, in and to the public grounds
of the city, that proposition be made to said
company to make an agreed, case, and submit it
to the courts to decide. If said company should
object to that mode of procedure, then would
recommend that such proceedings be instituted
as will force definite, legal, and final settlement
of these disputed points.
1t seems to me, the the city can lily afford to
let the matter rest it is. II other rail-
roads come into the city and ask for rights of way
and depot privileges, the city should bein posi-
ton to act promptly, and to be able to cay what
1t can, and what it cannot give. do not wish
to be understood intimating that the r. l. l.
+. X. Il. Go has no rights on the public grounds
of the city, but wish to be understood say
ing that they are so indefinite and uncertain as
to preclude the possibility of the parties interes
ted ever agreeing as to what they really are.
Signed C. TRUKsDALE.
On motion of Aid o. j. Dimick the communi-
cation of Mayor Truesdale was received, and it
was ordered that the same be inserted in the
minutes of the proceedings of the City Council.
The petition of Bailey Davenport ands62
others was presented, protesting and remon-
straslng against the giving or granting to
the K. /. d 2. Il. r. Co. any more rightsror
privileges on the ievss or within the CITY
limits.
On motion of Aid O. j. Dimick the same
was received and placed on file
The following report was submitted, viz
To the City Council
Your committee, appointed at a meeting of
the city council held Nov. S, 1866, for the
purpose of examining into the necessity and
propristy of opening street from Illinois
street, opposite the Island bridge, thence
south to Moline Avenue, beg leave to report
that they have examined the same and find
that a street 60 feet wide has been located on
said line. through land belonging to B. Dav-
EXPORT, from Orlesns street south to Moline
Avenue, and damages assessed which have
not been paid. SAnd that SO feet in width on
that line, from Illinois street to Orleans street
belongs to c. FL. Case, for which he demands
$500. Therefore, your committee would
recommend that commissioners be appointed
to locate street 60 feet wide through said
land, from Illinois street to Orleans street,
and assess damages on the same. Also, that
the damages assessed on said land from Or
leans street to Moline Avenue be paid and .
deed obtained for the same. Also, that the
| land belonging to G. Fl. Case, about SO feet
| front, extending into Orleans street be con-
| demned and damages assessed on the same.
All of which 10 respectfully submitted.
lsignsdl /. HUBER. -
On motion Of Aid. J. R. Huber the same
was received and placed on file.
Aid. Sweeney moved that the further con-
alteration OF the proposed contract between
the oily of Rock Island and tho r. I. & P. r.
r. Co., together with the proposition of P.
L. Gable, Esq, on that subject, presented at
the last meeting, be indefinitely postponed.
Motion adopted.
Sundry bills were presented, and ON mo.
ton of Aid. o. j. Dimick the same wsrs "a.
| fsrred TO The finance committee. :.
Aid. o. j. Dimick moved that Q committee
of two be appointed to inquire into the legal.
ity and propristy Of making IN spproplia.
l ton for maosdamizing the Camden Road