The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-20
-ur HORSE RAILROAD.

| IT, Union seems to need more informa-
.;on It is laboring under the ridiculous
;des that somebody is opposed to. the horse
railroad. This is wholly mistake. We do
not know of one man in town who is opposed
to it.
In its search after knowledge, the Union
asks the following question:
"what possible objection can there be to grant
ing the corporators reasonable privileges Tor i''
construction ?"
None at all. But the question is, nat
are reasonable privileges ?" The corpor-
ators" first wanted fifty years exclusive fagnt
to the streets, and many other privileges
AND they seemed 10 think the City Council
had nothing to do but pass any ordinance they
might prepare. But the members of the City
Council labored under an impression that
then were the representatives Of the people !;
that they represented $4,000 people, while
the "corporators" only represented
themselves and their schemes for
making money. The members of the
City Council labored under the idea
that it was their duty to guard the peoples
rights, and they acted upon this idea. The
"corporators" have been falling from their
"asking price" ever since, and their last
demand was for rs years exclusive right and
give no bond for damages they might COM
mit-they would be satisfied with that if the
Council would grant it thatve night. The
peoples representatives did not perceive any
reason why they should be in haste to give
way the peoples streets, and they concluded
to wait until the company should convince
them that they really intended to build the
road. The following is the report which was
| adopted by the City Council, on the llth of
this month:
| To the Honorable Mayor and City Council Of the
City Of Rock Island:
The undersigned, members of the committee
appointed to examine the proposed modification
of the ordinance entitled "An ordinance to
authorize the construction and operation of GER
tain horse railways in the city of Rock Island,
respectfully report:
lst That they cannot recommend the propos-
ed alteration of Section One, of that ordinance SO
as to grant exclusive privileges. This is more
especially Objectionable as granting exclusive
vieges on the cross streets to be selected, anG
| on the leyee, and on both Illinois and Orleans
| streets.
ID. Some of the committee would object t.
/ the privilege Of laying any track upon the levee
unless it be confined to distance not more thar
eighty feet north of the south line of Mississippi
street.
| Sd. The amendments to Section Nine do moi
/ appear objectionable to the majority of the com
! mittee.
4th. Section Ten might be modified so as t.
require q bond from the railroad company alone
| but some of your committee think that it should
| not be stricken out entirely.
| The members of the committee, being divided
| in opinion recommend that if gentleman of re
sponsibiliy state to you that they propose at ono
| to open books and obtain subscriptions for stock
to organize the company and proceed to building
the road that in that committee be ap
pointed by the Council, to confer with simila
committee, to be appointed by the eorporator
| of the railway company, and to settle the term
| OF an ordinance that will be mutually satisfac
tory.
Rock ISLAND, Ill, Feb. 18th, 1865.
| DAVID HALVES,
PORTER SKINNER,
CHARLES NJ. OSBORN.