The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-18
THE HORSE RAILROAD.
Radical Attempt to Keep the Peo-
pie in the Dark.
A Question Of veraeity Between
the Radical Clerk and
Radical Alderman.
a Radical Scheme to Secretly Get
Possession Of the Peoples
Streets.
A Gross Outrage Upon the Rights
Of Citizens.

In the official organ of the majority OF the |
city council, this morning, was published
the official proceedings, furnished, we sup |
pose, by the new official clerk; and in the |
proceedings was very brief reference to
certain amendments asked by the Horse |
Railroad Company TO the ordinance here
tofore granted to them, but which paper was
tabled, on motion of Alderman Skinner
Surprising that the people would like to
know what those amendments were, and
knowing that we, as we'll as other citizens,
had right to examine, or copy, or publish |
any public paper on file or on record, we
called at the office of the new radical city
clerk, and asked for the paper containing
the amendments for the purpose of examin-
ing it, and publishing it if we thought best
to do so. The new radical clerk said Alder
man HAYES had the paper. We then called
on Alderman HAYES and he stated that it
was at the council room, and the clerk could
produce it if necessary. We said we intend
ed to let the people see what it was. He
replied that it was in rather a crude state,
and exhibited some reluctance to its publ
eation,-but that made no difference to US;
it was. a public matter and we determined
that the people should see it, Or know why it
was suppressed. We returned to the clerk,
in short time, and he then stated that AL
derman Halves had left there few minutes
previously, and had given orders not to have
- bf;.baH No chOplA l,t-o n lpnuv xrha
right Alderman Hawes has to deny any
citizen of Rock Island the right to examine
or publish any public paper or record of the
city or to give the clerk any orders what
| ever on such subject We insisted on
our right to see the paper, and the clerk
then opened drawer at his table and
handed it TO us, and we then and there cop
led it. The people will make their own COM
ments upon this most extraordinary attempt
of the radical managers of the new city
council to keep secret from them an infa.
| nous attempt to give away to a set of
wealthy ''corporators" and monopolists the
| exclusive right to certain streets, and pre-
vent any other company from travelling
over the same, if in the Judgment of future
council, the public interests should demand
it. This early and eager attempt, of the
/ and foot, take away their right to con
/ troll their own streets, and do it
| in a secret and undetermined manner, is wor-
thy only of the radical managers of Rock
| Island-the men who promise revenues for
| ferry privileges and then refuse to keep their
promises the men who basely swindled the
| people out of al chance to make that fran
| chise a source of revenue. 1t is no more
ed the people against But it will, we trust,
| open the eyes of some who thought the poor
heirs and their henchmen were the personi-
fcation of religion, morality and honor.
They will live to find that that set possess
no such virtues. But we will keep our read
ers no longer from the document the RAIDS
attempted to keep secret from their eyes.
Read it, and make yonr own comments.
! We think it demands an indignant protest
| from the people. Here it is, word for word:
An ordnance to authorize the construction
and operation of certain Horse Railways
in the city OF Rock Island:
Section l. Be ii ordained by the City
Council Of the city Of Rock Island, Tha,
there is hereby granted to the Moline and
Rock Island Horse Railroad Company, SOLE
Il AND EXCLUSIVE RIGHT and authority
to construct and operate single or double
track railway, with all necessary and conven-
| lent tracks fnr ftirr utda ntc nd
switches in any and the following streets in
the city OF Rock Island for the full period OF
Twenty-Five years, to wit: On Moline av.
enue from the eastern boundary of said city
to Broadway street, thence on Broadway
street to Rock River street thence west on
| Rock River street to Madison street.
thence on Madison street to Illinois street
thence westerly on Illinois street to Water
street. Also the right to construct and use
turn table on Illinois street. or the right to
construct and operate q single track in the
streets around such block in the Chicago OF
Lower Addition TO Rock Island as may be
opposite the western extension of said com
pany's track. Prorided, 1t shall not be
around any block east of block thirteen, and
r provided further that the city reserves the
I right TO cross the Company's tracks witt
other tracks at any proper places to get t.
the landing.
The right is also given to construct ani
operate a single track with necessary switch
; es and turn outs from their track on Illinoi.
street through jefferson street to Mississippi
, street, and down Mississippi street opposite
block two and thence Oh Washington stree,
to their track on Illinois street.
/ Or through Washington street to Mississ
ippi street, and down Mississippi street CD
posite block one, to Eagle street, and thence
; on Eagle street to their track on Illinois St.
Provided, said track around block one Oh
two shall not be laid more than 30 feet north
, of the aouth side of Mississippi street, or be
an exclusive privilege, or be construed intt
the right Of going around more than one