The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-14
THE PEORIA RAILROAD.


IF any person in Rock Island ever had
doubt about the proper course for the people
of this township to pursue in regard 10 the
new Peoria railroad, that doubt must now
be dispelled by reading the proposition of
Mr.. Gable, to be found in this paper. The
proposition is,to build his road TO the Henry
county line, and then sell the entire road at
the appraisal Of men and take his pay all in
the stock of the new road Also to- pay such
rate per ton as may be awarded by the ap
praisers for transporting his own coal, on
his own cars. This is not new proposition,
but i, has never been clearly understood by
the people because never reduced to writing
by him and published, over his own sig
nature. That being now done, every man
can see at once how infinitely superior is
this plan to that of taxing our people $780,
900 and then, very probably, see the new
project turn out precisely like the first at
tempt to get road to Peoria. What would
$50, 0O0 or 100000 do towards building a
new road from Rock Island to Henry coun-
ty line ? Why, it would hardly purchase
suitable depot grounds in this city. But
here is an offer of depot grounds, and road
all completed to Henry county line, and take
it all in the stock of the new company
Probably not any corporate subscription
voted in Peoria, Stark Henry and Rock Is
land, is equal to this Offer Having known
the terms of this proposition since they were
first made, at Galva, two years ago, we have
steadily urged that the most practicable
method of getting road to Peoria was to
accept this very liberal and perfectly fair
proposition. Some have objected to it we
have no doubt because it was misrepre-
scented to them) on the grounds that Mr..
Cable insisted on retaining some exclusive
right In regard to his coal trains. But it
will be seen that this is not the case. He
never asked any exclusive right in that or
any other matter. What he asked was the
right to run his own cars, On their time table,
and pay for that right by the ton, at
whatever rate might be fixed by the apprals-
ers. The reason he wanted this right is be.
cause he could then be always sure of coal
to supply his customers; while, if he de-
pended on the cars of the company, it would
be in the power of any superintendent or
depot master to cut of his supply and thus
ruin his trade. But he makes no stipu.
lation that the company shall not make
the same agreement with any other coal
company, or carry coal for any price it may
see fit. Now, if there is living being who
can object to this proposition, we shall think
he either cannot understand it, or that be
don't want a road to Peoria
1t will also be seen that Mr.. Cable is as
anxious as the balance of the people from
Peoria to Rock Island Including both
places) to have the road extended, as by SO
doing he would make more money on the
increase of transportation and passengers
than he would lose by competition in coal.
We say he is as anxious as The balance
of the people because he, in effect, offers,
by this proposition, to subscribe as much
stock as any county. But, if the new
corporation does not wish to make q per
msnent contract of this kind, then Mr.. Gable
offers to sell his entire road, cars and all, at
the appraisal of men, without this contract,
and without any reservation whatever-but,
in that case, he will want the money for the
property, instead of stock, for the perfectly
fair and satisfactory reason assigned in his
letter.
We hope that the people will read his
proposition carefully and give it an unpreju-
diced consideration, for we are sure it is
exactly the proposition which every man,