The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-05-20
THE MAYORS VETO.


On our FIRST page will be found the ordi.
nance passed BY the City Council on last
Monday evening, and also Mayor Buford's
veto of that document. A careful reading
Of the message, aud studous exsmina.
ton Of the city map, induce Us to support
the Mayor in the course he has taken. We
think the objections he has put forth are
worthy of consideration at the hands Of the
City Council, and the public, We trust, will
coincide with US; at least, the major portion
oft. The settlement Of the variance now
existing between the two departments Of our
city government, will probably not take place
until sufficient time has been given to devel.
ope public sentiment Our representatives
are Of course quite competent to act on their
own responsibilities, but it is presumsble
that the opinions of their fellow citizens will
receive that respect and Difference to which
they are entitled.
We see no room or necessity for lengthy
comment on the Mayors objections. We
endorse every one Of them. They are per.
tectly reasonable and moderate, Sud just
sucl as would present themselves to any i'm.
partial person after mature deliberatiou.
Not only do we sustain them, but we seri.
ousy protest against any rsil.oad company
being allowed to lay track on Illinois
street. This is our main thoroughfAre it is
partly taken up by the horse railway al
ready aud as the principal street leading
off from the government bridge, We think
another iron rail should never be laid up.
it. We are inclined to think that the
City Council will give the IN ssage
| ---r~-.rh L~--:"" aud racngnize the
! defects of the ordinance therein pointed out.
The Mayor is evidently labOriug solely for
the interests Of the city, and with no other
desire than to see that equal justice is done
to all the railroads that desire to center here.
/ It must now be conceded, that as the ordi-
nance was thrown together in q hAsty man
| IL
Several members of the council who voted
for it, did 90 with what might be considered
an implied protest against the manner III
which it was rushed through. We are in
| favor of encouraging the Rockford and all
the other roads that may find II profitable
! TO connect with Rock Island but the i'm.
portance of preserving our municipal rights,
aud placing moderate and necessary restric.
! tions on these corporations, must be patent
to all. In making laws which we cannot
unmake, and which must stand in force as
long as our city exists, too much care can
not be exercised. That the Mayor, as the
guardian Of our interests, should interpose
his authority to cancel the results Of liber.
atty somewhat too ungoyerned, IS not, we
think sufficient cause to provoke any feeling
of hostility or combatiyeness on the part Of
the City Council, and we hope to see the
whole question discussed in an open, honor.
able, impassive manner, looking to the en-.
enlargement OF the railroad, and to the
interests of the city.
1t is not our province to suggest the con-
tents of new ordinance, or to furnish
amendments for the one just vetoed
But it has often occurred to US that the
city should make some attempt to induce
our railroads to build up and occupy with
depots, that portion within our limits, Popu.
larry known as "the slough" and which
lies on Canal street, between Otter and Ea.
gle, at present ofvery little use to any body,
an eye-sore to our citizens, and appa'
rently breeder Of every description of ma.
ls7is. Should the present ordinance be
passed over the Mayors veto, Rock Island
will have but three blocks of leVee room for
all time to come. At present we are doing
the river business of Camden and Moline,
in addition to our own. Suppose these three
towns shall double their population inside
Of ten years. We will then have about one
thousand feet of levee room on which to
transact the business Of city OF nifty thou'
saul inhabitants. In time this number
will be doubled. If we could locate the de-
pots Of the Western Union, and Rockford
roads on the Slough" without detriment to
their interests, and then induce the sock
Island aud Peoria road to remove its depot
70 the same place, and give up its posses
SONS on our leyee, grand improvement
io' our city would be inaugurated. There
Is an abundance Of room at the lower end
ct tbe city to enable our railroads to build
another levee, and thus reach the river
We would then obtain an extended levee
for steamers, new one for the railroad
} shipments, AID secure the filling up. and
, building ola portion Of our city not at
. Present Of any value and with no probabil.
! 'iy Of attaining any.
, With these hurried remarks, we leave the
matter to the consideration of our readers.