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


10 tie city Council Of the Ciy of Rock
Island:
BY our city charter it is made the duty OF
the Mayor to sign ell ordinances aud resolu.
tions which he approves, and to return to
the City Council, with his objections thereto,
such as he does not approve.
Being unable to approve ian ordinance
granting the right of way and depot grounds
to the Rockford, Rock Island and ST. Louis
railroad company" passed OIL the 18th inst,
herewith return the same to you, and state
the following as my objections 10 it
The first section grants right to main
tain and use a douJl track on Illinois
street, from Arsenal street to Madison,
across Madison street. block three l3), in
! Spencer Il Cases addition, and Jefferson
street into Mississippi street, and down Mis-.
| sissippi and Water streets to the southern
| limits thereof.
Wien the wagon bridges to the Island
and TO Davenport are completed, that part Of
Illinois street between Arsenal and Madison
streets would naturally be the greatest
thoroughfare in the city of Rock Island, and
to cucumber it with two railroad tracks for
q single company, would be an unnecessary
as well as a serious obstruction. If there
must be two tracks, then one should be
granted to the Western Union Railroad
| Company, which is seeking admission into
| the city thus, if Illinois street be obstruCt
ed, saving Orleans street clear. 1t has here.
tofore been matter Of complaint that q
single track on the leyee was q serious OBJ.
| struction to the transaction Of river busi.
nh % fnr fwD nI.
ditional tracks 1t also interpOses two
tracks between the city and depot grounds
now used by the Rock Island & Peoria
railroad company, which tracks, under this
ordinance, might be so located and used as
to virtually destroy those grounds for depot
purposes.
A double track in Water street will de.
stroy the business of the Rodmsn mills and
Weyerhauser & Denkman's mill, two Of our
largest manufacturing establishments (of
which We have no surplus as well ss depre.
ciate much valuable property on said street,
while running north of the ROdrnon milo
wonld obviate great damage. The grant to
lay double track through block three l3),
Spencer & Cases addition is either a nulity
or it means that the city will be compelled
to acquire the title 50 that the company
might enjoy the privilege granted by the
ordinance
The second section shuts off East Eagle,
West Eagle, Buffalo and Elk streets, from
the river, and as the Rock Island and Peoria
railroad company now has the right to close
up Deere and Beaver streets, we have nearly
half a mile Of our levee fenced out, and the
public is prohibited from any access to the
river for this distance. This section provides
that in "constructing and maintaining the
various tracks the company shall conform
to the grade" and shall "interpose as little
as possible with the ordinary travel and use
of the Streets" But this seems TO be limit.
ed to the construction and maintenance Of
the tracks and does not extend TO the use
of them.
There is nothing in the ordinance TO pre-
vent the company from leaving teams Of
cars standing on their tracks, through or
across any street or streets they may run
This section also provides that the com
pauy shall pay an annual rent of $500 with. |
out hxlng time, sum so inadequate to |
the value Of tho grounds as to be On sbsnr
dity.
The provisions relative to sewers and |
drains seem to mean that If the COMPANY
wants any It must construct them, but il |
does not give the City Council any jurisdic
ton to compel the opening of drain or
sewer TO the river for a distance Of nearly
half mile.
Tb@Western Union company under the
fourth section has "the privilege of entering
the city of Rock Island upon terms stated |
in 9 manner 90 ambiguous that it is eQuivs- J