The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-05-18

, the track Of the latter in coming in, paying
for track service half the interest Of the
/, money expended in the construction Of that
I portion Of the road surrendered 10 its use.
and half the expense Of keeping it in repair.
z 1t Was not probable that the Western Union
; would be built any farther south than this
, point Sound railroad policy would indicate
thatit should terminate here, and form con.
nectionwIth st. Louis by way Of the Rockford
road, receiving southern freights BY the lot
ter road and shipping northern freigh's IN
return. The Rockford was, in many respects,
prominently a southern route, aud as such
should receive all the rights aud privileges
to which it is entitled By certain old provis.
ions Of our city laws. One hundred and
twenty miles were already graded between
Rock Island aud ST. Louis, nine thousand
tons Of iron were on their way from New
York City, and the company was eKpending
ten dollars south Of this city to every dollar
expended north or east Of It,
Mayor Bufori thought the ordinance was
no, in condition to be passed at that meet.
ing. 1t required to be amended. While
he was willing to do justice to the Rockford
! road, be also wished to deal fairly with the
other companies concerned He did not
! wish TO give one undue advantage over the
other, or % betray any Partially whatever
! He thought it would not be a bad idea
! to appoint committee to confer with the
three companies, aud adjust matters 10 as
to deal with all on equal terms. Further,
as Mayor Of this city, he would never cor.
sent TO give away two more blocks of our
river front, without securing therefrom an
annual revenue for the city. Here was
added 70 Section ?, the words, provided
said company shall pay an annual rentagc
Of two hundred dollars"
As the ordinance originally read in Sec
TN 3, the railroad company permitted or a.
tn'rcd the city 10 build aud maintain all |
sewers and drains 10 be constructed across
the land and rights therein granted.
By the objection Of Mayor Bufori, this
was also 80 amended as to read as now in
the ordinance, the city thus being relieved
Of what might prove great expense in
the future. His own idea was
that the best route for the Rockford
road was TO come down Orleans street to
Union square, cross Juion Square aud
strike the river near the point which the
ordinance proposes, thence down the leyee
This would leave depot grounds for the
Western Union road adjoining the present
grounds Of the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific road. lie further stated that the
Government had entered protest against
any more railroad tracks being allowed to
cross near the terminus Of the fridge, as
during large portion Of the day the cross.
ing was interfered with, aud the road block.
ed up BY trains. The Mayor deprecated any
haste, thought the matter might be delayed
for day or two without injury to the rail
road company, and suggested the propriety
Of allowing the city attorney to draw up the
ordinance, instead of passing the one
handed in by the railroad company. He
never knew a railroad company to ask for
too little. lie did not wish to treat the
Rockford road in any ;illberal manner be
only wished to do the fair thing and pro.
perIy guard the interests of the city.
DR.. Truesdae was invited TO address the
Council lie had examined the plat lying
before the Council indicating the line the
designed pursuing along our river
front, and the ground asked for, and consid.
cred the demands entirely proper and mod.
crate. He urged the necessity of speedy
action, as the company was prepared to III.
lugurate immediate improvements, and any
ieIay on the part Of the Council would Ser ,
,usly retsrd the progress Of the road. lie l
thought it better to condne all the roads en-.
.eriug the city to one street, instead of al.
lowing them to spread all over the upper
quarter Of the city, to the serious obstruction
Of local travel lie also thought that when
the Rockford Company had once secured
roothold on the leyee, it would be in posi-.
ton to treat with the Rock Island & Peoria
Road for an equitable division Of the whole
remaining space. He did not think the
Rockford Company would experience any {
trouble in negotiating with the Peoria Il
Rock Island road. ,,. -,
;mn"..;h,o. :, ror ,bo;r limo -. vnns. D..
for ,uggast.5 without coui,., scross ho
block ba,wson .Tofrarso, and Wesh;ncton