The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-05-24

SHALL Wa SACRIFICE ILLINOIS STREET?
We are earnestly opposed to the pending
railroad ordinance, aud especially as respects
the sacrifice Of Illinois street There is q
general public sentiment supporting US.
\ large portion Of our citizens are indignant
At the very ldoa Of turning our best street
into a switching ground. Many Of the here.
toi0re strongest railroad men of the city are
now beginning to inquire if the Rockford
Company cannot dispense with a double
track on this thoroughlarc, and be content
with single one. When such a radical
modification Of opinion is apparent, We are
led to expec. better things than previous
eyerts gave as room 10 hope for. People
are beginning to discover that to encourage
a railroad enterprise, it is not necessary to
turn their pockets inside out, or metamor.
phose their city into a depo! ground. We
hope to have time to impress our views up.
on the public before any hasty action is talk.
en-, confident that time will prove US to have
been aboring for the vital interests of Rock
Island
On Saturday we discussed the new ordi.
nance at some length, placing particular
stress on its provisions in regard to Illinois
street. 1t is our desire to pursue the sub.
jet still farther.
The plan Of allowing the Rockford com.
pany to construct double track "in and
through the highway commencing on a line
with the east side Of the street projected
northward, west Of P. l.. C"hls's residence,
and thence westward through the public
highway to the east end of Illinois street."
as the ordinance reads, is absolutely imprac.
ticablo 1t is folly to grant sach privilege. |
This double track would be compelled to
cross the double track Of the c, Il. |. Il ?. |
road an additional track being now com.
menced by the latter company within a dis
lance Of q few hundred feet no less than
twice, requiring the maintenance of two
highly expensive crossings, and interfering
with the switching operations of the c. r |.
X p road to such an extent, as to be An al,
most direct infringement on the rights and
privileges Of the latter company, While we
are encouraging one road, let us not wrong
another.
II, however, the Rockford Company con.
stTucts its line down the south side Of the
c, h. |, & P track, from the eastern termi.
nation Of Orleans street to the head Of Hi
nols street, distance Of nearly one thou.
sand feet it will have to acquire the title to
private property along the entire route,
besides 0eIug forced to tear away a consider
able portion Of Babcock & Andrews Tan.
merry, valuable manufacturing establish.
ment worthy of liberal encouragement on
.he par: Of our people. In follow
ag this course, it will incur formidable
aggregate Of damages. We mention this
act to meet the argument that the company
IAN build Is road no where else 50 cheaPly
IS down limos street. The truth u, II
,ould select no line more expensive than
his one, however much it may coincide with
he special objects in view. And even after
be right Of way should be purchased, the bus
ness of tie tannery would be fatally injured,
o say nothing of the injury to the projected
hops of tae c. 4 |. & p. Road, for what
nsnufactJry can carry on business to adgan.
age with a double railroad track barFicsd,
ng all its entrances?
If the Rockford road should come down
orleans street to some point west Of Dock, ;
hen pass through the south east corner OF
Block 6, and the northeast corner Of Block
. cross Adams street and Illinois street,
nd strike Block at the same point desig
ated for the route down Illinois street, the
Expense would not BE- one dollar gFsate'