The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-02-03
GRAND RAILROAD CON
VENTION.
r. RI & ST. l.. r. K.
PROPOSED LINE FROM ROCK ISL
AND TO KEITRsBURG.
The People Wide Awake
gpeeehes, Resolutions etc.

AolioWy oF tne contIo une, rs IL Is cAiieu
Delegates from nearly every township
through which the proposed line is surveyed
were present, and, by the time the Rock
Island delegation, composed Of our leading
business men and representatives of the
press, arrived, the church where the con
vention was to be held was filed to its ut
most capacity.
Mr.. Thornton, q pioneer of thirty years
standing, called the convention to order, ana
the following organization was enec'eu
d. b. Sears, of Camden, President; drahsm
Lee. of Hamlet, and I. 5. Cabeen, of
Keithsburg. Vice Presidents o. Holland,
of Keithsburg, Walter johnson, of the Rock
Island Union, and j S. Drake, of the Rock
Island ARGUS, Secretaries.
The organization completed, Mr.. j. E
Abbott, General Agent of the Rock ford rail
rosd, briefly stated the object of the conven-
ton. he followed by e powerful argumens
showing the advantages of the road TO that
entire section of country, and to the people
Individually, illustrating his position By a
general comparison of markets, and the
advantages to the people Of being connected
with this great and rapidly growing com
mercial and manufacturing centre, which,
in the next decade, will count
its people by the hundred thousand.
He stated what was necessary to be done
--whs, the Railroad authorities had done
thus far, and what thew would do to build
the road and have it running to their very
door by August next, if they would vote suf
fcient aid he closed his remarks By ex
planning the practical workings of the act Of
the last legislature, for the payment of Rail
road Indebtedness" which Townships may
contract in building roads through their ter
ritory, and then called upon delegates to ex
press the sentiment of their localities.
Mr.. VIM. D. Smith of ithsburg
followed, explaining the interest his
place had IN tue line, and the
experience they had undergone in their eff
forts TO connect themselves with the outel
world by railroad, referring particu
larry, to their efforts in
the building of the American Central
which as mere feeder to the Chicago, Bur
!ington and Quincy railroad did not afford
them the advantage of competing markets,
which was so greatly needed, and the con
sequent anxiety Of the community to SECURE
the passage through the town Of a grand
trunk railroad which terminates in the two
great markets of the west, Chicago and St.
Louis.
j. 5. Drake was then called upon to speak
for Rock Island, and did 80 BY briefly
showing the great advantages that the Rock
Island market would afford them in the
event Of their building the road, illustrating
the saving in freights on all kinds Of pro-
duce that they could raise; also the advan-
tsge of having access to such market as
Rock Island must be- with its many railroads
entering there-eYery bit as good as Chi.
cago. He then urged upon the people the
necessity Of Immediate action, OF they
would lose the opportunity.
Mr.. Cabeen, Of heithsburg, agreed with
the speaker in the necessity Of INN ediate
action, and seeing that old railroad pioneer
Mr.. Thornton, with paper in his hand,
called upon him to report.
Mr. Thornton did so by making one OF
the beet speeches of the afternoon, illustrat
ing the trying difficulties of early pioneer
life in Mercer county. But not wishing to
take up the time of the meeting, he offered
the following:
WHEREAS. The Rockford. Rock Island & St.
LOUIS Railroad Company. by its energy and pow
eT, under trying difficulties, from ths organi "a
tl0u to the present time, and more particularly
in it, contest and victory over the Chicago Rock
Island 4 Pacific road, in building their road into
Rock Island, requirin great business tact and
ability, as well as at enormous outlay of
money, challenges our admiration aud commands
our entire confidence, that they can, and are able
TO fulfill whatever promises and agreements they
may enter to, for the extending or connecting
of their line of road. And,
WHEREAS, Said railroad company has sur
vevsd line direct from Rock Island to keiths
burg, and DESTROYS to build their road said
route, conditional, that the several townships
through which said line runs the townships
adjacent to- subscrib be in their corporate capacity
amount sufficient to grade bridge and tie that
portion of the road which lies between Rock
Island and heithsburg, ready for the iron and
rolling stock, under IAN act to fund and provide
for paying the railroad debts of counties, town
ships, cities and towns" parsed and in force
April 10th, 1869. Therefore be it
Eesoired, That we hereby heartily approve Of
efforts being made to secure corporate aid in the
continuation Of said railroad from Rock Island
l" heithsourg, under the statue Of 1899 and in
ordeI 10 accomplish that object, would recon-
iheha to Az persons Interested in the work, i'm
mediate ana united action until such aid is
guaranteed, that said railroad commonly NAV
commence work on said line of road for com
pletion at an early day. And, be it fnrtber
Essptred, That we would recommend eseh
township through which this road prgno.eo 30
run, to call election for the purpose OF vo,ir,
such aid they shall deem necessary and prore7
10 secure the building of this road from Rock Isl
and to keithsburg, and turtle that in fixing
these amounts, each township shall confer with
the officers of the company.
Mr.. Thornton supported these resolutions
by q telling speech, which showed plainly
that he was heart and hand for the work,
and meant railroad. The motion on the
adoption was carried unanimously.
MIR. j. K. McCal!ister, on call, made a
short speech in behalf of the Rock Island
merchants. He agreed with what had been
said, and promised the people even better
things fr m himself and fellow trsdsmen.
and hoped for more intimate commercial
relations with the people of Mercer county
1t was evident the convention was read,
to take some definite action, and to know
what to do. Mr. Abbott was called upon 70,
statement of facts-what the railroad
company required. In reply he stated tina
the actual cost Of grading, bridging ALI
.ieing the road from Rock Island to Keitbs
burg would be 100000, while the Musca
tine route could be built for less than $500
600. He had however, q pledge from tn
directors to the effect that if 100000 an
the right OF way be granted by the first @
March the Turkey Hollow route would