, 1873-08-17

Protest Against the Rock Island Rail-
rotssl Track OH Clark Street, between
Twelfth nnd Tsventy-socond Streets
s--The :Nlnyor anlt the Council to l3e
mcmorinlixod.
meeting Of eitizons owning property along
CLARK street, botwoon Twolfth and Twonty-Beo-
ond, WAS hold yesterday evening, at st. John's
School, cornor Of Eighteenth aud Clark stroots
for the purpose Of considering moana whereby
tho Chicago, Rock Island Il Paciac Railroad
could bo compelled to remove their track from
Clark strost.
Mr. B. Mayor called tho meeting to ordor and
nominated hIr. johnson as Chairman Of tho
meeting. Boing unanimously elected, he pro-
ceedod to state the object Of tho rnooting, and
called upon tho Committee On drawing up
memorial to tho Common Council to road
It. II it WAS roady. Nlr. George Nor
rfs read tho memorial to tho meeting.
The memorial sets forth TINT Clark street is tho
only street west of State that passos tho bend of
tho river, and is tho natural route for tho travel
Of thirty or forty thousand Of the inhabitants Of
the railroad running steam cars in tho stroot
south OF Twelfth streot, tho travel aud
traffic is almost entirely driven away. Tho
pfoeperty-ownera p1lohaecd thor, grounds
vi with tho .,6n,o; faa 5ight to use the street
purposes. which right they had boon deprived
Of without their consent and without compeusa-
ton Tor their loss: No public necessity now OK
istod, II any eyor did, for tho Company running
Company had tho titlo to the lots eighty feet
west Of Clark stroot, from Sixteenth to Twenty
FIRST streots, with sufficient room for sido-
tracks, which -, title and right Of way
70. Was acquired With tho ,oxpross understanding
street and botweon Twelfth and Sixtoonth
streets, Us they owned MI tho property betweon
CLARK CLARK ct street and TIE river. They therefore
longer uso Clark street, aud TINT they BE- re-
required to remoyo their tracks without dclay.
Tho amount OF injury done by tho tracks
On q the street was very ,grcat. Mono Of
IT, tho property from Twelfth streot to
third what 1t would bo but for tho trnoks, and
from VanBuren TO Washington it would not
bring th1eo-fourtha Of its value. Tho valuo Of
the property @ IL in l the seotlons named, It was
was removed. Az nothing short Of unayoidable
necessity justified the taking or iniuring Of pri-
vat, yate property for public use, they aeAed
and expected relief in aomo shape. The
1oaaonaSo a N'uada value for eg'' propd2sy pr Rsy
for it's own uac and should not nsk tho city
or citizens for charity. Whilo thus using tho
peoples property, they woro leasing part Of their
adorable royonuo. It was unjust to rank this
road With others owning no property or right Of
way on their own 1a1,d. Not only did the road
on Clark street damage property ind drive lway
trade, but it also endangered lifo, aud accidents
we're frequent. The owners of property alongtho
street, after tho Company had agreed to romove
the track, expended nearly e6O, 900 for filling
md grading, oto., and in erecting valuable
buildings. The road had talsen Immediate
Possession Of tho atroot, md hold it almost OK
clusivoly, to tho great depreciation OF property,
travel, and business thereon. Tho Company had
not oven been compelled to build sidewalks aud
area-walls along their Owl property, but through
favoritism or 1a1ity Of duty by aome OF tho city
oihcinlH had been saved tho expenBo OF SO doing,
much to tho detriment OF tho travel on tic
street.
The memorial was adopted.
Mr. Norris then made long 6pooch sotting
forth the grievances Of tho property-holdor
along that thoroughfare, and denouncing tho
Alderman and Board 3 Of Public Works as bcing
in league with the railroad company. Hc told
them to SEQ TO- it that in November
an Alderman would DO elected who would
do his duty Ia this matter, Us their present
Aldermen wore only looking out for themselves
and neglooting tho interests OF their constitu-
ents to tho damage OF thousands Of dollars.
Mr., 3. Mayer also mado speech deuouncfng
tho railroad company for continuing their
track on CLARK street, and for not complying with
tho city ordinances.
Tho same Committee which drew up tho mon,o-
rial was ordered to havo tho document printed,
together with the necessary maps aud evidence,
and to present the same to the Council; also to
walt upon Mayor Modill and request him to en-
force tho ordinances in regard to tho railroad
company.
Tho Committee consista Of George II. Norris,
I. J. Nichols, and ]. II. Marshall,
The meeting then adjourned.