The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-09
The Pleasant Valley Road,

The Pleasant Valley Road,
On Saturday the road commissioners
met at the Office of E. Mapes. town clerk,
but they did not settle with the Matteson
heirs, as was expected and from the pres
ent out look it would appear as if they did
not intend to do so as long as the matter
could possibly be delayed From its in
cePtion the new Pleasant Valley road has
been opposed more or less by petty quib-
blers who seem anxious to place every
obstacle in the way Of its completion and
delay the building of the road as long as
possible. Only two weeks agoit was an
nounced that the claims of parties along
the line Of the new road had been sa:is,
tactOrily arranged, and that the only inl-
pediment in the way was the Mattesou
estate, which, the commissioners claimed,
would be settled by jury. thus relieving
the; administrator, etc. On Saturday dee.
4th, they met for that purpose No Jury
was called, but, instead,it was agreed to get
the consent OF the minor heirs and thus,
as the commissioners claim, avoid apy Dos
sible litigation in future. This was the
presentable excuses but the real object was
to gain time and thus delay the building
OF the road. There seems to be settled
opposition among few, who have moth
| ing but personal ends to crafty, and who
would oppose any public measure unless
its c)nsummation would prove doubly ad-
vantegOus to their personal ends. The
Hunts delayed the measure for a long
while and finally were beaten in court;
then Grenell must object; his objection
overruled, the line must be changed t. ac
commodate Tollner; Ehis say-so accepted
TJohu Deere must exact change: this ar.
ranged, the commissioners, at loss
for an excuse, suddenly find that
the administrators of the Mattesor
estate are disposed 10 object, fearing thai
some Of the minor heirs might litiga,e il
future; and this is the only real excuse
the commissioners ever had. 10 avoid
this trouble it was agreed to call a Jury
and assess the damages legally, condemn
the land, and thus relieve the executor.
I0f the estate, but it was not done, and
further, will not be done 50 long as am
tangible or even plausible excuse can b,
rendered for the uncalled for negligcnc,
Of the road commissioners in this matter
When Hon. Bailey Davenport contributed
) his portion of right Of way, and s. "
Wheelock, Esq followed his example, tn
example should have been sufficient: bat
. instead, the whole measure has been bit
terly opposed. The action of the roa
/ commissioners, who, if they haye not bee
guilty Of culpable neglect, have, at least
allowed themselves to be controlled b
' purely personal and mercenery motives; b
e those who oppose everything that locks t
0 the public good as paramount to individ
ual gain. The public is in need of thi
i new road; its advantages as a route cror
e the rich farming country it passes throug
Y tn this city cannot be overestimated an
0 would prove OF considerable commercia
D advantage to our merchants. It is a burr
: ing shame that those who consider onl
= personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT should he allow
! ed 10 dictate to our commissioners an,
5 prevent the consammation of a most in
g p0rtant public Improvement