The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-20
The Ferry License.

An application of Spencer. Robinson &
Co., proprietors of the Davenport and Rock
Island ferry, was made to the board of
supervisors yesterday, for an extension
of the ferry license. The application filed
states that the last license expired June 4,
1875, but that there was good reason for
not asking a renewal sooner They ask for
the exclusive privilege of running and
keeping ferry from the front of Harrison
street in Davenport and one mile above
and below said Harrison street." at such
rates and under such bonds as the board
may think right and proper. They ask
for renewal Of the license for ten years
from June 4, 1875. The board did not
grant the request, allowing the matter to
lie over to the next session, when final ac-
ton will be taken on the matter.-Ddven-
port Democrat.
Scott county should not grant: an erclu-
size right to the ferry business to any man
or company. We know of no one who will
object to license being granted to Spencer,
Robinson Il Co., but the license should
especially and distinctly provide that
other licenses may be granted to other
parties whenever, in the judgement of the
board, the public good requires. The
days ofexclusive privileges and monopolies
should be numbered and fair competition
be encouraged.
The erclusive monopoly, enjoyed fol
half a century, by the present owners Of
the ferry aud their ancestors, has been 6
gold mine to them and made them all rich
1t required neither brains nor enterprise
to get rich, with such a monopoly. The!
were made rich by special legislation while
their neighbors had to struggle with com
petion, having no special aids from monop
oily charters or special and exclusive priv
leges-which makes heap of difference
in this cruel world. But their chartered
monopoly expires on the 25th of Februar.
1881, and after that day it can never b
renewed. The new constitution Of thi
state prohibits any special legislation, o
the granting of any private or exclusiv
rights, and after Feb'y 25th. 1881 any thre
or more men can organize ferry compan
under our general incorporation law,-an
as many such companies can be organize
as people choose to invest their money il
And it is for this reason that Scott count
should not place herself in position tina
she cannot aid in establishing other ferrie
if, in the judgment of the Scott count
board, public good shall at any time re
quire it.
Of course the present ferry compan
will have big advantage after its charte
expires, as it will have the necessary boat
docks and machinery. for running ferr!
, And we do not suppose that any one wi
, desire to establish another ferry, pr
vided the present company keeps and rur
such ferry as the public requires. b.
there can be no erclusice monopoly on tn
side of the river, after 1881, and the
ought not to be on the other side.
/, This vicinity, on both sides Of the rive
t will probably number hundred thousar
e people by 1881, and more than one ferl
i may be needed. iii were not for Spe
. GER, Robinson Il Co.'S. erclustUe nsoaOpo
y another ferry would now be started fro
s Buford's Plow Works to the opposite sic
s of the river We hope Scott coun
!. will be careful to reserve the right to gra
j, as many more ferry licenses as, in Il
e Judgment of any future Scott board, pub
good may require. We have no objects
!, to the renewal of Spencer, Robinson
Cos. license, with this reservation, A.
: it is the duty of the Scott county boar
s. acting for the people, to make this res,
J. yation. Let US have free trade and f;
<. competition.