The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-14
ty. And when they plated their Third


Addition they did not own an inch of
ground ION the south) within 60 feet of
that line. That go feet had been con-
veyed to the city year previously.
Because the city accepted plat on which
the street is marked ''55 feet wide did that
vitiate the deed? OF course not. Suppose
that plat had stated on its face
that John Doe was the owner of
all the land on the north side of Spencer
street between Cherry and Madison, would
that invest the title in John Doe? Or
would it divest J. W. Spencer of the title
to his property? Of course not. That 5
feet of ground did not belong to the Spen-
GERS when the plat was accepted. They
had parted with it forever, for street pur-
poses, and they could not regain title to it
except by deed, or by the city converting
lit to some other use than that for which il
was decided to the city They did not own il
when the plat was accepted, and the ac-
ceptance of the plat did not vitiate the
deed.
AS matter of dollars and cents, the
Spencer property would be more valuable
to have straight handsome street there
than to have the present zig-zag street.
And we hardly think Judge Spencer
would like the reputation of recovering
the strip of land by so small trick, when
he and everybody else knows that the
aldermen who accepted the plat would
never have done so had they supposed it
possible for this trick to be played on the
people. 1t was not the intention of the
council, IN accepting the plat to give back
to the Spencers that feet of land. Had
that been the intention it would have been
done by Decd in fair and honorable
way.
When Judge Spencer comes to look at
this matter in its proper light we think he
will see that it is his duty to put the people
10 possession of their property, the use Of
which he has enjoyed for eleven years.
And it is clearly the duty of the present
council to take steps to put the city in pos
session OF the property at once.
Mr.. I'D. Robinson was also interviewed
on the subject and he took occasion TO
blow up the reporter for repeating to
the editor of The ARGUS what was said at
the house of the Spencers, and said The
didn't see what THE ARGUS had to do
with the matter, anyway" Mr.. Robinson
ought to know that the proprietors of THE
ARGUS, and all the citizens of Rock Island,
have something to do'with the matter. 1t
is their business. The land is their prop,
ertv, and they are only looking after their
own rights when they insist that the Spen.
GERS shall not, by trick, deprive them of
their rights. Mr.. Robinson should be
aware that the reporter was only perform
ing his duty and doing exactly what he
was commissioned to do; and that, had he
failed to make full and truthful report
he would be derelict in duty and quite LA
bic to lose his situation Neither the
ISpencers nor Robinson were obliged to be
interviewed. They could have declined
had they chosen to do SO. But all of them
should be aware Of the fact that when
a reporter of newspaper is sent
to interview them, whatever they say
is quite likely to be published They
knew they were talking to newspaper re-
porter, and they should not have said 3
word that they we're unwilling to have
!, published. They need not have opened
their mouths at all unless they chose to do
so. They might have declined to say any.
t thing on the subject. But it is very bad
J taste to censure newspaper reporter fol-
doing his duty. Were the controversy be-
tween two citizens it would not be mat
; ter for newspaper comment until it got
into the public courts. But it is a matter
} between all the people of this city and J.
, w. Spencer, -and in that case THE AR.
GUS is quite sure that it is its duty to look
} after the interests of all the people. The
: mayor and aldermen will also find that il
is there duty. as well as the duty of public
journals, to look after the public interests
: Buy the Victoria self feeding base burn
err acknowledged by all to be the best, al
David Don's, No l,617. Ills. st. 13dt