The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-01
The Horse Railroad Ordinance.

The horse railroad company, by ordi-
nance, is permitted certain rights on our
streets, provided it lives up to the require
ments of the ordinance. otherwise it for
feits its rights and the city can take up
its tracks. One of the provisions of that
ordinance is follows:
S 6. The said Horse Railroad Company shall put
and keep the track of their said road in such con-
dition that the upper portion of the rail shall not
at any time be elevated above the surface Of the
street on which they are laid, so that vehicles can
easily and freely, at all times cross said tracks at
all points, in any direction, without obstruction.
This provision has been never complied
with to the extent of single block in the
city. In 1865, when the ordinance was under
consideration, THE ARGUS insisted that
the company should be required to use
the tram rail, which, as everybody knows,
is the safest rail for teams to cross. But
those in the interest of the road insisted
that the crescent rail (the one in use1 could
be made just as safe as the tram rail. and
much cheaper, and Section 6, was enact
ed to protect the people from dangerous
track. If the horse railroad company was
required by the city authorities to live up
to the agreement. it would be measurably
safe. but they are not, and the people
think 1t is because members Of the city
council have passes over the road.
The accident on Madison street, yester
day, ought arouse an indignation among
our people that would compel members oil
the council to return their passes and dc
their duty to the public by enforcing the
ordinance. There is scarcely buggy in
this city that its hind wheels track witt
its forward wheels, and it is because
the axles have been sprung by getting the
wheels into the ruts Of the horse railroad
tracks.
On Moline Avenue the company wa
allowed to put down I rail, but it mus
not De more than the width Of the raj
above the street. In many places thi
matter needs attention. The ordinanc
also requires the company ito make sucl
convenient crossings on Moline Avenue a
may be necessary for the accommodatio
of persons residing thereon"
Sec. of the ordinance also provides a
follows:
The said company shall be at the entire cost al
expense of grading, paving, matchmaking, plov
ing, filling, and constructing drains, at lea
seven feet of the width OF the streets they sha
occupy. So that the same shall be put an
thereafter kept in as good condition and repair
the remaining portion of said streets correspondent
with and opposite said railway tracks shall be.
, be put and kept by the city council.
Section fixes the gauge of the road a
4 feet 5 inches.
3 The company is, therefore, required {
macadamize its track inside the rail, an
IA inches outside on each side of the tract
in order to make the seven feet it COZ
tracted to keep in order This has nevt
been complied with.
Section also provides that the railroa
company shall be liable for all legal an
consequential damages which may be su
tanned by any person or by the city |
reason OF non ful6lment Of the ordinanc
The company is, therefore, liable fot a
injury to carriages liable for the dana!
!, yesterday, and liable in consequential dar
1 ages to the girls who were injured yeste
day, and jury would so find.
In behalf of the people Of this city al
of the public generally, THE ARGUS insis
: that our mayor and aldermen shall
= their duty to the people whom they we
" elected to serve We ask nothing b
. what the railroad company contracted
perform or forfeit its grant Let the col
, pany perform its contract or give up
> use Of the streets.