The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-04-14
CITY COUNCIL.
Special Meeting--oficial Report.

Rock ISLAND, April 10. 1877.
Council met in special session. Pres |
ent, Mayor Butler and all the Aldermen. |
The Mayor stated that the meeting had |
been called by request of James Ell. David |
son, ESQ.,, attorney for the Keokuk North
ern Line Packet Company, who was pres
cut. A communication from w. +. David
son, President of the Company, was read
by the Clerk, as follows:
ST. LOUIS April 9, 1877.
To the Hon. Mayor and Common Council of Rock
Island. H.:
The steambot business for years past has
been suffering under great disadvantages
and has been prosecuted at loss to the
owners of vessels and stockholders. 1t has
suffered especially by competition with
railroads, many of which now run parallel
with the river and the steamboats, in order
to get the business must do it at lower
rate. The towns and cities along the river
have, in most instances. given large bonus
es, right of way and valuable privileges to
the railroads.
In many instances they are allowed to
build side tracks and switches across, and
to occupy a large part of the levee or
wharves In short, the competing rail
roads have been induced to come to the
river towns by favorable legislation and
financial aid. Steamboats, have never asked,
and do not now ask. any financial aid, but
they do ask to be allowed to come to your
city on fair and equitable basis. in order
that they may compete with railroads. We
claim that it is unfair to charge a steam
boat for tho privilege of landing at your
city to carry freight and do business with
80 ,ho,~ Iaxvn 70 n - a.
rate than the railroad in order to get the
business at ALL
We therefore respectfully ask that all
suits by your city against the Keokuk
Northern Line Packet Company for whar-
fage be dismissed. We claim that in
justice to steamboats,, and for the benefit of
river commerce, wharfage exactions should
be wholly abolished; but, to avoid any
controversy in the future, we make the
following proposition: If the city will
lease two hundred feet front of the wharf
to our company for period years, to be
used exclusively for the company's boats,
we will pay the city therefor an annual
rental of one dollar and fifty cents per
foot, this sum to be in lieu of all demands
| for wharfage against steamboats, and bar
ges run by the company, aud we to main
tain and keep said leased part of the
wharf in good order at the expense of the
company. The lease money to be paid
One-halt July | and one-half January ! Of
each and every year during the continu-
ance of said lease, If your common
council in considering this proposition will
give our attorney, Joseph H. Davidson, a
hearing he will explain the whole situation
more fully and in detail Our object is to
avoid all controversy and litigation with
the cities and towns on the river and to
secure the goodwill and patronage of the
public generally. Hoping that this propo-
sition will receive favorable action at your
hands, am very respectfully yours,
VIM f. DAVIDSON,
Pres't K, n. l.. p Co.
| By request Mr.. J. Fl. Davidson, attorney
for the company, explained at considerable
length the motives of the company for
making the above proposition, which was
about as stated in the communication.
Alderman Lundy moved that the wharf
age matter be referred to committee con
sisting of the Mayor, City Attorney and
one Alderman from each ward. Carried
The Mayor appointed as the Aldermen
on that committee, Messrs. Carse, Lundy
Huber, Brooks and Warnock.
The plat of Charles, Jacob and Sewel
Dodge, submitted to the Council some
time ago, was Withdrawn by their reques
in order that they might submit new one
The Street and Alley Committee re
ported favorably on the petition Of Henri,
ladders and others for the grading an,
laying of sidewalks in front of lots 20 to 8
inclusive in Weatherhead's addition on tn
west side of Fourteen-and- half street
The Mayor suggested that no action b
taken until the Street Commissioner pre-
pare the list of sidewalks necessary to b
: constructed
! The Mayor stated the condition of tn
damaged bridge at Milan and the cost {
the temporary repairs as being about 500
Considerable discussion took place anon
the Aldermen and on motion of Aldel
man Carse the bridge committee and tn
City Engineer were instructed to receiy
9 estimates as to the cost Of constructing
, new bridge over the lower end of Lowe
: Wells Island, and also the cost of col
:, structing bridge on the old site.
:. The Mayor stated to the Council that /
It had purchased for the city $50 elm tree
!, at seven cents each, to be planted in UniC
r Square.
/, On motion adjourned.
g JOIN L. REED, City Clerk.