The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-10
A SIGNIFICANT BOON.
The Davenport, Moline and Rock Island Street
Railway Company


Rock Island and Davenport than was af
forded by the ferry boat has been constant
~ growing, in spite of the factious opDo-
sition of few people who could see but
one thing at time, popular sentiment
having long ago crystalized about the
street car plan via the government bridge.
During the hours of day light and when
the river was free from distractions, the
ferry boat was a great convenience and
| nobody, not even the staunchest friends of
the street car project, have aught to say
| in criticism of the management. Every
body knows that Captain Cameron is the
| very embodiment of courtesy, and uniting
with this rare skill as navigator, the pop
| ulaT confidence in the boat was unbounded.
/ But there were times when the boat could
not or did not run. After certain hour
| in the evening and before a certain hour
in the morning persons deslrous of getting
| from one side of the river to the other
| found it impossible except by walking. or
| taking hack over the bridge at great
| manifest Inconvenience, saying nothing of
expense, and during winter freezup PEG
Pile were compelled to chance an ice bridge
passage or call carriage. In February,
1871. the United States senate passed a
bill cmhodying what Is now desired which
was unanimously approved of by govern
ment authorities, including the war de
partment and the committee on military
affairs. of which the lamented ex vice
president Wilson was chairman. In few
DAYS bill, of which the following is the
full text, (and the only correct text yet
published will be submitted to the pro-
per authorities for Endorsement:
A bill to empower the Secretary of War to
establish under certain conditions, a
horse railway upon and over the Island
of Rock Island and the bridges erected
by the United States, connecting the
cities of Davenport and Rock Island
Herewith.
SEC /. That the Secretary of War be,
and he is hereby, authorized and empower
ed TO have located and bnilt, in such man
ner as he may deem fit, upon the Island of |
Rock Island, in the state of Illinois, and |
upon the bridges connecting it with the |
cities of Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Isl |
aud H., continuous line of double track |
railway ut the expense of the Davenport, |
Rock Island and Moline street car railroad |
company incorporated under the laws of |
the state of Iowa, which shall have the |
of operating the said railway at /
its own expense, and the regulations and |
restrictions as to the times and manner of |
running the cars, the keeping of the road |
ways and tracks in repair, and rates of |
fare as the secretary of war shallefrom time
to time prescribe. the said privileges to be
at all times liable to suspension or revoca
ton by the secretary of war whenever in |
bis judgment the public interests may de-
mand it.
SEC. 2. And be 1t further enacted. That
Ihe said company be required whenever
30 directed by the postmaster general, to
larry the mails of the United States to and
rom the cities of Davenport, Iowa, and
Rock Island, H., and shall have no claim
or compensation for such services beyond
hat which may be ordered 20 be paid as in
1is view are equitable and just by the
general.
SEC. 8. -41ed be 1t further enacted, That
I any person, or persons, shall wilfulIy and
impede the passage on or
,ver said railway or any part thereof or
hall inJure or destroy the cars, or any
property belonging to said company, the |
1erson, or persons, so offending shall for
cit and pay for every such offense the sum
II $50 to said company, and shall remain
liable In addition TO said penalty, for any
oss Or damage eccasioned by his, her, or
heir acts, as aforesaid and that the suits
herefor may be had in the courts of the
United States, or in any state, county or ,
court in the county or city in | .
which said company is located, having
urisdiction over similar cases
4
As q preliminary, however, to the fore
,oing, at a meeting held in Davenport last
vening the Davenport, Rock Island and
Moline Street Railway company was duly
by the adoption of articles Of in
under the laws of Iowa, and
which articles were duly filed for record
his morning. The incorporates of that
are r. H Griggs, j. w Green
md Edward Russell. of Davenport, Lyman
/. Ellis, of Clinton; Chas. H. Deere, of
deline, and Morris Resented, Henry Cur
Is. Jr.. and Henry G. Connolly. of Rock
sland. The capital stock of the company
: placed at $4,000, and its business is
he construction of street railroad track
cross the government bridge over the
river, the Island of Rock ISL
md, and the bridge across the Sylvan '
al d. A. 4 -