The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-26
VALUABLE FRANCHISES.
The People Would Like to See the Fer.
ry Company Settle Up.

A group of gentlemen. talking about
municipal revenue and taxation yester-
day, branched off on certain valuable
franchises which were granted without
consideration on the score of public con.
venlence. and might yet be made to con-
tribute handsomely to the city funds
Daily Union, 26th.
If the Union alludes to the horse rail
way across the bridge, it will notice by
reading the act of congress, that the sec,
rotary of war will fix the tax to be paid
by the company. In addition to this an
arrangement must also be made with the
Chicago, Rock Island s. Pacific railroad
company, and compensation paid this
company, too, for the privilege of using
the bridge. The general government and
the railroad company will both receive
tax from the street railway company, as
compensation for using the road bed
But, we agree with the Union in its
position requiring tax or compensation
from corporations for the use of public
ground. We are informed by old citizens
that good many years ago-in 1859, we
oelcve--the ferry company made appli.
cation to the state legislature for a re-
newal of its charter Judge Bailey, at
that time was mayor of Rock Island.
The ferry franchise was very valuable, and
the city concluded to secure a bill author
izing the city in its corporate capacity to
run ferry boat also. The subject had
been preached in 1S49, when John Will
son, who then operated the ferry, had the
charter renewed for ten years. So
strong was the sentiment, even as far
back as that time, that Wilson was forced
to consent to the insertion of the follow
ing section in his charter before he could
pacify the people, and get it renewed, viz:
5 4. PrOgided, That after the expira.
ton of the term granted to said Wilson by
an act entitled ''an act to authorize John
Wilson to keep ferry across the Missis-
sippi river" approved February &c, 1871,
the legislature or county court (when
createdD may, if the public good requires
it, grant to the president and board of
trustees of the town of Rock Island, The
right to keep and run ferry between
Rock Island and Davenport, etc, etc.
Mayor Bailey and other of our citizens
went to Springfield to secure the charter.
While there Capt, Robinson, in behalf of
the ferry company, to enable him to secure
arenewal of his charter, agreed to pay into
the treasury, annually, $500 as compen>
sation or tax for the privilege of securing
his charter and running his boat, and the
city agreed not to ask for charter.
Judge Bailey, to his dying day. and others
with him, claimed that this was square
and fair agreement. This was verbal
agreement with the ferry company, which
was to be incorporated in the act renew
ing the ferry's charter. But, 10! and be
hold! after the act was passed it was dis
covered that the agreement was not in
corporated in the renewal. Instead of
the $500 which the ferry company should
annually pay into the treasury, it has been
paying only 500. In accordance with
the agreement, in good conscience and in
equity, the ferry company today owes
the city of Rock Island in principal, to
say nothing of interest, $500 year for
twentyeight years, or over
| ELEVEN THOUSAND DoLLARs
If the ferry company would step up
and pay in this eleven thousand dollars,
either into the school fund or the general
city treasury, what relief it would be-
1t would indirectly aid and assist every
property holder In Rock Island. Every
man with his little home would have his
taxes reduced, and to some extent bene-
fitted. Will the ferry company pay to
the city what 1t honestly owes it, VIII
it pay into the treasury out of its enor>
nous receipts that eleven thousand dol
lars? The people are anxious to know.
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