The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-03
Not Russell and IsobinsoRs Row,
Bat Reimers' and Robinson's Reso.
lnti0ns.
Another Hennepin Canal ri Meeting
In which the ClOyen Foot
Again Appears.
A Resolution by Capt. Parks to Fence
In the City Voted Down.

There were about forty OF the 126
members of the Rock Island Business
Mems association present at meeting
held in the city council chamber last ev>
ening. President Stewart presided, and
secretary j. +. Robinson was in his
place. The minutes of the previous meet
ing were read and approved. The regu
lar order of business was then taken up,
and the soliciting committee reported
that Sam ]. Keator, John n Huntoon,
Henry c. Harris, Ben. T. Cable, j. G..
Peck, Frank Titus, Edward. Butler and
Peter Farrell were desirious of becoming
members, and they were elected unani-
mously. No other business coming up,
Capt. T. j. Robinson arose and said that
next Tuesday there would be Uennepin
canal meeting in Chicago. At recent
meeting held at the Harper house moth
ing had been done, the speaker said,
but the appointment of joint
committee of one member from each of
the tri-cities, or in fact only two had been
appointed-Mr. Richardson, of Daven-
port, and Mr. Gest, of Rock Island, while
the other two places were left to make
their appointments at their convenience.
The speaker had understood that Mr..
Gest refused to serve and if so, another
members should be appointed to serve
Mr. Utley, of Chicago, had written the
speaker very encouraging letter stating
that everything looked favorable for the
passage of the Hennepln canal appropri.
alton bill at the present session of cons
gfess. 1t was high time therefore that
Rock Island should be up and doing
Major Connolly thought the appoint
ment of another person in Mr. Gest's
place would be remarkable legislation in
asmuCh as the association did not know
positively that Mr.. Gest had declined
The major recognized the Importance OF
active, energetic work, and moved that
the appointment of Mr.. Gest made at the
Harper house meeting be confirmed. Mr.
Lundy seconded the motion. Jonas Bear
moved to amend by adding Mr. VIM.
Jackson to the committee Mr. jackson
declined
Mr. Oliver Olson suggested that the
association deliberate independent of the
Harper house fracas and that u commit.
Of three be appointed
Mr.. W, H. Lundy thought that MIR.
Olson was out of order. The Harper
house meeting was composed of repre-
sentative men of the tri>cities and the as
sociation could not afford to ignore the
action taken at that meeting.
Mr. Gest came in at this juncture and
was informed of the question pending be.
fore the house, and he explained that he
had said he could not or would not serve
on the committee for the simple reason
that he was very busy, and besides lame
| and unable to get around as lively as
some others who could serve as well as
himself Mr. Bear withdrew his amend
ment and the appointment of Mr. Gest
was duly confirmed. Major Connolly
mazda a nation uyhIcb 1roo oor-;aJ III,
Mr.. Gest be authorized to do anything
eXIedient for the success of the canal that
he might choose. This fms he'd the Hen
nepin canal part of the meeting, and the
president asked if there was anything fur
Their to be considered. Mr.. J. j. Reimers
said that he had set of resolutions which
he desired to offer. He then handed tC
the secretary the following resolutions
which the latter read
Resolved, That we are opposed, and
we believe large majority of the people
of this city are opposed, to the passage Of
the bill now before the United States sen
ate, for the appropriation of the govern
ment bridges and Arsenal grounds at
Rock Island, to the use, occupancy ant
service of horse railroad company, com
posed of o few persons for purely private
and personal purposes and profit.
Further, We are opposed to the passage
of said bill, | because it purports to grant
the use and enjoyment of said bridges ant
Arsenal grounds for purely private gain
without any sufficient equivalent to tn,
public for such privilege, and withou
providing any compensation to the gov
eminent for the use of public propert,
costing large amount to create and ,
large sum annually to maintain
Further, We are opposed to granting
to any person or corporation any furthe
exclusive rights or privileges in or to tn
bridges and arsenal grounds with o
without compensation. The bridges ant
grounds named are the property of tn
nation, costing millions of dollars. Here
tofore the policy of the government ha
been to deny private individuals aU
claim to, authority over or exclusv
rights in any portion of the grounds or il
any of the bridges, policy which tim
has demonstrated to be wise one, ant
one that we believe should not be de
parted from in this case; that no zoo
reason can now be urged why this polio
: should be departed from to grant thi
horse railroad monopoly to private Del
sons for private gain. We believe tina
such grant would injuriously commi
! the government to the policy of THROWN
open lands reserved by it for importan
, government purposes to the use, occu
pancy and service of private persons an
corporations for private gain.
We are further opposed to the grant O
MS horse railroad monopoly, because tn
. proposed use and occupancy of the bridge
/ and arsenal grounds is foreign to and in
consistent with the purposes for whic
the arsenal grounds and bridges are use
by the government; that is the Island G
Rock Island is needed by the governmeI
for arsenal purposes it should be kept an
used to the exclusion of horse railroa
rights of way and other private oecupan