Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-21


and Citizens Improvement association
and Of the Moline Business Mems asso.
citation. was held at the room OF the Rock
Island association Saturday eveniI @
Mayor P. II. Vessel and Messrs. L. F
kerns. A. s. Wright. and c. II. Deere
were present from the Moline committee,
and Messrs. Fred Hass. Phil Mitchell,
VIM. jackson, A. G. Dart and DR.. w.
A. Paul represented the Rock Island
committee. while Mes'rs. NJ. Buford.
4. u. Frazer and others fro both cities
were present by invitation. DR.. Calvin
Truesdale. chairman Of the oint commit.
tee. was called out OF town few minutes
before the meeting convened so
on motion of Mr. Fred Hass. Mayor Yves,
sci, OF Moline, was elected chairman and
ID. Z. Simpson, of Rock Island,
secretary. Mr.. p. S. McGlynn
read the minutes of tie previous
meeting at Moline of which he was
chairman. Remarks being In order.
DIR. Vessel and Mr.. Kerns, of Moline.
both stated that their opinions having
been on the negative side at the last
meeting. they would be pleased to
hear from the affirmative on the question
Of consolidation.
Mr.. A. s. Wright, of Moline, stated
that 1t was evident that large majority
OF the committee. correctly representing
as he thought the sentiments of the COM
munity, favored consolidation. 1t was
no use to enter our thoughts again, but
1t would be better to arrive at a plan of
action.
Mr. Fred Hsss was in favor of consoli,
dstion. II was to our interet Is to consol-
idate for various reasons First, it
would double our population. and the
size OF q town carries strength in all eff
forts for Its rebuilding in seeking advan-
tages and new enterprises away from
home. United, the new CITY would be
the third in size in the state; il would
lessen the expenses of municipal govern
ment, as one city administration would do
what it is necessary to have two for now.
He believed the people of Rock Island
would be willing to make a reasonable
Concessions to effect the union, and
would expect of course Moline to do the
same. He was heartily in favor OF con-
solidstion under all reasonable circum-
stances.
MIR. A. G. Dart had always favored
consolidation and he believed the question
had resolved itself wholly into one of de-
tails and 1t was but necessary now to con-
tinue TO confer and to harmonize the
joint interests of the two cities until il
was accomplished. Consolidation would
advance the property Interests all over
both cities. The same man who owns
the property at the west OF Rock Island
owns the property on the east of Moline
and he keeps it, Mr.. Dart said, in the
shape of COW pasture rather than to cut
it up into blocks and lots and to improve
1t. A consolidated city would force
the desired improvements upon this mans
property and could compel 1im at his
own expense to convert his COW pastures
into city property. United, our interests
would be identical and we would carry
weight in securing desirable pub
lie enterprises and new industries.
10 ten years the total population of the
consolidated city would be doubled. The |
three cities are really one community
now; how much more SO are Rock Island
and Moline1 The imaginary line should
be vanished and these two cities made
one, in fact. The late General Rodman
had made the prediction to the speaker,
that all the territory north CT the bluff
from the east line of Moline to the ex-
IRENE west line OF Rock Island would in
time be one solid manufacturing and bus>
mess center, while toward the bluff in
the south would be the resident portion.
Mr.. Dart believed this prediction would
come true sooner or later. ami that cons
solidation would hasten 1t.
Mr.. ]. NJ. Buford spoke of the interest |
he had always felt in everythin g pertain |
ing TO Rock Island. He was not in this |
Country when the subject of consolidation |
was first broached. but he was heartily in |
favor OF the plan as one looking mutually
to the interests of both cities. Fifty years |
ago his father had predicted Il at in twen-
tY-fve years this community would con-
tain 20, 900 people, and that in fifty years |
it would swell TO $4,000 He also pre-
dicted that this would be the point at |
which the first railroad would strike the |
Mississippi. Both these predictions had |
been realized, and how much more |
would have been the gain. the |
speaker. asked had the cities on the east
bank of the river been one? The only |
objection he had ever heard to the union |
was the name. Both cities were pos-
sessed of pride in and love for their city |
and both were unwilling to give it up.
yet both had grown together. Rock Isl. |
and always led both in population and
business, and the interests OF both cities
are the same; we have grown together |
until only an imaginary line intervenes.
Why we cannot exist under one corpora.
ton, Mr.. Buford could not Understand. |
MIR. c. II. Deere, of Moline said there
might be some matters of general interest
to determine, but he favored he plan of
getting together for exchange of views
which he believed would result to the |
mutual advantage Of both TOW ms and lead
up TO the formation of one city The
opening up Of q thoroughfa-e between
the two cities on which one might drive
from one city to the other without en-
countering locomotives. he believed to be
one Of the first and best moves that could
be made.
Mr. VIM Jackaon exnreaaai bia raurat