Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-22
NOT SO ANXIOUS.
Moline Wen Are Not so Enthusi astic
Over the Consolidation Idea as They
Have Been Thought TO be.-Mistaken
Notions.

MOhue wen are N0t so Enthurhasuc
Over the Consolidation Idea as They
Have Been Thought TO be- Mistaken
Notions.
The Moline Republican of Saturday
night publishes column and half of
interviews with representative men of
that city concerning the idea Of consoli.
dating the cities of Rock Island and Mo-
line. The result is the revelation of
quite diversity of opinion with decid
ed sentiment however in opposition to
the proposition. Some of the most prom,
inent expressions are:
Mayor Vessel does not favor consoli-
dstion and thinks that Moline would gain
nothing thereby. To him it appeared
that city that was proposing to sell its
waterworks WAS much IN the same condi-
ton as the farmer who is completely
overwhelmed with debt and seeks to gain
little more time by giving mortgage
on his farm He said he thinks Rock
Island has a larger debt than Moline and
but little To show for il. Even il consol~
idation should be effected, the same strife
would exist, the only difference being
that il would he between the Inhabitants
of the east and west ends of one city in
stead of between those of two separate
cities.
Ex>Mayor Mason said that he would
about rs soon expect to see the millennium
Ms to see the consolidation of the two
cities. His opinion is that Moline has
nothing to gain thereby; that it would
have to pay the Indebtedness of Rock
Island, which is greater than that of Mo-
line. He does not believe that either
city is ready to give up It's name and said
in this connection that Rock Island had
inherited or adopted hers from the island,
while Moline has made hers what it is.
James W. Atkinson said briefly that he
thought 1t could not be accom- plished for
some time at least that in talking of cons
solidstion each city was simply soaping
the other to get in better condition to
swallow il.
W. r. Moore said. 1--WE will never con-
solidation until Rock Island consents to
accept the name of Moline. and to locate
the court house in the vicinity of Brooks
addition or Edgewood Park"
&. F. Hemenway, to whom a question
had been addressed that called forth Mr..
Moore's remark, said that he was much
of the same opinion; that there is scarcely
a mandatory in Moline sending out its
wares but what has the name Moline at
tached thereto. He also stated that the
late W. Z. Brooks, of Rock Island. had
said to him prior TO his DEATH that the
greatest mistake he ever made in his life
was when he signed the petition for the
annexation to Rock Island some wears
ago, of the territory taken from Moline
township.
5. W. Wheelock said that he had not
considered or read much concerning cons
solidation. When told that President
Hass had called meeting of the Rock
Island Citizens Improvement association,
he said that if it was to be brought up
each one should give it careful consider
alton, as it is an important question, and
then decide as he thought best for the
city.
II. A. Ainsworth thinks that there may
be some points Of advantage, but that
the larger debt of Rock Island might be
an obstacle IN the way
II. A. Barnard is inclined to think that
he would favor 1t if il could be brought
about in a harmonious and satisfactory
way. At the outset he thought the
greatest obstacle would be to agree upon
name. He would not be in favor of
Moline taking back seat, and thought
neither city would be willing to adopt
the name Of the other; hence he con-
cluded thai in case of consolidation ii
would be better to adopt some new name
of historical significance.
Capt W. G. Bennett said he had not
given the subject much consideration, and
could not see where Moline would gain
much save the prestige Of being part of a
larger city. He might favor it if il could
be made upon satisfactory TERMS but he
would not want Moline to lose it's post
office and present postal facilities. He
too was inclined to think the same con
tentiOn would continue to exist between
the citizens of the two sections at leas 1
for some time.
Ghpin Moore is heartily in favor of
the scheme, and would be glad To see
this entire valley under ore government.
He thinks considerable of the opposition
would come from persons holding official
positions, who might think that in such
an event they would lose their bread and
butter in consequence.
So 1t seems that the chief ground oil
opposition to consolidation in our sister
city springs from fear that the change
would be more advantageous to Rock
Island than to Moline, and some of the
gentlemen are inclined to ask good dea
of Rock Island if we are to have the
privilege and glory Of annexing them tC
us as city. As for instance, read W
X. Moore's sentiment. In this connec
ton if there is anything Mr.. Moore does
not want of Rock Island we would like
to know it. We might let him have tn,
Rock Island road, Rock Island bridge
Rock Island arsenal aud the Rock Island
water front on the Mississippi; and all il
exchange for Moline dude, if he would
be satisfied. The idea advanced that Mo.
line is only TO be benefited, carries its
own sense of ridicule, as that city would
practically gain more than Rock Island
not only in being part and parcel of 8
larger city. but having the advantages oil
the county seat and more advanced
spirit and idea Of city growth and enter.
prise.