Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-30

upon Nv the municipal body at its next
meeting. are still absorbing large share
Of pub ic attention. and public opinion is
very pronounced as to what it thinks the
city should do in the premises. The AR
GUS few days ago endeavored to show
the ci.y's legal obligations in the prem
ises as regards its attitude toward the
two corporations now seeking rights of
way privileges by quoting the city attor>
ney's opinion. In order to learn the gen.
eral public sentiment an ARGUS repre-,
sentative this morning interviewed Presi.
dent Hass. OF the Rock Island Citizens
improvement association, who has given
the subject great deal of personal atten
ton. who has been over the ground
thoroughly, and has devoted himself to
it with an eye singly to the best
interests of the city and the public as be-
comes his position as the executive Off,
Ger OF an organization whose declared
objects are to advance the city. and to en-
courage and sustain all institutions that
look 10 the upbuilding of the city.
IL have studied tie entire situation
thoroughly in all its bearings. said Mr..
Hass, "snd think I can give my opinion
of it very briefly. You know have been
one OF the advocates of the electric line
to the southeastern bluffs from the first,
and have lent it all the encouragement
and assistance possible, aud l would like
to see it secure a right of way over the
following streets and avenues which l
believe to he the most advantageous all
around: From its present terminus at
Paramount park west on Fourteenth ave.
nue. 20 Thirtieth street. north to Thirs
teentn avenue, west to Twenty-fifth
street, north to Eighth and half avenue
west 70 Twenty,fourth street, north to
point opposite where Fifth avenue turns
into rwenty-third street and thence BY
condemnation proceedings through the
bloch mot over Fifth avenue between
Twenty-third and Twenty fourth streets)
but through the block by new Fifth
and .i-half avenue to the peint where the
Offset of Fifth avenue from the west be-
gins, and thence west to Eighteenth street
and north to First avenue. Such right
of way l would be pleased to see given
TO the Moline Central Electric railway,
and believe 1t is the best the council can
do"
Then would like to see a franchise
gran led the Holmes syndicate to extend
its Elm street line down Nineteenth street
from the corner of Third avenue to Second
aven ne, and to build road from the cor
ner Of Third avenue and Fifteenth street
on Fifteenth street to Fourth avenue and
wesg to Ninth street and out to Eleventh
aver ne, or the city limits. think too
that the council should see to it that the
gap on Fourth avenue between Ninth
and Fifth street. Is built by the Holmes
people. Now | have arrived at these
conclusions for several reasons and /
don't object TO stating them. In the first
place both these lines. the Electric to the
southeast and the Holmes company to the
southwest. reach territories that the bus
mess part Of the city should have COM
munication with. And as far as the upper
route is concerned l hear no objection.
There is no antagonism there. but where
the electric people have sought to enter
the Jurisdiction of the Moline & Rock Is-
land company on Fourth avenue some
feeling has been manifested, but think
the councils duty is clear in the premises
an6 may be easily manifested by granting
the rights prayed for to the Moline d
Rock Island company. Now it has been
sue gested that the council might con-
slsi emily dispose of the question by Civ
ing the Holmes company Third avenue
from Nineteenth street west and the elec>
trio people Fourth. Common sense ough,
to teach the folly of such an idea. What
USE could the Holmes company have with
a Third avenue line with its own road or
Second avenue and an electric road on
Fourth The Third avenue track would
simply be dead letter, and the Holmes
company would simply be forced to buy
out the Fourth avenue line or surrender
either its Third or its Second avenue
franchises, and perhaps both. AND
the thought has struck ne once
OF twice that there was some sucl
purpose as that in the efforts to Sc,
cure Fourth avenue for the Electric road
l want to go on record. too, as saying thi
very thing. cant see what earthly
good 1t would do the Electric company o
the people of the lower end to have tina
company given a right of way for it
ping line on Fourth avenue"
There are other reasons, Furthermore
Why the Holmes syndicate should be givel
the Fourth avenue right of way. Above
ell, the council has given the company I
conditional right there, has expected the
company to act in good faith, and
should so act in good faith. Second, tn
intention of the Holmes company Is cles
and promises more advantages to the cit
IN bringing people not only from the to-
of Elm street, but from the outskirt
ON Ninth street to the business thorough
fare of the city either way and the prop
osition of the Electric company promise
nothing, Its object In seeking Fourth ave
nue. privileges is indefinite and one ca