Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-03
THE WRONG IDEA.

Marrow Disposition TOWN." ho
RoImes syndicate, which the Pub
lte-Sp,rited Citizens Over There do
Not Endorse
Tue representative citizens OF DaVen-
port are up in arms toward the city COUP
ell over there for its attitude toward the
Holmes syndicate in tacking on thst $ooo
penalty to the electric ordinance because
the company saw its interests best sub
served bv locating its power station in
Rock Island. The council in its action
does not voice the sentiment of the en-
terprising people who are pushing Dav-
enport to the front. The spirit which is
niyersiSsng both Rock Island and Daven-
poress ahead, is one that encourages out
no seD.tocapilal and the expenditure of large
,.rs.eptat OF money in our midst. In Daven-
.rt~> local element, which seems to have
the uprfr hand with the council, has
arisen 70 aEtagonize the Holmes people
who have done more to make these two
cities than anything else. The same ele-
ment arose here. but the Rock Island
council awake 10 the best Interests of the
city, promptly sat down upon il and the
municipal body met with general public
commentator for so doing. The Demo
= crat depreeates the Davenport councils
seatment of the Holmes syndicate and
saysS
IL is particularly unfortunate thing
that. Just at. this time when the eyes of
capitalists and business men all over the
country are turning toward US there has
developed in our city government dis
position to grow suddenly rich nj the ex-
pense OF any man who has a nose dol
lar. That is putting the case in sNtrong
lsiat- hrt- HsshnslRaaa- ,S-ssec-o' it it is
none too strong. The Holmes syndicate
has a street car property here that is val
liable. Ii would not be valuable to any,
one II II were not in the hands of a COM
pany that Is large enough 10 handle it as
such things should be handled. If a con
Germ OF limited means had 1t it would he
poor property because of the lack of
capital The Holmes company takes il.
improves 1t till 1t has the best horse car
system In any place Of the size in the
country, ard then asks to be AL
lowed TO Keep pace with the time; to
give the people wtat they cIamur for: to
spend mint Of money here and to build
up our suburbs, bring our outside prop
trty nearer the city, increase our values
Tor taxation by thousands of dollars. and
give us modern system Of rapid transit
thal IS commOdiOus and safe and cert-ip
NaEd for this privilege of beuering the CITY
y asked to pay large bonus Durinr
this year AS stated to the council Wa1nes-
daY night by Supt. SchniJger. the com.
pany paid out more than Sl5 600 fo7
street paving. 1t is compelled to keen in
condition and maintain an ares of siraet
IN nll parts If the city, that is eousl 10 u
miles in length by The regulation go feet
IN Width; II has done great work in
bringing the outskirts OF the civ Ia the
business center. and it will pay taxes on
every dollar of additional Investment thai
IL makes here, as fully as any business man
OF concern IN The city does or Will. The
dement, 10 the city by the conversion of |
tue present power system is hardly To !
oe measured At this time No greater |
s.ep toward development could be taken. !
Does IL TOOK like policy 60 tax any man |
u W men TOT making improvements here? |
=, so'~"oy does Dot the city tax John |
whitaker cecause he tore down an an /
.qua'ed pudding and put up a modern /
uloch III us stead? Docs any alderman /
VIZ 4Z+H want the word To 90 ont |
thst Davenport takes this wav of en-.
couraging new corners? Is not the repn- |
talon OF being ready to welcome. foster |
ana encourage new enterprises. and |
Others that have been with Ms better |
THAN any sum of money that is likely 10 !
be paid into the city treasury by auy firm |
Tor the privilege of coming here to build
up the town. The history of live places
shows that it is.
These are sensible views. but the Tyj.
6HHe on the other hand ATTEMPTS IN no
conservative and shows its Ignorance of
facts or of justice. It says. for instance;
DIR. Allen has to pay $500 per wear for
the privilege Of operating his line on Sec
ond street BY this ordinance the Holmes
syndicate pays $500 per year for operat-
stng It's lines on Second street; one on Har>
es son street, one on Perry street and the
n orth~est Davenport line. This certain
~ looks AS though the Holmes syndicate
Pad little the best of that.
The Tribune seems to have lbs, track
@ie fact that DR.. Allen is having
his '-9-@sarily for the use of
the Holmes tracks on Second street
rights which the Davenport coun
ci had no just right 10 give him.
Mr.. Holmes dos not ask for y right IN
use a track owned by another or q street
on which another has rights Of way. He
does not do business in that way. He is
Independent, pays as he goes. but does not
wish TO De imposed upon or t. have
his rights trampled under foot as the
Davenport council has done. He simnlv
asks the privilege of improving his ser
vice and giving the public better facili-
ties. For this he is to pay "A royalty. Is
this right2 Would any man of business
submit to punishment and imposition at
the hands of city council because ne
favored another city with his mower
? "'""' order TO save himself 81 200
r in lnelT Mr., Holmes placed his
power flent in Rock Island because the
advantages~bere in point of fuel are
superior to those AZ Davenport. Can he
be blamed for this? Has the Davenport
council n right to punish him for this?
The ARGUS believes that IN othcs 9o'
he gc-.,dAi6 Rsss
all , the two