Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-01-10
REACHING OUT.
The Street Railway Conn any's
Independent Move.
Striking for Rock River ON Its Own
Hoek-Two Lines in view-A sig
nificant Option and Presp ective
Park

The fact that the Chicago syndicate of
street railway capitalists controlling the
lines of the tri-cities. failed to get posses,
sion OF the Milan road in conseaue nee of
the recently advertised public sale OF the
property, has occasioned considers BILE dis
appointment among public spirited men,
knowing that such disposition of the
property would put it in shape where it
would be of best service to the pu bic, not
only in the neighborhoods through which
1t passes, but in reaching that always pop
ular summer resort. Black Hawk tower.
But 1T now appears that the synd cate has
decided upon another means of reaching
this territory and of developing in its pro,
gress perhaps an entirely new resident
portion. 1t has headed its Ninlh street
line for Rock river Its present
terminus is at Eleventh avenue, but petit
ton is in circulation among property
holders beyond that point praying fer
right OF way further south as far as Rock
river and probably the road will cross the
bridges into Milan before it stops, as the
other company does not possess an ex,
elusive franchise across the bridges.
just how the company expect to reach
the tower is not known. but it is not IN
likely that this viii be done by TN exten.
sion of the Elm street line almost directly
south. The Ninth street line would 90
within short distance of the tower for
down town people, while the Elm street
route would be a great conven fence for
all Moline people in particular. This ar.
rangement would give the synd cate two
distinct lines to Rock river.
William Jackson. yesterday. in behalf
OF the street car companies. secured an
option from Sears Bros. on tie sale of
tract of about twenty acres a. the point
OF the bluff east of the Rockford Co. g
brick works at Sears. This tract of land
gives one of the finest views in the west.
1t is said by old settlers now living, to be
the real site of Black Hawks Watch
Tower and is over twenty feet higher
than the point now referred to as such.
In addition to the site Sears Bros. agreed
to right of way that they would be
pleased to see occupied by first class
electric street railway line.
rTharn &c pra,on, ,,,,,.k
on the part of our people for a branch of
the electric railway from the terminus of
Elm street to Sears. The people living
on the line of the feasible route are ready
to give the right of way for such a rail-
way. The benefit to this territory would
be great. 1t would bring into market the
property lying south of this city, a tract
OF country very beautiful in its natur al
appearance. A street railway like this
would do for Rock Island what the street
car line has done for SJuth Moline - it
has quadrnpled the price of the land in a
few years. While the spirit Of enterprise
is at work here let the people of this ter
ritory bestir themselves and secure this
electric railway service. The people for
the advantage that may be derived can
well afford to offer inducements to the
syndicate companies TO enter their terri
tory. We believe all that it needs IS a
little energy on the part of the persons
interested.