Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-07-01
TONIGHT'S MEETING.
rhe Improvement Association to
Have an Important Session.
The Hennepln Canal Stu a,ion-
The Interests OF The Great
Measure Above all Else.

The Rock Island Citizens Improvement
association will hold special meet
ing tonight to consider the opposi.
ton to the Hennepin canal route terminal,
and to take such action as becomes a
commercial body, considerate only of
public welfare. The session is likely,
therefore, to be an important one, as the
question is one OF the most important
that has yet come before our Improves
ment association. Its action accordingly
should be well weighed and it's course,
whatever it may be. in keeping with the
policy which has hitherto characterized
Tin matters appealing to the first and best
interests Of the community. Ga its atti,
tude on this question depends to a much
larger degree perhaps, than many of the
members realize, the future of the associ>
alton as aninauential body, identified as it
has been in the past, with the citys pro.
gress. If by its action tonight
it takesi a dignifed, conservative
'-S' VI w cAbH2liOI dS IL pICScHlS ltStlt
and subscribes its endorsement only to
that which, under the existing circum-
stances, looks only to the attainment of
the best ends for the public,it will be full
filling lis mission as it has in the past.
But IT, en- the other hand, il permits itself
to be guided by one or two men who
ta6 tira1p hr IND; l,o ~ Gro
interests-men who attend the assucia>
ton meetings only on such occasions as
this, snd who then do most of the talking,
men whose last appearance at an asso-
citation meeting was in a vigorous oppo-
sition to the viaduct project and who
threw everything possible in the way of
lis success-if the association permits
these men to direct the nature of its ex-
preston tonight, then it might as well
hsugsup its harp SIS an Influential body in
Rock Island. Thus far the Rock Island
association has held itself sloof from pri-
vate schemes and has aided only such
enterprises SIS in their nature look to the
Interests of the city and the public. THE
ARGUs believes its action on this occasion
will not be departure from this rule.
The situation as it now presents itself,
seems to be very comprehensive. Gov
eminent engineers have determined upon
line for the. Hennepin canal to the
mouth OF Rock river. 1t follows the
south shore of that river. The more
northerly course would have given more
satisfaction to Rock Island, but not
enough TO warrant fight with the engi-
neers and the government. The estsb
lished route has been determined upon
and is settled. s All that is now done will
hinder and delay work on the canal and
will be Very apt to JeopaIdise the entire
| measure. Rock Island wants the canal
first and above all and a mere selfish
preference as TO route should cut no fig
ure at this late day. Work of construc-
ton is now being hsmpered through the
efforts of handful of property holders
along the north line who care nothing for
the canal beyond the extent to which it
may be used to enrich themselves
M citizen has a right to SEEK
t. ex;ort unreasonable fees from
the government under any pretense what
ever Neither has any city or COM
muuty a right to demand of the govern
ment such course as will involve an ex-
pei dture of $50, 900 ia a public project
more than is necessary, especially when
that $50 600 is for the most part 10 go
into the pockets of private individuals.
The great mass of American people do
not agree with Capt T. J. Robinson in
his remarks before the Davenport Bust.
ness Mems association that "a matter of
| $4,000 or $50, 600 is not OF much account
to the government" and Capt. Robinson
himself would scott at such sn idea under
most circumstances.
As far as the Improvement association
is concerned, it is difficult to see how it
can do otherwise than urge the construc-
ton of the canal without delay by the
most practicable route to the mouth of
Rock river.