Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-01-10
NEW FERRY FRANCHISE.
An Outside Company Said 20 be Ap.
plying FOR Privileges Which VIII
Improve Present Facilities.

An Outside Company Said 10 be Ap.
plying FOR Privileges Which Will
Improve Present Faculties.
The Davenport Times of last evening
contains an extended article on the posi-.
bility of new ferry company being Civ
en- franchise between the cities of Rock
Island and Davenport, with a provision
that it run five minute boats. and reduce
fares. The Times says
As is quite generally known the fran
chise of the Rock Island and Davenport
Ferry company expires the present year
and already an application has been con-
sidered 10 the board of supervisors and
the matter has been laid over until the
next meeting. This is right and while
the board is considering this application.
it should not deal lightly with an appli,
cation from another company that is de- |
sirous of putting in ferry system be.
tween the two cities. A Missouri com.
pany, which owns several ferry fran
chises in western waters has directed a
communication to Chairman Sears, of
the board Of supervisors of Scott county,
asking fof ferry franchise for this river. |
This company is one of wide experience
and of big capital, and if a franchise is
granted. the purpose is to put on two
small boats OF high power and light
draught, to run all the time. They will
make trips every five minutes and will
charge only half the fare now charged by
the present ferry company. They
will make of their boats excursion boats.
so that persons paying one fare
can ride all afternoon between the two
cities. Now this proposition is most
liberal. and in these days when rapid
transit is the the me. this subject of better
communication between the two cities is
extremely popular and should be fully
considered by the board of supervisors.
Ii is well known that the present ferry
company has fought every method OF
transportation between these two cities
excepting their own corporation. Capt
L. j. Robinson, who is president OF the
Rock Island National bank, is president
OF the ferry company and owns two thirds
Of the $3.50. 900 stock. 1t is also well
known fact Capt. Robinson fought the
old bridge and the new bridge and worked
night and day to get congress TO pass
bill making the new bridge toll bridge
ana fought II with no success.
1t is fact. too. and one that is gen
orally known that this ferry company
paid dollars to Rock Island t. secure a
charter, where it never paid Davenport
one cent. IL is known that the bitter
est enemies of the Henuepin canal
schemes, was those interested in this
ferry company. Time was when the
company sought to dictate, but now that
there are more ways than one to get from
one city TO the other the company is more
liberal. 1t was not more than two or
three years ago that there was some feel.
ing here in Davenport. on account OF its
position against the bridges. street car
lines, and in fact. every means of transit
between the two cities. II is also quite
generally known that some of the stock
which is paying well, on account of the
exclusive franchise is held. was sold To
certain Davenport parties at very low
figure, for the pur pose of securing in
fiuence among Davenport people. All
these things are quite well-known facts
There is no doubt but what this cor
poration for twenty-five years has been
monopoly, and these methods, as q re-
suit OF such monopoly. has proved det-
rimentsl to the interests and retarded the
growth OF both Davenport and Rock Isl
and.
Now that foreign company wishes tn
come in and give us q quicker and better
service at just one half the price. there
appears to be no good reason why fran
chise should not be granted.
While the ARGUS is not opposed to
another ferry franchise being granted be,
tween the two cities, being always in
favor OF improving transportation facili-
ties, it believes thu Davenport Times is I'M
justly severe on the present Rock Island
d Davenport Ferry company. for while
it did for years and until recently enjoy
monopoly and an exclusively princely
franchise, bitterly opposing, all competi
ton, it has always given us good accom-
modations-the best ferry boat indeed on
the entire Mississippi river. OF course
we hail with delight. all improvements
and the ANGUS has ever been free 10 con-
denim the ferry company, when it has
sought to antsgonize them-sl its readers
know that. But the ARGUS is not so blind to
all sense of justice rs to endorse all that
the Times says concerning Capt. Robin
son. especially as 1t pertains to the Hen
nepin canal. Capt Robinson has scru-
pulOusly guarded his own interests al
ways. aud has utilized all the powers
and influences that he could draft into
his service-and ne has been quite sue
cessful in this-to further them, but he
has never been charged before with op
posing the Hennepin canal. He was one
Of the original fathers of the scheme. and
is now the only survivor of the first Henne
pin canal commission. He has been from
the first day the canal was heard of one
of its stsunchest aud most faithful advo-
Gates and no man has taken a more ac-
tive 2 in promoting its success than
he.
Let us condemn narrow-minded, sin
gle>handed business policy, where It is
prejudicial to public welfare. but let us
not permit it to warp our sense of fairness.
Let us give justice where justice is due.