Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-08-29
GOOD STREET CAR SERVICE
The improvements Which Follow
Rapid Transit.
A Whpk IF SIfr IN .hts seu1ary-EL G
source OF True PfOsr. aud
ssrswL.s- -Scss.S.c
Views.

here right along for the past three years
ought to 60 away for year or SO and
then come back. II it don't open your
eyes am very much mistaken. tell
you what, The people here don't begin to
realize what transformation has taken
place. Rock Island is getting a reputa,
,ion all over the country for the rapid
strides il is making in the way of ims
provements. We heard of Spencer square
out in Hastings, Neb.. ard we heard of
the paved streets and rapid transit, but
let me say to You, you have got to come
here to see for yourself. for seeing is be-
lieving. want 10 Say just one thing too,
and il may be something many of your
cit!ze ms have not thought a b 0ut. The street
car syndicate 10 the cause of all the i'm
provements you have enjoyed and are
epj Dying. | can see this, for when left
here three years ago, the Chicago syndi-
cate had just bought in and now on my
return | can see the results"
The speaker was w. b. Meiatire, of
Msln;irs Bios, and who has charge OF
the firms dry goods house at Hastings,
Neb. He is su old Rock Islander aud is
back on visit to relatives and friends
here and at Muscatine. Yesterday he
dropped into the THE ARGUS Office and
the above conversation followed.
The opinion held by Mr.. McIntire is
also borne out in part in the following
communication to the Dubuque Telegraph,
which the papers of other Iowa cities are
copying with comments of commenda-
tory nature:
Editor Telegraph: For city not on
boom, Des Moines has in the last two
years experienced q growth, and is enjoy
ing season OF prosneutv rsrelv witnessed
Al ~ "a 10y. To. 40 ~ os po...., .I4-
that of our own city, Dubuque in the
above mentioned period, is due to the
construction of electric street car roads
more than to any other agency will scarce>
ly admit Of doubt. The work of cover
ing with elegant homes and other improve
ments wh ole sections of territory on both
sides Of the city is beyond question the
result of the splendid car service given
Des Noines by i,s electric car ccrrcanr.
The suburbs on eli sides and extending
for miles from the central part of the city
are reached by II distinct car lines COM
prising upwards of 40 miles of track.
These lines all connect at a central point
in the city. Each line is thoroughly
equipped with its own cars, operated on
schedule time, which is observed to the
minute.
Transportation thus improved has SO
minimized the difference in living one
mile or three or four miles from ones
place Of business that since the advent of
the electric car thousands have taken adj
vantage Of the comparatively cheap prop
erty thus made available and have secured
beautiful locations and built elegant
houses
Some two years ago the first electric
line was operated to North Des Moines,
three and one>hslf miles from the city.
1t was built on an earth grade through a
timber country. To-day the entire dis
lance is built solid with fire houses, the
streets all paved and cement curbs and
sidewalks.
Tha; transportation is the great agent
Of commerce. civilization and thrift, and
that our progress as nation, a state or
q community is measured by the facilities
afforded in that department, is becoming
more apparent.
AT Sioux City three years ago was con-
structed cable line extending three and
q halt miles out from the city, over q
rough rolling prairie. The entire dis
lance the hills were graded and the gorges
filled. Today elegant houses. highly
improved streets, and largely increased
material for the assessor are thu results.
A friend Of mine last week met a gentle
nan from Burlington and put the usual
question, How is it in your town."
The gentleman answered: why, sir,
we have awakened to new life in Bur-
ling ton. We have electric cars in opera
ton there now and we are all building
fine houses and moving to the suburbs"
Experience is as broad as the nation 10
the effect thet the electric car builds the
suburb.
While II is true that Dubuque has been
Ala.o.i6iIJ uoDenJted OF Cne electric roaus
as far as they have been built, it is equal.
ly true that much has bsen lost to the
public and To the car companies through
their neglect TO extend their lines and en-.
courage suburban improvements. Can il
be Our street car companies are We 'ded
to the delusion. that you must first build
the suburb and the street car will come?
or that you must build the city as long
| as you desire to make it and have things
| In good shape to accommodate q street
car companyf Can they not realize the
fact that the construction of road Civ
| ing good service is certain to result in
Increased value to their franehiseS Evi.
IDENTITY our electric street car men do not
see things in that light and object to
building beyond permanently improved
localities. In this they display an IN,
pardonable lack Of enterprise and very
poor judgment and add another to the
many instances in which Dubuque's best
| interests have suffered through what
might be termed stoughton bottle enter,
prise, and through which her choice nat
ural resources and the interests of many
| of her more deserving and euterprisinp