Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-01-07
THAT TERMINAL.
1t is the Topic for Extended Dis
cussion Last Night.
MEETING AT THE ooUKCIL CHAMBER

Upon an Important Mstter-Those who
Favor 1t support their Position while
Representatives of the Railroads State
Their Objection and Opposition-An In
teresting Occasion What will the Re
suit BE? 1t Seems to Rest with the
Council.
The meeting at the city council cham
Der last evening for the purpose of hear
ing the views of citizens and giving the
railroads in the city chance to be heard
on the terminal ubject drew large number
ofcitizens of almost every vocation who are
interested in the welfare of the city. most
of the aldermen being present too. The
meeting was called to order by Mayor
McConochie at o'clock, who announced
that remarks on the terminal project
would be in order.
The First Spea kerr
The first speaker was s. W. Searle,
who stated the objects of the meeting as
ne understood them, and then briefly
outlined the terminal project since its
first inception at a meeting of the Citi-
zens' Improvement association to the
present, in the course of which he spoke
of the benefits it would be to roads al
ready in the city, as vel IS those that
might hereafter seek entrance here. The
speaker said that it had been intimsted
that the project had been started
for private and personal ends. This
he emphatlcally denied which he said
was evidenced by the number of sub
staDti8l citizens identified with the enter
piize. 1t was not the de sire, the speaker
said. to cripple the roads already here,
but to make it mutual benefit to both
the city and the railroad companies. He
then stated that what WAS desired was
that the city council take some action in
regard TO what he termed, the illegal oc-
lcupstion of First avenue by the railroad
companies. He further said that the
people feel that something must be done
in the matter, and that he knew they
desired it from the fact that he had
talked with many personally. He then
cited certain ordinance, which he de-
clsred voidabie, and closed with the hopes
that the council would see fit to act al
once in the matter.
Col. Joseph w. Iirackett.
Col Bracket was next to address the
meeting. and in a shorl speech he be :
spoke what he said were the sentiments
of numerous property holders along First
lLvenue in regard to the occupation oil
what were properly streets by the rail-
road corporations. He then referred 10
the eight or 10 tracks that now occupy
the ground there, some Of which he said
we're illegal, according to the report of
Mr.. Haas, aud said that as the lots abu:-
ting exten ded TO low water mark the city
hal no right to allow any "grasping
railroad corporations, as he called them.
to occupy it unlswfullY. He hoped the
council would act in the premises.
Col. Henry Curtis.
Col. Henry Curtis was next to speak
he explained in the start that he was Their,
in the interests Of the Rock Island
Peoria Railway company, and he looked
upon the matter apparently rather light
ly. He spoke of the terminal project az
merely one on paper, no: share OF STOCK
having been subscribed, aud yet WAS ask
ing to have old estsblisled corporatio Es
rooted out. He was confident, he said
that the council would take no action
that would involve the city in litigation
and that the people would not back it up
in such q move. He questioned the pro-
ject even from business standpoint. say
ing that he could not see any advantage
in having two straight tracks through the
city with no facilities for handling
freight. He spoke Of the whole project
sarcastically, particularly as to the prime
movers in it, intimating hat personal ant
private interests were a. the back of the
moves. He did not even think it good
business investment, and then made allu.
sion to the Business Mems association
being used for furthering personal ends
His remarks were quite lengthy, and il
closing, the speaker said he hoped that 1t
would not be credited with being averse
to public improvement, saying that hi
certainly was not so inclined, but that he
had always had the best interests of tn,
city at heart.
Fred Hass.
The next speaker was Fred Hass, WHIT
made extended remarks on the subject
He took occasion to make reply to the re-
marks OF MI. Curtis in regard to the mat.
ter of it not being good business in
vestment and made an extended explain.
alton that the project had gone as far a