Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-08-15
BRIDGE TRANSIT.
The system Which the Davenport Il Rock
Island Seeks to Inaugurate

Inc system winch the Davenport n Rock
Island Seeks to Inaugurate
The Davenport & Rock Island Rail
way company has never failed to keep
its promises with the people of the
three cities. Every pledge made to
the councils of Rock Island. Moline
and Davenport in securing franchises
or extensions has been fulfilled to the
letter, and more. The service it has
given has excited the wonder and adj
miration OF our people, and has mer-
tied compliment on the part of
strangers within our gates. In fact,
many have expressed their surprise
that the company should give pop
ulation reaching in the aggregate in
the three cities 5000 people ser
! vice that would be more apt to be
looked for in city of many times
our population. One business man
commenting on the subject the other
= day said: Il attribute every inn
provement Rock Island has made in
the past five years to our street rail
way system. Certain it is that not
one of these cities would have been
able to do the paving that has been
done but for the street railway compa-
ny. The three cities have followed the
company'S tracks with pavement for
miles and it has not uttered a MUIR
muir. On Fort Armstrong avenue on
the island the most expensive granite
pavement was put down at its eX-
pense. 1t cheerfully has stood its
proportion of all the improvements
that have been made on the bridges.
and has always been ready to do its
share. How long would the ferry
company that now seeks to control
travel between these two cities have
stood this expense without a kick?
I'll tell you the people of the three
cities don't realize what this compa-
ny has done for them. A man who
has any knowledge o. street railway
matters, as | have had, can tell YOU
what it means. And now all that is
asked is to be permitted to still fur
Their improve the service by abolish
ing the last relic horse-carism and
the introduction of electricity in con.
formity with the rest of the system
Who can seriously object unless he
be actuated by purely selfish mo-
tives?"
Extent of the system.
1t is not probable that all of the
readers of THE ARGUS know the ex-
tent Of the syndicate plant and system
here. 1t has over As miles of double
and single track in the three cities,
one of the best power plants in the
United States, operating sc motor
cars and as many more trailers, all
of modern design. and eight horse
cars on the bridge line, which latter
constitute the sole drawback to a
first class system. The motors and
trailers are the most modern design,
and are an ornament to the streets,
and now if the company should re-
ceive, as in every sense of reason it
should, the right to operate electric
cars on the bridge line. it agrees to
submit that branch to the regulation
and control of the commandant at
Rock Island arsenal. as the horse car
line is now, and equip it with cars
ESPECIALLY designed for it. 24-foOt
Pullman body cars. the best made.
to he provided with two 15-horse
power Thompson-Houston motors.
and with air brake attachments. and
every advantage in the way of safe
ty. The trolley wires are to be us
tanned by ornamental poles on the
island and girders on the bridges.
and so held that should wire break
it will be impossible for it TO drop.
The company will throw every safe
guard possible about its bridge sys-
TEN, and should it he given the an
vantageS which it seeks. and which
the people of the three cities have
! petitioned for.