Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-25

provision IN question DID not con-
template the permitting of the new
company to connect its tracks with
those of another corporation until an
agreement had been reached between
all parties concerned. 1t was neces-
sary, though. that the city give its
sanction to any arrangement of tracks
before it could be made, aud this
was all the ordinance provided for.
This section was thereupon passed.
THE LEvEE PROTECTION.
Lengthy Discussion Of Present and Future
Track Rights and the Condition.
Aid. Gall did not consider that the
ordinance made sufficient provision
for the proper protection and preser-
walton of the levee. He therefore
offered an amendment making it
obligatory that the Davenport &
Rock Island Bridge and Terminal
company in consideration of the or
dinance being granted be required to
build steamboat wharfage from
the east line of Twentieth to the
west line of Seventeenth street, the
same to be built as the mayor of the
city may direct as to heighth and
width.
Aid. Nelson asked for the reading
of the section relating to the levee,
which City Clerk Huesing read as
Tho Ordinance Section.
..The said tracks shall be con-
struted at such q grade as not to OBJ
struct any of the public levees or
streets or future extension thereof,
and the said tracks and the space
between the said tracks shall be
kept properly planked and macada-
mized or paved, as ordered by the
city council, where it crosses the
levee or any street, or any future ex-
tension of any street which the city
reserves the right to make from the
south side of said tracks to the river
front. SO that teams and passengers
can safely cross the same, and in
case the company fails to do so, the
city may pat such tracks in tho, de-
sired condition ut the expense OF the
railroad company, and the said CON-
pany shall, in the construction of its
road bed, not hinder or obstruct any
waterway, sewer or gutter. but shall
provide, as ordered by the city coun-
Gil, whenever it shall be necessary,
sufficient stone sluice ways or extern
sions of sewers under the road bed,
at its own expense; and if the COM
pany fails to do SO, the city may con.
struct the same at the expense Of the
said company"
Aid. Nelson stated that while he
favored the bridge and terminal en-.
terprise. he felt that the river bust
ness had been underestimated. The
city should pay more attention to
this important factor of commercial
intercourse. With the opening OF
the Hennepin canal he looked for a
new development of river traffic.
With two additional tracks outside
those now occupying First avenue,
the levee would be so steep that
teams coming from boats would find
it almost impossible to get over the
tracks. Yet he thought Aid. Calls
amendment little too severe.
Aid. Gall spoke in behalf of his
amendment. He believed the termi-
nal company should in consideration
of the track rights sought give some
thing in return that would protect
river business. He believed the road
should be required to put in the
wharfage the resolution suggested.
Capt. George Lamont spoke briefly
of the bearing of river traffic on
freight rates, which were always 81
per cent less by steamer than by
rail. There were about three hun.
dred boats landing here a month and
the river was the lever by which
rates were controlled.
| Improve the Levee.
Maj. J. NJ. Beardsley impressed
upon the council the importance o.
the Mississippi river. the greatest
navigable stream in the country. te
the city. The approaches to i,
should be made passable. First
avenue should, and would, with
proper preservation of the river
front, be one of the great commercial
thoroughfares of the city. He spoke
| NASSA oSOAuh Oonui
ton Of the levee. 1t should be i'm
proved and paved to the low watel
mark. The tracks should be there
the new bridge and terminal com
pany sha.tfM.be encousakA ant
given the very best, but all the rail
roads should be required to contrib
ute to good streets. the same as citi
Zons and other trsnanortst;on com
panies have been compelled to
There should be NO switching al
lowed there-the trains made up il
other parts OF the city-and then
drawn over level we'll protected
tracks. The levee now is in dis
graceful condition, and should b,
improved.
When the major retired ne wa.
heartily apPlauded, whereupon Aid
johnson asked the speaker If he wal
representing Capt. Robinson. of tn,
ferry. in his remarks.