Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-03
CONSOLIDATION.
Possibilities for the Twin Cities
Commented Upon.
COMPARED TO THE NORTHERN PAIR

W. AAAeASS AZ AAAA &SVxb 4xAxSxbxs l. AIN
Tae Clinton and Lyons Alliance Causes
. Discussion Of the Opportunities for
Cities Similarly situated. Including Our
Own-In Union ID Strength.
The determination of the cities of
and Lyons by vote of the
of the two places to unite.
has been the signal for a discussion
in which a number of papers are in
dulging, of the Importance of a SINH
lar step on the part of ST. Paul and
and of Rock Island and
commercial and indus
trial twins of the head waters of the
mississippi river, and likewise
the commercial and industrial twins
of the central upper Mississippi val
ley. The advantages of such an
alliance of municipalities has
been realized for years. In union
there is strength, and all
that stands between the four cities
last mentioned adopting similar
proceedings, is local rivalry. Rivalry
is good thing, but local pride is
better. Clinton and Lyons have
solved the problem, and those in Mo-
line, and those in Rock Island who
oppose consolidation are standing in
their own light. The uniting of two
such cities as Rock and Moline, each
of which possesses advantages that
the other does not. yet whose inter-
ests are common, is believed to be
only a matter of time, and the sooner
the move is made, the better. In
Moline the spirit of opposition to
union is much more pronounced than
it is here-but it is vanishing there.
The broad-minded view shared by the
more progressive. conservative
thinking element is surmounting the
narrow, clanish disposition which is
blind to that which is for its own
best good, and some day Moline, ris-
ing above all that protests against
municipal as well as commercial
unity. will come forward ready to
accept Rock Islands repeated over
lures and the formation of the third
if not the second city of the state.
One of Moline's foremost business
men, in conversation with an ARGUS
representative the other evening. re-
marked. "the sentiment in our city
is changing toward Rock Island.
People realize the advantages to
come from consolidation, and the
growing tendency toward such a
move cannot be put down. A city of
IS, coo people would WELD more in
fluence than two existing under the
relations that now prevail"
The GIories o: Consolidation.
The Clinton Age in its editorial on
the consolidation just effected there
puts the matter straight thus: 1.-The
accomplishment of consolidation is a
matter over which both cities are to
be congratulated. The union has
been made with but little friction
and that little will be felt but a
short period. OF course it may take
some time to adjust things to the
changed conditions, but even that
will be done sooner and easier than
most of us realize. We believe the
councils of the two cities will ratify by
ordinances the vote of the people,
and that done one set of officers do
all the work and receive all the hon
ors until next March.
There is and there can be no danger
of either of the two cities being in
any manner unjustly treated by the
power invested in the consolidated
city. 1t will be the desire of the en-
larged city to administer its affairs
with an eye single to the interests of
every locality. There can be no
crowding of any division to the wall.
and there can be no such thing as
unfairness or Partially. We will
soon have all the machinery at work
required for the government of one
city, and from thence onward NAV
be dated the commencement: of a
new era of prosperity. We shall re-
alize almost every day that in union
there is strength. Starting out with
a population of at least $4,000, we
shall receive that prestige such as
numbers entitle us to.
I'VE have here now a large city.
True, no larger today than a week
ago. But with the outside world it
makes a great difference whether it
is one city of $4,000 inhabitants it
has to do with, or two cities, one
with IS. 900 and the other with 5000.
1t is all right. Consolidation is vir-
tually complete. No one is damaged
a penny. Now let us all up and to
work for new industries"