Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-03
CAME VERY CLOSE.
Council Hears Track Removal
Recommendations.
AFFECTING ONLY THE PEORIA

Report Laid Over fof TaEthee Conssasrs-
tsss ssa Uatu saeA Fine - tie rate Of
All Beads Interested Are Mentionsd-
A. to fwsiftA Street.
Recommendation for the removal
OF all the tracks along First avenue
belonging to the Rock Island & PEG.
ria Railway company save three were
Presen ted by the committee hand
ling the railway track question at
last evenings council meeting. Its
submission was met by an immediate
motion from Aid. Gall to have it laid
over under the rules. And that
ended the track matter for another
meeting.
The committee only made recon-
mendations concerning the Peoria's
tracks. An extension of time was
asked before . conclusion could be
reached as to how much of the Bur-
lington's right of way was illegally
acquired aud retained. Three mem
bers of the committee-Alds. Kenne-
dy, Fender and refused to
sign the report, which. beside favor
ing the removal of about half.dozen
Of the Peoria's tracks. recommends
that that company be deprived of the
use OF First avenue for storage or
switching purposes. The company,
according to the report. is to be al
lowed its main track. and two addi-
tional ones, the location of the latter
to be selected by the railroad people.
Aid. Nelson submitted an ordi-
nance instructing the city collec or
to report to the county collector be-
fore March 10 all special assessment
and taxation warrants. The ordi-
nance was passed, the rule providing
for the laying over OF documents of
this nature being waived owing to
the necessity of immediate passage
in this instance.
Watsrworks Commission Plan Defeated.
The ordinance providing for the
appointment Of board of waterworks
commissioners was again submitted
by Aid. Kennedy and its appro baton
asked. Aid. Maucker could not see
the meritorious side of such an inno-
walton. and furthermore didn't be-
lieve men competent to serve in the
capacity of commissioners would do
so without compensation. The mat
ter was submitted to a vote and was
defeated 9 to 5-Johnson, Kennedy,
Gall, Nelson, Foss.
A discussion followed the prcsen-
tation OF petition allowing the Bur-
lington Railway company to run a
switch track into Henry Darts Sons
property on First avenue between
Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets.
Aids. Foss and Maucker argued that
this concession should not be made
until the track removal question was
finally disposed of. Messrs. Mack
and Dart were heard on the matter
and illustrated what they considered
the advisability of immediately
granting the petition. and after sew
eral more of the aldermen expressed
their opinions, a motion favorable to
the petitions passage was put and
unanimously carried.
Twelfth Street Up Again.
City Attorney Haas suggested that
the council appropriate a reasonable
amount to defer the expense Of hav-
ing witnesses 90 down to Morrison to
testify in the Twelfth street paving
proceedings. which come up for
trial there in a short time. Aid.
Maucber spoke of the decision
reached at q recent council meet
ing instructing the city attorney to
fight the matter in Whiteside county.
He did not consider it an adj
visable plan to 60 into such a
costly proceeding with little hope OF
success in the end, and wanted at
least some assurance of success be-
fore mourning expense. Aid. Maucker
also thought it was very foolish for
the city to send people down to
Whiteside to have a good time
at its expense. The good-time as
sertion ruffied the city attorney and
he fastened to assure the aldermen
that when he had good times he
footed the expense with his own
long green.
"Gentlemen, If we lay down in
this matter" continued the city at
torney. "what are we going to do
about further improvements-First
avenue, for instance? l would sooner
go down in my own pocket and con-
tribute toward carrying the proceed
ings to focus rather than give up
at this stage of the game"
There was n little more talking
about the court expenses. whercupon
City Attorney Haas broke in; Gen
tlcmen, If we lose the case i0HW hite-
side will not charge the city cent
for my services" This was met
with applause from the aldermen
and spectators and a motion appro-
Priating $500 for deferring witness
ices was unanimously carried.
BuckleA's AFnlca 0olvo