Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-01
NO DELAY NEEDED.
Council Should Push the Levee
improvement.
LET THE CITY DO IT'S PART

We Shall Then seeWhols HBneering or
Failing to act In Good f.ith 81 Goes
,ioa which should Now Reach solu.
Iution-ActIon Expected Tonight.
The city council is expected to
pass its annual appropriation ordi-
nance tonight. Included in that or
dinance as agreed upon at the last
meeting of tse city council is an ap-
preparation of 81. 600 as an evidence
Of the city's good faith in it's agree
ment with the railroads, who are to
contribute $1,000 each to the i'm
provement of the river front, while
the Davenport & Rock Island Ferry
company is to give $4,000. Fellow
ing the adoption of the appropriation
ordinance it is expected the city at
torney will be instructed to prepare
the necessary ordinances look
ing to the carrying out of
abe project. AS matter of
course the railroads enjoying track
rights on First avenue are not going
to contribute anything to the i'm
provement there without receiving
something in return, although they
should, nevertheless, just as the TT i
City Railway company has been
obliged to DO its part over and over
again in the matter of improvements
for public benefit. But as long as
the city cannot compel the railroads
to bear their proportion it must COM
promise with them for the public
z God. just as it recently did with the
Ferry company, and under no other
circumstances could it have gotten a
penny from this corporation.
| The ID sputed Track Question.
As has been said, the railroads oc-
cupyiDg First avenue expect conces-
sions from the city in return for
their contributions to the improve
ment OF the river front. For years
both the c., b. & Q and the K. l. &
p. have had disputed tracks there.
1t is neither healthful or just either
for the city or the railroads that
these uncertainties should exist for
ever. The dignity of the city de-
mauds that il tie railroads have
tracks which do not belong to them
they shou d be given up; still the in
terests Of the railroads-and these
interests are not matters of indiffer-
euce to the city-are such that part
Of them at least should be retained.
As The ARGUS understands it, it is
n)w the purpose of the city to legal
ize certain of the tracks as are in
di- pute and to order the removal Of
others and thus have this much
vexed and annoyir G question settled
once and for all. 10 aid an adjust
ment OF the difficulties it is expected
that after sill the time has been spent
on the subject and after the repeated
dc clarations on the part Of the rail-
roads of purpose to be fair and just
in the matter and special COM
mittee of the council has compre.
hensive plan to present. The city in
ASSERTING its position should strive to
reach a permanent understanding.
There ought to be nothing indefinite
in the ordinance when given the
railroads. Such reservations as the
city may make should pertain only
to its own protection and fof opening
a way to future roads that may seek
entrance to the city.
Terminal Compary's Dispute.
The present dispute between the
Davenport Il Rock Island Bridge and
Terminal company aud the 4 !. &
p. is OF no concern to the city aud
does not effect the adjustment OF the
First avenue improvement q estion.
The complication therein included
has been taken into the courts, where
ii will undoubtedly eventually be
settled. So far, however, the Ter.
miDal company has figured in the
levee improvement entirely as a
hinderance and as Offering occasion
for delay. 1t is now supposed that
in view of the situation at the foot
of Seventh street, i: will he con-
tended by some that the Terminal
company's tracks on First avenue
must remain as a stumbling block to
progress in the matter of improve
ment. as the company does not know
Iyet whether it will get in at all, and
where it will place its tracks if at all.
This is not plausible. Is the city to
delay its Improvements forever
pending the Terminal companys
finding out where it will Law its
tracks? The Terminal company has
an ordinance for double tracks out
side of the present tracks through
the territory to be improved. Ii the
Terminal company IL ready to come
in and do its share, let it consent to
have a space reserved for its tracks
as provided in its ordinance and pay
for the Improvement on the levee
when the tracks are put down.
There is no reason for the city delay
ing operations longer or of taking up
the battles either for or against the
Terminal, or for or against the Peo-
ria road. The city gave the Bridge
Il Terminal company all that it
wanted when it asked for it. and il
1t is willing to participate in public
Improvements it can very readily do
so on the proposition referred to.
The city il crater than any of the
contending railroad factions. Its
river front is Of greater importance
to commerce than any railroad,