Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-11
A VERY MARROW SPIRIT.
ClInt0n's Disposition - Regards the New
Local Packet.

ClInt0n's Disposition - Regards the New
Local Packet.
The Clinton Commercial League
has adopted a very narrow policy
with reference to the new local pack
ct, 10 Long, as evinced by the follow
ing circular sent out by it to the
business men of that city:
Through the efforts of this league
and business men generally we have
succeeded in inducing Capt. Long to
place the steamer 10 Long in the
trade between Davenport and this
place; leaving Davenport in the
morning, touching at all towns on
the river and arriving here at noon
and leaving at $3.50 in the afternoon
and arriving at Davenport in the
evening.
"Of course it will occur to you at
once that every bit of business that
this boat will do will be to the bene-
Ill Of Clinton. While every one here
has nothing but the most kindly feel
ing toward the Verne aud its oblig-
ing captain, yet we all realize that
all the business that that boat does is
carried from Clinton and vicinity to
Davenport. This is recognized so
thoroughly in Davenport that SO far
they have succeeded in preventing
Capt. Long from securing a ware
house there, and they propose to do
all they en- to prevent the Long
from doing a successful business.
This is all the more reason why we
should endeavor to give the Long
what business we can, and we ask
you to cooperate with us in sending
all down river freight by the steamer
Long. BY doing this you will bene-
lit yourself. By pursuing any other
course you are helping to defeat
one of the very schemes that we
have started for building up the in
terests of the city of Clinton. Hop
ing you will cooperate with us we
remain. S. NJ. HIGHLANDS, Sec"
Not the Proper Spirit.
THE ARGUsis surprised to discover
such disposition on the part of any
of the people OF city which has
evinced the broad mind spirit that
Clinton has. As far as regards the
landing Of the Long here the desira-
bility of giving it the privilege
sought has been set forth by THE
ARGUS without personal feelings
either favorable to the Long or an
tagoniAic to the Verne Swain, the
long established local packet. The
feeling is that all boats should be
given wharfage here. Rock Island
cannot be damaged by any increased
commercial facilities, and the theory
that rights should be deprived on that
score is a reflection on the city's sta
bility that The ARGUS has always
resented and always will. Rock ISL
and is capable of protecting itself
and standing its ground in any emer-
gency. 1t is greater than Clinton in
this re8ard. in particular.
In the matter of the Verne Swain,
it is only justice to say that Capt.
Streckfus has conducted a neat,
trim, accommodating packet now for
seven years. He has run his boat
ret only before the opening of the
regular navigation season, but after
the close Of it in order to accommo-
date the trade. and has done so in
variably at a loss. The Verne has
been a credit to the river trade and
it has nothing to fear from competi-
ton. and b. cause the people of Clin-
ton are acting small in this matter
is no reason why the Long should be
denied the right to land here or at
Davenport. II the boat is not fos.
tered by the right principles of bus
mess, it will suffer as it should.