Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-03-04
\ TALK ABOUT TRACKS.

NOuncu Som0tts - On street., AusyO and
Grounds Hes m Interesting Session.
The Rock Island city council com.
mittee on streets, alleys and grounds
held an unusually interesting meet.
ing last evening in the discussion Of
matters referred to the committee
for consideration preparatory to &C.
ton at next Monday evenings session
Of the city council. The recon-.
mendations of Mayor Medill as to
systemstie sanitary street and alley
cleaning were favorably acted upon,
and now 60 before the health and
ordinance committees Saturday even
ing, where . similar disposition is
expected. Fred Hass. as Chairman
OF the First avenue property holders
committee, appeared before the COM
mittee with chart and explanation
OF the Sunset park project on the
river front. and spoke at length on
the same. setting forth the description
OF the surroundings and the desire
for removal Of all nuisances from the
vicinity. Mr.. Hass also spoke on
behalf Of the extension OF the
Firtt avenue pavement from Six
teenth to Twelfth street. on condition
that all illegal distractions along
the avenue be removed. Vice Presi-
dent H. s. Cable, Of the r I. & Pad.
crossed the committee behalf OF an
ordinance Of the Peoria company
before the council which gives
the company the right to connect
tracks now occupied by it and to
also lay additional rails 90
as to give the company
practically . main line double track
from the Rock Island depot to the
pillow works. In connection
with the ordinance 60 sab
mitted, the Peoria throws out the
voluntary intimation that with the
concessions Of the rights sought
the storage yards will be removed
from those sections Of the city where
the greatest objection is offered, and
that otherwise the company may be
depended upon to cooperate with the
city in furthering So Acknowledgements.
ments for pablo benefit. The oues.
ton OF the necessity of securing the
names OF property holders AUDITING
the street to be occupied coming up,
ex-Ciiy Attorney j. l.. Haas, who
was present as counsel for the Ter
minal company, stated he had
at one time held to the doctrine that
consent applied when sthere was
danger Of its being overturned. He
maintained that where there were no
property holders along the north
side, aud the north side Of the avenue
was used for the railway tracks. the
south side property holders had no
right to interfere. There was no law
on the subject of limiting the
right to consent to half the frontage
In Illinois, and no decisions Of the
courts, but in some other states this
Limitation was made. The commit
tee seemed 10 be strongly inclined to
favor the ordinance under considera.
tion. but finally decided to reserve
recommendations.
1t seems almost time for the city
% take 1t upon itself to regulate
the First avenue situation. MAYOR
Medill has labored in vain to get the
railroad interests there together,
that q mutual und erstanding might
be reached through . proper policy
OF give and take, the CITY as we'll az
all corporate enterprises being equal
ly favored through such a line Of
action. But it seems to be impossi.
bic to reach an understanding Of this
kind. 1t remains. therefore, for the
city to see that something is done,
and the best way to accomplish this
Is to take the ordinances submitted
by each company up and dispose
of them fiaally. Reasonable privi.
leges should be granted, and where q
corporation shows q disposition 10 do
ths right thing by the city it should
always be encouraged.