Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-06-10
ELM STREET LINE CHANGE.
The Objecsions to and the Advantages
of IL.

Accounting 10 THE OHlOu. the con-
templated change in the running ar
rangement of cars on the Elm street
branch of the Tri-City Railway svs-
TEN, as announced some time ago by
The ARGUS. has occasioned some
concern among downtown peo-
pie and particularly those liv-
ing on Second avenue. Ac-
cordingly the morning paper pro-
ceeds to discuss what the street car
company ought to do in the premises
in the way of providing accommoda-
tons, and advances the argument
that the business the line brings on
half 1@,ur trips west of Ninete enth
street t..rough possible transcient bus
mess as well as established patronage,
is more to the company's interests
than increasing the frequency of
trips between the Harper house and
South Park. There are two sides
to the proposed change, and
good arguments. doubtless. on
both sides, but all have es-
capped the Union. There is no sense.
whatever, in the comparison which
the morning paper makes As to the
benefit to the company coming from
the transient on half hour trips
for 10 blocks, and that of
10 minutes time for a mile and
a half. The people down town
have become accustomed TO the add
yantages of the Elm street line, and
for the short travel between Ninth
and Second, and Twenty-third
street and Sixth avenue es.
pecially on Sundays, where sew
cral churches are reached, it Is a
great accommodation, one that would
be greatly missed as far as the
through car part of it is concerned.
But there is reason on the other side,
and the point to he raised is whether
the frequency of opportunity and
good connections would not COM
pensate for the Inconvenience
Of transfer. As THE ARGUS
understands it, the plan the street car
company has in mind is to run the
Elm street cars to Seventecth street,
and then turn them back, not stopping
them at Nineteenth. This would ena BILE
the company with the same number of
ears to reduce the service on the Elm
street line proper about one-half and
by means OF transfer tickets make di-
rect connection with the Third ave
nue. ears running west to First street.
The consequences, us far as down
town people are concerned. would be
to enable them to take any car coming
up for Elm street by means Of trans
fer, either al Seventeenth aud Nine
tccnth.
The advantages to the business
community of the change is Obvious.
IL would first of all afford the benefit
which always comes from the i'm
provement of rapid transit TO distant
resident portions. 1t wnuld also
prove beneficial in deposiiing the
lsboring men living on the bluff on
their way to and from work in the
west end districts. in the business
section Of the city while making
transfers. 1t would also give to those
working men themselves q little
longer Mt home in the morning and
probably get them home few min
utes earlier at night, with a ride not
only from the bluff to Ninth street.
but clear TO the west end factories.
1t is the duty Of the street ear COM
pany TO do the greatest good and pro-
vide the best accommodation to the
greatest number. THE ARGUS would
regret To see any change in the pres
en-; running Of ears that would ma
terialIy interfere with the accolgmo-
dation Of the general public. Ii is
always for Improvement in the street
car service. and while the propused
arrangement may he unpopular to
some it might be beneficial
to the general public. 1t might he
the wiseSt idea for the street car COM
pany, since objection has been raised
Ivy the patrons of the road who have
ii right to be considered, to give Il few
days trial as an experiment with the
understanding that the old running
arrangement is to be restored if the
advantages are not as anticipated.
The Tri-City Railway company this
afternoon announced that the change
would be inaugurated June -. and
the ears will be run in accordance
with the new schedule and transfer
system for II DAYS in order to give it
a fair trial. If it proves unsuccessful
the former arrangement will be re-
stored. This plan ought to prove
satisfactory to all concerned.