Rock Island Argus., 1899-11-22

General Superintendent KiIIeen Says His
Steamboat Line Stands Ready to Put Up
a BuIldIng-The CIty's Rights and the
Act.
Capt. John Killeen, general super
inte ndent of the Diamond 10 line,
made The ARGUS a pleasant call yes
terday afternoon. While the Dia-
mond 10 steamers gave Rock Island
wide berth in the channel during the
past season. Capt. killeen declares
that he has lost none of his kindly
feeling toward this city. The
whole matter" ne said, lis merely
difference of opinion, which we are
hoping may be adjusted before anoth-
er season of navigation opens, and
you are at liberty to say that the Dia-
mond 10 company comes to the city
of Rock Island with the same PROPOSE
tion that it did year ago, to-wit, to
erect Il first-class, up-to-date ware
house, one that will be attractive in
appearance, substantial and perma-
nent, if the city will give to US the
right to put up such builaing on the
levee."
Company Desires to BE Reasonable.
When asked if the Diamond 10 COM
panv would be willing to bind itself
to the city to permit other boats to
use it's warehouse, under terms that
the citv might dictate in the failure
of the company to agree upon terms
with other lines of boats, and other
wise to submit to the city for arbi-
tration ali matters that might arise
- ~ 10 oil
steam boat interests, due to rivalry of
interests or otherwise, Capt. kilIeen
replied that his company sought to be
reasona bic. He said while, as a matter
of course. it would be willing to rec
ognize the city's rights and to submit
to them in all reasonable regulations,
vet that matters affecting the relations
of his company and other steam boat
interests consti uted another thing,
but that the Diamond 10 company had
never had any trouble in getting along
in other river cities with other steam
boat lines, and that in most instances
the other lines had made free use of
the 10 line warehouses. On the point
the settlement of which is essential to
the insuring of the city against more
than one warehouse on the river front,
be allowed, Capt. Killeen did not
speak with entire favor, although he
expressed himself as desirous of hav-
ing some arrangements made such as
would give the company the facilities
here that it feels entitled to.
Taking every phase of the situation
as affecting the levee warehouse into
consideration, THE ARGUS still in
clines to the belief that the best solu-
tion of the matter reposes in the city
erecting the building and controlling
it, and it is satisfied that such a course
would have been adopted last summer
but for the distractions thrown
in the way by few who sue
ceeded in frightening contractors
into the idea that radical measures
would be adopted to prevent the erec-
ton of a building under conditions of
that nature if the council counte-
nanced it. The consequence was that
nothing was done, all that was ac-
complished by those who opposed
one method, but offered no better in
it's place, being to permit the matter to
90 over to another season unsolved.
Question Should BE Settled.
The question of a levee warehouse
has now about reached the stage
where procrastination should give
place to action of some nature in time
that all interested may know what
to expect before another river season
opens. The city owes it TO the tax
payers to protect their rights on the
river front, and to maintain control
of all that pertains thereto, but the
river interests should not be lost
sight of either. Business men of
Rock Island, not only the shippers
and those affected by through boats,
but the retail merchants who are BEN
efited by the local trade, want some
disposition made of the matter, and
this should be done, and before
long. There is duty to all involved