Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-04-29
RIVER FRONT RIGHTS
Hoped for Disposition of the
levee Warehouse
Question.
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES TO NONE

II Building is to be Erected 1t Should be
ibIe and it should be for the Use of All
Steamboats, Equal Terms and Under
the Control and Direction of the City.
The prospect of some definite dis
position of the levee warehouse ques-
ton affords a source of qualification
to all who are anxious that the levee
should be preserved to the uses for
which it was Originally designed, and
for no other purposes. From the
first THE ARGUS has contended that
no building whatever should be al
lowed on the levee if it is possible to
avoid it, and it is still of that
opinion. But such position is not
intended to carry with it a disposition
to be unreasonable. The levee inn
provement was designed first of all
for the encouragement and betterment
of river traffic, as whole. What
ever tends to make it what it should
be u matter of convenience and adj
vantage to all classes of steamboats,
will contribute to the ends of which
it was intended. To give to any partic-
ular company the right to erect ware
house of its own there would not full
fill the purpose of the levee. nor would
it be fair to other steamboat inter-
ests. To permit the indiscriminate
erection of warehouses on the levee
would be manifestly unfair to the city
and to all who have contributed to
the Identification of the river front.
While the feature of atlractiveness in
appearance was one of the main OBJ
lects in providing the improvement.
and one that has been attended by the
giving to the city the handsomest
ievee on the river, it was not intended
that the levee was to be something
purely to look upon. 1t is for busi-
ness purposes, not for any particular
steamboat interests. but for all alike,
aid as far as the city is concerned, it
is sought that all share alike there,
and ii is not proposed that in order
that all shall have like privileges the
levee he dotted with all kinds of ware
houses to suit the tastes and conven-
fences of rival interests.
Must be of Independent Control.
1t is, therefore, quite apparent that
if the council discovers warehouse
is justiliable, and that n wharfboat
will not answer the purpose, rs seems
now to he the opinion, that either an
independent enterprise or the city,
according to Capt. Streckfus' idea.
will have to provide Il common ware
house and control it. This much |
every st, amboat owner who comes to |
Rock Island may as well understand,
which is that the feeling of the |
public here is back of the council, |
that no special privileges be accorded |
on Rock Islands new lcvee, and all |
boats which touch here will do bust
ness in common warehouse if one is 1
to be built. TIE ARGUS believes in /
being fair with the steamboat inter-
ests, but under no circumstances /
and under no conditions that any /
river interests may impose would
it favor giving steamboat COM
pany the right to control
warehouse on the new levee. Let us
treat them all alike whatever we do,
and those who come here to do bust
ness will he obliged to comply with
the conditions as they exist. Rock
Island. owes something to herself in
this matter, and that is first of all to
treat all with uniform fairness, and
then to protect from Disagreement
the improvement which she has pro-
vided after these many years of effort.
IF a warehouse is to be erected it
must be under the control and direc-
tion of the city, affording equal rights
and opportunities to all river COM
merce in and out of Rock Island.