Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-04-07
THE DIAMOND 10 PROPOSITION.
One Now Before the City Involves the
Giving Away OF Exclusive Privileges.

/ Olv1nS away OF Exclusive fElSiieBess
The only proposition now before
the council is that which is in the
hands of the committee, of the Dia.
mond 10 company. 1t is the last one
offered by the company. which, il
| granted, would mean, as those exam
lining it's provisions will readily
perceive, The abandonment by the
city of the portion of the new levee
| where the packets now land at the
foot of East Seventeenth street to the
Diamond 10 company exclusively.
The proposition embraces an ordi-
nance authorizing the execution of a
lease for term of % years of por-
ton of the levee which is described in
the instrument as commencing at
the intersection of the east line of
East Seventeenth street. with the
waters of the Mississippi river at low
water mark, thence eastward along
the river front at low water mark. or
water edge, the first 100 feet, thence
south $50 feet, thence westward and
parallel to the river front or waters
edge to the east line of East Seven
teenth street, thence along the east
line of East Seventeenth street to the
place of beginning" For these priv
ileges the Diamond 10 company is to
pay a yearly rental of the sum
1t is to be mutually understood that
this ground is leased for the sole pur-
pose of the Diamond Joe transporta-
ton company carrying or transport
ing freight aud passengers on the
Mississippi river, and to that end it
shall have consent and privilege of
erecting and maintaining ION said
leased ground, a proper and suitable
building for freight and passenger de-
pot or depots as are needed, or may
be incident to and required for the
safe and convenient prosecution of
the business of common carrier, and
for the handling of freight and grain,
in bulk or otherwise, or for the ac-
commodation of shippers and passen-
gers; and shall have the further privi-
lege of occupying and using the foot
of East Seventeenth street between the
east and west lines thereof as place
of landing for steamers, boats and
water craft of, or belonging to the
party of the second part, or in it's use
and employ, for and during the time
of occupancy of the leased ground"
1t is further provided that the COM
pany shall occupy and use the leased
property, and the privilege connected
herewith, exclusively for the purpose
stated. These are the main provisions
of the lease, which it is proposed shall
be outright and without stipulations
as to the care of the other packet line
doing business here.
The proposition, it will be remem-
bered. the Diamond Joe company has
stated, will be the only one that it
will make or accept, whereby it will
become involved in the providing of
facilities in Rock Island; in
other words, the company must have
exclusive use of a strip of the levee
with the dimensions of 100 by $50 feet
where boats now land. for % years,
at 81 year, with a right to erect one
or more buildings, or it wants moth
ing.
Proposition Is Unreasonable.
THE ARGUS takes the position. and
it does so without prejudice as far as
its feelings toward the Diamond 10
or any one connected with
it are concerned, that such a propo-
sition is preposterous on its face. and
that rather than grant it, it would be
better that the city do without ware
house of any description on the new
Ievee for all time. The adoption of
such an ordinance would be the plac-
ing in the hands of a company that
has been unfriendly in its attitude to-
ward Rock Island. of the best portion
Of the improved river front for quar-
ter of century for practically moth
ing, while the two local packet lines
in whom the business mep are more
would be obliged to make
terms with the Diamond 10 company,
Or be without a warehouse-or ask
the city for Independent privileges.
In other words the city would trans
Ter the control of the best part of the
evee to a single transportation COM
pany.