Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-04-26
The Rock Islands New Move in
East Moline and Pos.
sible Outcome.
MORE YARDS But WHAT ELsE2
City Would Not Complacently
View Stripping it of Any of
its Advantages.

one OF the three cities IS OF concern
to, and eventually aids in some form
or another. the entire three. 1t does
not follow in this view of the case
that there should be no rivalry among
these three municipalities bound to-
gether as they are by common inter
ests and seeking common purpose.
Friendly rivalry is always a good
thing. 1t is good thing among
cities; it is a good thing among bust
ness men, and among indivi duals.
1t is the principle that builds up; it is
the spirit of excelsior.
When the manufacturing commun-
itv of East Moline was established
Rock Island rejoiced. 1t would have
pleased the people here more had the
locality been chosen nearer this city,
but it was not; it was contiguO us TO
one of the other cities, and that was
all right. Recently there came
chance to locate an automobile fac
tory in East Moline. Rock Island and
Moline capital became interested
in the enterprise, but Davenport
heard of the scheme, went to work on
it and landed it. We would have
preferred it on this side of the river,
but so long as it did not get out of
the locality. it was well aud good.
Talked of Changes.
Now for some time there has been
more or less discussion of the pros
poets of the Rock Island road making
important changes in its division
headquarters in Illinois. At one
time it was said the west end of the
east Illinois division might be moved
further west, say to West Liberty,
Iowa, while by still others it WAS con-
tended that it was more apt to be
transferred to Geneseo. More recent
", az has been frequently referred to
i'll The ARGUS, however. develop
ments have come that indicate
movement of some sort toward East
Moline. In these announcements
there is measure of consolation i'll
the fact that they apparently Let at
rest all former rumors as to the pros
poets of the removal of the division
terminus to other localities, but the
news is not so reassuring as it would
be if it was to the effect that the
Rock Island route had under consider
ton no plans that would involve the
severing of any of the relations that
bind it locally to it's nameSake. Rock
Island is not envious, it need hardly
be said, of its neigh boring city, but it
does not want to give up any of the
advantages already possessed, and Pc
culiarly its own. even to its neighbor
1t rejoices in what Moline gets and
would prefer to have Moline get what
it can than any other place. But it
does not want Moline to profit at Rock
Islands expense.
Associations With a Great Road.
Ever since the Great Rock Island
route was built, this city has enjoyed
the distinction that has come from the
roads fame as we'll as the advantages
incident to division terminal
Rock Island realizes the gain of hav-
ing a great railroad system bear it's
name. But it wants something be-
sides the name, especially when it has
been accustomed to the enjoyment of
that something else. When what is
now the Davenport, Rock Island &
road was conceived,
Davenport was sharp enough to de-
mand, not only a part of the name,
but the headquarters shops, ETC., to-
gether with a fine depot, and that city
got them all, in return for the
that were awarded. Rock
Island gave freely and without asking
questions all that was sought here, in
Guiding rights and privileges equally
valuable, If not more so than any
given by Davenport, and in return re-
ceived. in addition to share in the
title-which it was entitled to by rea-
son of every circumstanc but which
it fully appreciates, nevertheless
a little frame building down on
the river front, as an evidence of the
company's resentment toward the city
because it had not given more. Be-
fore Moline would permit the same
to have track rights in that
city, it insisted upon a mum Der of just
and valuable concessions, including a
depot, a new levee, and
certain guarantees as to the running
of trains, which amount to the max
ing of that city the terminus of the
road on this side of the river. And
Moline has done perfectly right in
standing out for the city's rights.
But to return to the advantages al
ready enjoyed, but which. according to
are to be taken from us, To-
csily speaking The Rock Island road
has been Rock Islands good friend, as
a name sake aud otherwise. but no
more so than Z 0ck Island has been to
the corporation. and perhaps not as
much. For years the city has suffered
in consequence of the remote location
of the company's depot from the busi-
ness section of the city. but has always
cherished the hope that \ change
might come in this respect. Over
this. though, has been the
fact that this city was, after all, one of
the homes OF the system. because it
possessed the headquarters of imPor-