Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-05-02
WANTS TO Be ON LINE
Rock Island to Pull for Place
on Milwaukee's Chicago
Kansas City Route.
PRESIDENT EARLING TO BE SEEN
Railroad Situation Gone Over at
Joint Meeting of Com
mittees.

Wduhce railway W give hoCh lslauu
the go-by in the route of its proposed
Chicago-Kansas City short line has
made the people here feel, considering
the company's new relations with the
city, its disposition is not to treat the
community in manner commensur-
ate with the valuable privileges it has
take possession of, to say nothing of
the tendency to underestimate its
commercial value and inducements.
Rock Islanders do not intend. there
fore, to accept the situation with
out at least registering pro-
test with the officers of the road.
This course was determined on at the
meeting at the Rock Island Club last
night of the committees of the city
council, Retail Merchants association
and Rock Island Club. All commit
teemen were on hand except Mayor
McConochie. who was out of town.
An organization was effected by the
election of l. =. McCabe at chairman
and G.. NJ. Loosely as secretary.
Three hours were consumed in the
discussion of railroads and their pres
ent and possible future relations to
Rock Island. L. j. Medill, in stating
the purpose of the meeting, recited
the history of the entrance of the
Davenport. Rock Island 81 Northwest
ern, the conditions under which it OBJ
tanned franchises here, and the lease
of its property for term of 999 years
by the Milwaukee He told also of
the Intended removal of the western
freight crews of the Rock Island
to the Hawthorn yards in Mo
line Davenport's boosted changing
of Burlington terminals from this
city To Davenport. and discontinuance
of the passenger service on the latter
setting forth a chapter of events
that contained little that was cheer
ing to the people of Rock Island.
IL was agreed that it was little use
to lock the stable after the horse had
gotten away. The thing to do now
was to see that we retain what is not
already gone and keep our ears to
the ground in the future.
Agents in the Dark.
The evening was for the most part
taken up with a discussion of the Mil
waukee's short line and the desire TO
have Rock Island included in the
route. w. w. Breckenridge, local
agent; Z. l.. Hinrichs, commercial
agent for the three cities, and s. NJ
Baird freight solicitor, all Milwau-
kee representatives, were invited into
the meeting, but could throw no light
on the plans of their company in re-
gard to the pew service. They had
no official information as to the route
of the short line trains from Savanna
to this p int; whether they. were to
travel via the Iowa side or the Illi-
nois side they could not state, but
would gladly report to the officers of
their company the sentiment of the
people here ia favor of including
Rock Island.
1t was limited that the necessity of
backing up from the bridge in order
to reach the depot on the Davenport
side operated against the Illinois
route, and further that a condition of
the contract for the use of the c., Il.
l & P. tracks from Davenport to Nus
catine may be that the Milwaukee
shall not compete for Kansas City
business in Rock Island and Moline, |
instead taking Clinton. But these |
are questions for the two roads to |
settle among themselves. They are
not for this city to worry over. What |
we want here is the recognition that |
we are entitled to as community of |
20. 900 people, business center that |
4 railroad cannot well afford to pass |
up. Allowing it would be somewhat |
awkward to reach the depot across |
The river before or after crossing the |
Crescent bridge. that is not new
story. For years Rock Island has !
suffered through the location of the
9 z l. & p. depot in the upper end
Of the city. The company at first ran |
ieth. Now travellers are obliged to |
AXE a street car or bus at the
iepot. The people have become ac-
,ustomed to the operation. but have
never asked that any neighboring city
should be deprived of the road because
If an awkward situation here.
Invitation to President EsrlIng.
1t was thought that if President A.
7. Earring, of the Milwaukee, were
brought here, possibly he could be
shown points in favor of the running
If the new trains through this city
hat he is not now cognizant of. To
his end the following resolution. Of
cred by Mr.. Loosely. was adopted:
Whereas, A rumor having gained
circulation that the c., NJ. & st. p.
'ailway intends running its through
rains to Kansas City on the Iowa
inc instead of via Moline and Rock
sland and crossing the Mississippi
liver here therefore be it
Resolved. By the joint committee
# the city council, the Rock Island
Ilub and the Rock Island Merchants
that President EARRING, of
he c., NJ. &c ST. p. railway, is hereby
to give the committee an
TO present the reasons
Why the running of these trains
through Rock Island and Moline,
rossing the river here, would be of
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