Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-06-01
WEARY OF WAITING
Feeling of the Public in Two In
stances of Hardness in
Keeping Promises
RAILROAD CORPORATIONS
That Long Coming Burlington
Tower Clock and the MilWau.
kee Freight House.

The first day of summer is here,
and some of the railroad improve
ments promised for Rock Island "this
spring" have not been made, nor are
they in immediate prospect. Rail
roads that expect to merit public
confidence must keep faith with the
people. Rock Island has the word of
honor of two corporations doing bust
ness here that certain improvements
that the public has Petitioned for are
to be provided.
1t will be remem bered that the ac-
cepted design for she Burlington station
on Twentieth streetprovidedfo for tower
clock, but as the building approached
completion little over q year ago, it
wasSobserved that instead of leaving
the space for the big time piece. the
circle was bricked over. Inquiry at
the time as to the company's motive
was attended by the assurances, not
only from Division Agent Mack, but
from General Manager Brown, that
the clock would come by the time the
building was ready for occupancy,
ard that everything would be
carried out according to orig
inal plan. But when last win
ter the company moved in and
people again asked about the clock,
the answer was wait until spring; it
will come then sure" But spring has
come and gone, and no clock. And
what is more significant, the company
officials are becoming reticent in talk
| ing about the matter. But the people
of Rock Island will not be so easily
put off. They realize that the Bur-
lington has done much more than
was expected in improvements about
its premises in brick pavement. and
the promised train sheds, the TWEEN
tieth street wall, and crossing gates,
but they expect the company to real
ize, too, that in the meantime it has
acquired more valuable rights than
| it really anticipated. IL has gained
more than the ordinances actually
permit in the approaches to its depot
east and west of Twentieth street, yet
nobody is disposed to object 10 that,
so far as THE ARGUS has heard, as
long as the company does the right
thing by the city. The people want
that clock along with the other things
that have been enumerated.
They don't want the Burlington TO
commence breaking promises in Rock
Island.
The Freight Depot Sham.
The other instance pertains to the
depot building of the late lamented
Davenport, Rock Island & Northwest
ern road, now under the immediate
control of the c.. NJ & st p 1t will
be wildly recalled that the former
corporation was in the midst of it's
station and depot ground improve
ments when it was suddenly p unced
upon and swallowed. 1t had COM
pleted its pretty passenger station
thank fortune for so much-and Gen
Manager Hughes had promised that
the frame eyesore which had been
erected at the foot of Seventeenth
street by Promoter Blair and his asso-
ciates as anevidence of their contempt
for the city because it declined to
give the entire levee up to them,
would be moved further west, en-
larged and veneered with brick After
the Davenport, Rock Island 81 North
western had passed out of existence
Mr.. Hughes reiterated. on behalf of
his new position. what he had said be-
fore, that the freight house would be
improved and the grounds beautified
just as originally intended-al this
spring" But the spring has come
and gone, and there is no evil
dence of even a stir at the foot
of Seventeenth street. The eaviron-
ments of one of the most attractive
depots in the three cities are still
marred by wooden shed that was
erected contrary to ordinance and out
of spite, and which the city has been
disposed more than once to order re-
moved.
1t has been rumored that the Mil
waukee proposed nov simply enlarg-
ing the building and permitting It to
remain as it is otherwise. The Argus
is not prepared to believe that the
company that for years has been
handicapped by unattractive depot
facilities in Rock Island will be so
shortsighted as TO adopt any such |
course. The frame building was put |
there as slap at a city that had done |
it's part in the encouragement of
the original terminal company. Ii
the Milwaukee wants to be friendly |
toward Rock Island it will move the
building further west. and whether il |
enlarges it or not, and veneer it with |
brick, as has been promised.
: Railroads must keep faith with the
people. If they expect the peoples