Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-02-21

that it was worth much more and, upoi
| his own spousibility, bid 81 100000. Mr.
Osterberg on April 81, 1876, organized
the st. Louis, Rock Island Chicago
Railroad Co. TO purchase and operate the
| road. The incorporators were Hyman
| Osterberg, Walter Trumbull and L. ID
| Sweeney of Rock Island, j. nj. Gould and
| G. III. Deere of Moline, and w c. Brews
/ ter of Davenport The road Twas conveyed
to the new company and operated by it
with Mr.. George Skinner as Superintend
ent and j. Meredith Davis, as General
Freight and Passenger Agent. MIR. Davis
the general passenger agent was as genial
"a gentleman, as is his worthy successor
| Mr.. H. ID. Mack. He was somewhat
cratic however. One of his first acts was
to post on the bulletin board of his Office
a statement of the cash returned each
| trip by the several conductors The rail-
road was in horrible condition when the
| receiver was appointed, and it ha not
improved at TIE date of sale. Mr. Os-
tef-berg began at once to improve the
road and spent upwards of 100000 iii
betterments. Mr.. Osterberg opened ne
gotiations to sell the road and finally dur
ing the summer of 1876 sold it to the %
for 81 100000, which covered his original
bid and the amount expended on the
road 1t is said that on his return to
compensation for his services, but to this
the bond holders objected, notwithstand
ing the fact that he had gotten nearly
100000 more for them than they in
strueted him to take; but such is the in
consistency of human nature. The first
meeting of the stockholders after the
sale to the @ was held in Rock Island in
October, 1876, in Mr.. H. ID. Mack's old of
fee. at which were present Mr.. j. Nj.
Walker, then the president OF the q and
myself, resulting in the election of di-
rectors among whom were. e. d. Sweeney
and William ackson of this city. Or
iginally the Rockford, Rock Island st.
Louis Railroad Co. ran its st. Louis
trains into this city over the Rock Island
& Peoria tracks from Orion, but later
over the Chicago, Rock Island 4 Pacific
tracks from Colona after this arrange
ment was made the tracks from Moline
to Port Byron junction and some in Rock
Island were taken up, thus cutting oil all
independent entry into our city. This
was very unsatisfactory to our citizens
and they rejoiced when the Q became
the owner, as this insured to us independ
ent entry, independent management, first
class equipment throughout. and fair
treatment to all, and assured such rail-
road facilities as the city had expected
when the ''bonds'' were voted. The 20"
at once begun to improve the road and
service. and later in the spring of 1879
relaid the tracks which had been taken
up and acquired indepen ent entry ito
our city. Gen. n. J L. Dana was the
first superintendent, a man of sterling
character and gentleman of the old
school. Later he resigned to take charge
of Il railroad in the east-and the Office
was Subsequently filled by Mr.. Crumpton.
MIR. GRANGE, and our worthy guest of the
evening. Mr. Brown; none had ever been
more beloved by and popular with both
employees and patrons. than Superintend-
emit Brown, and none since. To MIR.
Brown. are we especially indebted for the
magnificent new depot, just erected in
our city, and to him we extend our warm
est thanks and greeting"
Col. Walker spoke compliments rily
of the mayors and councils, who,
through. the adoption of the proper
course on the part of the municipali-
ty, had made it possible for the Bur-
liogton to inaugurate its improve
ments.