Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-28
The Proposed DismantIing ofDepot
PrOnerfy.


Property.
1t is the policy of modern progress
sive cities to build up rather than to
tear down, and community which,
in a spirit of just and reasonable
pride, would seek to prevent the
erection of structures which detract
from the appearance of the city.
ought likewise TO discourage a ten
dency TO remove that which ON the
other hand not only attracts but
contributes to commercial welfare.
When the promoter of the original
Davenport, Rock Island & Northwest
ern railroad broke faith with the
council and people of Rock Island
and erected n shell on the river
front at the foot of Seventeenth
street, the disappointment and indig-
nation everywhere expressed was
natural. Indeed, any citizen un-
dertaking at that time to
have the excuse for a structure re-
moved would have had public senti-
ment back of him, and the council
would have been amply justified in
taking summary action in the prem
Uses.
But things have changed in this re-
spect. The corporation in control of
river front privileges, such as per-
tain at least To the depot grounds
and buildings at the foot of Seven
teenth street, has transformed an
eyesore into an ornament. The group
of buildings that now serve as ac-
commodations for the Chicago. Mil
waukee & st. Paul road in Rock ISL
and are as creditable as any depot
property i'm the three cities. The pas
senger station is the handsomest of
any that were put in the three cities
in connection with the Davenport,
Rock Island & Northwestern road.
and the business men of Rock Island
demonstrated their approval of the
enterprise shown by that corpora
tion in an appropriate manner at the
time the station was thrown open to
the public. Since the first corpora
ton has passed under the control
of larger railroad companies the
freight house which was not at the
outset what ii should have been by
any means, has been enlarged, We
neered and given such an artistic
IlilSll StS 10 ItlltpNt tNCiN VI
the Objectionable features. As a mat
ter of fact il is today the neatest
railroad freight house in the three
cities. Without entering into the
question of comparison, il is suffi-
cient TO say that the depot buildings
at the foot of Seventeenth street are
all that Rock Island could desire, are
all that city the size of this could
expect. and apart from the fact that
they grace the river front, they con-
stitute an important factor in the
city's commercial advantages. And
yet il is these buildings that a citizen
seeks to have displaced.
Rock Island aspires to be an i'm
portant railroad center. 1t cannot
enjoy this advantage without giving
the railroads opportunities and ac-
commodatiOns to do business. The
rights of property holders and the
rights of the city as a whole must be
respected, but there may times arise
when rhe supposed rights of indi-
viduals conflict with the broader in
terests of the entire community,
leaving the railroad specifically in
terested out of the question. This
seems to be one of those times.
So far as The Argus is concerned,
it has heard only surprise and re-
gret on every hand in view of the
proceedings to drive the Milwaukee
from the possession of its depot ac-
on the river front.
For years this corporation did bust
ness in n shed in Rock Island, and
people righteOusIy condemned its
lack of enterprise. But now that it
has succeeded to the requirement of
of the best class, it finds
the hands of a citizen raised against
ii.
The Argus is not entering into Il
discussion of the mooted track ques-
ton or the legal status of the situ-
alton in any form. 1t is a matter of
public policy that the people are
and it is with that at the
present stage of the proceedings,
that the council seems to have much
to do. in the absence of mandate
from the court.
1t is said that justice is blind and
law is without sentiment. and whSn
the last court of appeal has acted,
the city as well as the corporation
and the individual will understand
what must be done. In the mean
time il is for the city to decide what
in its judgment ought to be done.