Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-29

park. that | then owned. Near even
ing Uncle Joe lie Claire. then city
marshal, drove mp in a buggy and in
formed me that ] was under arrest
by warrant issued, for taking illegal
possession of Front street and build
ing a railroad on it,
We made a landing at the city at
torney's office. When | entered his
office | found him gloriously intoXi-
Gated. His first words were. You
should be sent TO Fort Madison prison
during life. and / hear YOU were a
pirate at sea. but YOU cannot seize on
a Davenport street while | am city
attorney. You are dangerous man.
| was liberated after dark by giving
bond.
Aid. George Shaw reported me to
be preparing to take possession of the
street by rushing the railroad down
on il that Saturday night and the
coming Sunday.
My chief objection To this act of ar
rest was that |. as a taxpayer. had to
paw larger sum for the team and
the marshars services than had the
entire bunch of city officials, from
mayor down To Janitor.
The local editor of the Davenport
Gazette got hold of the arrest through
my man Friday, who had been under
my charge during % years. and the
Gazette published AS follows:
Fulton is decidedly ease. He has
built steam mills. erected blocks of
stores and dwellings. made additions
covering hundreds of lots in our city
done lots of things that very few
other men would ever think of trying
To do under the circumstances; but
his last undertaking was ahead of all.
One day this week he took Il notion
to put some posts in the ground
alongside of the walk up town, say
ing it was to keep teams from run
ming over and breaking down the
walks. Had almost any other man
been engaged in doing the same thing
it would have been all right-nothing
thought of it. But Fulton - all.
there's sharp trick of some kind.
Sixth ward was aroused. Aid. Shaw
knew Fulton was putting the ID. d st.
Paul railroad into the city without
him. That would not
answer. and he sent for the city mar
shall to stop any such enterprise, for
when that road does come in it is to
be done through the medium of
series of meetings and numberless
resolutions. Aid. Sears knew another
thing: Fulton was deliberately steal
ing Front street. and he went for Mr..
City Engineer to set those street lines
and keep the transgressor
out. The mayor became interested.
The editors and proprietOrs of the
Democrat were eNcited-a street was
to be stolen or u railroad built and
they not advised. All this terrible
simply because Fulton
and one hired man were setting some
pine sticks in the ground! What a
thing it is to have a reputation for
doing odd things!"
At that trying period George II.
French was president. NJ. o. Barnes.
vice president. The executive COM
mittee was George II. French, George
II. Parker, Michael Donohue. j. II.
Berryhilt and \. c. Fulton.
See Gazette files. / have copy of
Gazette publication.
If the railroad that | created was
to the property holders on
the street. then my injury would be
large. as my frontage exceeded that
of any four owners on the street. 1t
over 1,4OO feet. See records.
In 1867. with a few others at the
outset; we worked up subscriptions
for the Peoria d Rock Island rail
road. ] worked long and hard on the
Iowa side. The sheriff and trouble
81 L
holder repudiated through the courts.
| almost alone paid up in full. and
hold my worthless stock certificate as
witness of the enterprise.
The creation of the Crescent bridge
and the Davenport. Iowa Il Dakota
railroad. first named the Davenport.
Sioux City & Pittsburg railroad.
In 1881 Davenport plainly showed
signs of inactivity. Enterprising cit
les were branching out railroads near
us. and factories were looking for
railroad centers. Our journals noted
the situation.
| was familiar with the territory
northwest of us. and resolved to enter
into the undertaking of creating Dav-
fifth railroad. practically
the enterprise and pub
lished the following report of my
cold winter work and sol outlay in
As history. and that you
may understand the then situation. |
place before you my report to the
Gazette:
Editor of the Gazette: Our city
and county are not fully developed,
and to develop them We must have
more railroads.
Every - miles i'm width of terri
tory will support line of railroad
and pay fair dividend If water is
kept out of the composition OF it's
stock. In canvassing the matter we
must aim at an eastern connection
will give my individual idea. and. no
doubt. someone can improve on it.
4 ,..LaIlll IL. .,-.aI.l. line