Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-26
May co ON SOUTH
Rumored the Northwestern Plans
St. Louis Road Through
Tri.Cities.
|. & |. INTERURBAN A LINK
May Throw Light on influences Back
of Proposed Rock isiand-Mon-
mouth Lines.

Inc statement Dy Marvin Hugnltt, OF
the Northwestern. that three auxiliary
companies have been formed TO carry
out plans for important extensions of
the system. is made the basis of a re-
port emanating from Chicago that ST
Louis is an objective point and that
the tri-cities are TO be on the connect
ing line. There are interesting posi-
bilities in this
That the Northwestern is coming
here by means of the |. & |. line built
ostensibly as an interurban has been
admitted by officials of the former
company, although denied by interur-
ban representatives Following up this
plan of entering new territory. it is
not unlikely that the Northwestern is
behind one OF the interurbans project
ed between this city and Monmouth.
What the plans may be below Mon
mouth there has been nothing thus far
to indicate.
Two Companies In Field.
There are two companies now in the
field. both protesting an intention of
building from Rock Island to Mon
mouth. One is the Rock Island South
ern. which has made overtures to gain
rights in Rock Islands streets and
across the Rock Island bridge. and is
now completing a line between Mon
mouth and Galesburg that was begun
by another company. The Rock Island
& Monmouth, the other projected
southern line. was Incorporated by Chi
cago men and a survey was made by
Tn neyin nf
That there is any connection between
the Rock Island Southern and the Rock
Island & Monmouth has been denied.
The Rock Island & Monmouth. as
has taken a somewhat pecu-
liar course for an interurban, going as
nearly on direct line as possible. leav-
ing here by way of Milan. 1t has not
swerved TO touch the points from which
an interurban would be expected to
draw chief support. The survey is ap-
parently for a steam road
but One Survey.
Now, the Rock Island Southern hav-
ing made no tangible progress in map
ping out or acquiring right of way in
accordance with the expressed inten-
tions of its hackers. it is Just possible
that, in spite of denials, there is some
connection between their enterprise
and the Rock Island & Monmouth. Car
rying this line of reasoning still fur
ther. there is also a possibility that the
Rock Island & Monmouth will be built.
ostensibly as an interurban. but in
reality TO be used as a steam road by
the Northwestern and that the suppos-
ed interurban will be used as a lever
to secure franchise in Rock Islands
streets and across the Rock Island
bridge. Having been successful in this.
II would be the most natural thing in
the world for the men behind the Rock
Island & Monmouth. which could not
be profitably operated as an interurban,
to turn the road outside the city over
to the Northwestern, which originally
planned il, and keep the franchise in
the city limits. which the Northwestern
could not possibly have any use for.
Thus il might come to pass that Rock
Island, like Davenport with the Daven-
port 4 Suburban. would have its
streets tied up with another street
railway system and still have no inter
urban for which the new city lines
were ostensibly a terminal
OF course. this is merely what might
hdppen. Rock Island is still ready TO
welcome with open arms any and all
bona tide interurbans.
Express Transfer at Fulton.
The American Express company has
arranged with the Northwestern Rail
road company 10 stop passenger trains
No. s, east bound at 2:l0 a m, and
No. ). west bound at SOC a. m, at the
c. Nj. 4 ST. p depot at Fulton to
transfer for Rock Island. Moline and
Davenport This arrangement went in
to effect Monday morning.