Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-04-22

greatly deficient. giving rural route
patrons at the south end of the line
mail that has laiG perforce in the local
postoffi &c nearly "a hours before it is
taken out by the carriers. Trains are
heavy end on the heavy grades that
abound they cannot conveniently and
10 not attempt TO stop except at regu-
lar stations. Stations are far apart.
1t is nine miles from Milan to Taylor
Ridge, the next stopping place south.
People living in the lower end of the
county hold the branch" in low esti-
mate and the patronage suffers. The
city of Rock Island is the loser.
Little Capital Required.
All he added business that an inter
urban would get could be secured with
n small outlay of capital, comparative
ly speaking Two or three motors and
some light cars would be sufficient 10
establish a two-hour service to this
city. There are no passenger trains
or fast freights with schedules to con
flict as there are on other lines that
are making the interurban experiment.
That the Rock Island is not altOgeth
er above taking pains TO secure small
er things than a car of coal or one OF
stock is evidenced by the fact that
ii is preparing to put in stub to the
plant Of the Pasteurized Milk company
on the Henderson farm southwest OF
Milan. Though this farm is at the bot
tom of steep grade where it is diff
cult to stop trans coming to the city
and hard TO start them after they are
stopped going out the company has
agreed to handle the milk the company
produces when the big dairy farm is
gotten in operation.
Even if the Rock Island company
should show no disposition TO take up
this matter it might not be deaf TO
proposition for the use of its tracks
and a company of Rock Island men
thus relieved of the necessity of bridg-
ing Rock river and securing a termi-
nus in this city could oAend from
Taylor Ridge or Reynolds west 10 the
rich country toward A!edo and thus
open up a territory the trade of which
Rock Island secures but little of under
present circumstances.
However. if a bona fide interurban
to Aledo can be had in the near flu
ture by all means let it come. No local
service over the present line of the
Rock Island nor an extension of II
would be of as great value 10 this
CITY as a new line over a different
route.
Need of Immediate Action.
The question now is one of getting
something and getting it soon. Other
cities all about are reaching out for
greater trading scope and more direct
sources of supply. None in this
part If the Mississippi valley has
a richer country to draw from or
such desperate need of improved
means of access, shut off. as we are, |
on three sides and barred on the |
fourth by Rock river and a stretch of
low lands.
Judging by the delay that has
attended the enterprise IN the
past it appears Rock Island !
must look TO its own re
sources. And what better investment |
Rock Island capital could want is diff
hcult TO conceive If there is that here
to draw the attention of outside finan-
riers it ought to be doubly attractive
to Rock Island men of means for they
would not only be placed in position to
reap all the direct benefits from aetna
dividends but their otker interests |
would be aided by the quickening OF
the local commercial pulse and the in |
crease of property values. Let us get
busy