Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-01-11
BRIDGE TO ROADS
Suggested as Solution of tn
Rock River Toll Prob.
lem.
CITY TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP
But Companies to Keep Them in Re.
pair-cIub Hears Report on
lnterurbans.

| ne nOHlHls meeting Oh lHe ueiuoei
ship of the Rock Island Club was held
last evening. and a number of matters
OF importance were discussed and act
ed upon. The financial report of the
secretary for the year. and the state
ment of assets and liabilities was pre-
scented. showing the club in a flourish
ing condition.
+. A. Head, chairman of the com
mittee on interlrbans, reported the
condition of the proposed lines from
Aledo to Rock Island. and of the Dix.
on. Rock Falls & Southwestern, which
will probably enter Rock Island by
way of Milan if right of way can be
secured over the Milan bridges. The
Aledo line, Mr.. Head reported. through
its representatives. Messrs Caldwell
and Little. has intimated that the
project was in need of financial assist
ance. The Dixon, Rock Falls & South
western line sent representatives to
Mr.. Head to explain TO him the manner
in which the company is securing right
of way, and to confer with him in re-
gard 10 the Rock river bridges. Mr..
Whiteside, a representative of the pro-
| posed line between Rock Island and
Galesburg, which will also take in
Aledo. will make a definite proposition
from his company in regard to the
bridges, and until this is furnished, no
further action could be taken by the
committee. The committee was con-
| tinued.
bridges Shall he Free.
The subject of the. interurban rail-
1
problem merged somewhat. and in the
opinion of the members the solution of
the one will be the solution of the 9th
er. The club authorized a committee
to investigate the bridge question: and
its chairman, c. j. Searle. made a very
interesting report of the expense and
receipts of the toll gate for the last 30
years. Since 1881, as far as Mr.. Searle
was able to learn, the average receipts
from the toll gate was 81 500 annually,
and the annual expense, not including
the cost of rebuilding recently. averag
ed 81 500. Mr.. Searle stated that il
was his impression. from former inves-
legations. that the bridges and toll gate
had netted a profit of 100000 in the
time that they have been owned by the
that he believes that the ledger would
show the balance much less. if not the
other way The aim OF the club is to
devise some way to make the bridges
free. and il was suggested that the hap
piest solution of this problem would
be 10 turn them over to the street rail
ways using them. with the understand
ing that the roads maintain them as
free bridges. and that they still belong
TO the city.
History of Toll Question.
T. J. Medill gave a history of the
Milan bridge problem. and said that as
far back as 1856 the citizens of this
city were holding meetings for the
purpose of devising means of lower
ing the toll on the bridges. The
bridges were erected and sold to a cor
poration. An eXorbitant and prohibit
tive toll was levied. and i'll order to Sc
cure a reduction of the toll the city
finally purchased the bridges. The toll
was first lowered TO 90 cents. and later
To 10 cents, its present standing. Mr..
Medill urged that no action be taken
at present until il can be learned what
gested further that no action be taken
that will result in the city's losing con
troll of the bridges. From the commit
tees report il would seem that the city
would gladly shift the responsibility of
the bridges to some other corporation. |
They have been offered to the county |
and to- the two townships. but the au-
thorities of these districts do not want |
them. The committee was continued.
Plan for Convention Hall.
Chairman C.. w. Halves. of the com |
mittee on securing a convention hall, |
reported that the committee has an |
architect at work on plans, and will |
submit proposition AT a later meeting |
The club took steps TO secure more |
state conventions for this city next |
year. and during the year the club will |
pay the expenses of two delegates to
each of the state meetings of impor-
tance. these delegates to work for the
interests of the city and do all in their
power TO secure the next conventions
for this city. This action was taken
on the recommendation of the commit
tee appointed for the purpose. and the
was instructed to act on its
own recommendation. This method of
securing conventions has been tried
with great success in Moline and other
cities. and has been found a very in
expensive and satisfactory means of
the city.
Building of Hard Roads.
The question of hard roads was given
some attention, and on motion of C. J.
Searie the club adopted resolutions
the recommendations OF
Gov Deneen on the question of better
roads. and instructing the committee to
confer with the legislative representa-
lives for the purpose OF furthering the
movement The governor in his in
augural address went into the question
m detail. and made some interesting
The cost of build
ng hard roads with material furnish
4