Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-18
ADOPT The TRAIL
Council Passes Amendment of
Tri. City Railway Ordinance
Permitting New Style.
MORE LETTERS PRESENTED
Manager J. r. Lardner Says Use of
Shanghai Style Will Give Better
Street-Court Matters.

AT ILC liCCbinS VI lhO lily SOulASli
last evening the ordinance amending
the franchise ordinance of the Tri-City
Railway company to permit the com
pany to use the Shanghai T rail in the
reconstruction of its lines was adopted
by a vote of 8 to 5. Aldermen Tren-
kenschuh and Brooks, who had Oppos-
ed the adoption of the new style of
rail from the first time the ordinance
was presented, continued their fight on
the ordinance, and with them in OPP
position to the rail were Aldermen
Blochlinger, Smith, and Oberg.
Lardner Explains Rail.
J. F. Lardner, general manager OF
the company, was present, and urged
that the council take action one way
or the other on the ordinance, as the
company desires to order its material
for the construction work in the spring
He stated that the company desires
the new rail because it will result in
less expense in their maintenance of
the street, and is an improvement over
all other rails, in their estimation. In
response to arguments advanced by
the city engineer and others, Mr.. Lard
ner stated that the city was taking no
chance whatever, for il the street was
not so easily kept in good condition
with the Shanghai rail, it would be the
He said that the company expected, by
employing the Shanghai rail, to give
a better street than there is with the
girder rail. He also spoke of the ne
cessity of preparing for the future, as
the company does not anticipate that
it will be necessary TO relay the rail
now being installed within Is years,
and in the meantime the rail will prob
ably have to be used in various places
for interurban traffic, for which the
girder rail is very unsatisfactory.
Difficulty with Big Cars.
1t was explained that the heavy in
terurban cars require for the high
speed at which they run in the outly
ing districts, a deep fiange, and that
when the cars run over the girder rail
this flange brings the entire weight of
the car onto the tram of the rail, the
heighth of the flange raising the wheel
oO lh1I IL dOCo AIOI lOhSh Oli lilC van VI
the rail. This in few years cuts the
tram completely. This necessitates
the complete reconstruction of the
track every. two. or three years ..... i
Though the new style is now allow
ed, the company has no intention TO
disturb the girder rail just laid in the
business part of the city and on Fifth
avenue, but will use the Shanghai rail
in new work to be done in the spring.
Indulge in Discussion.
The aldermen again engaged in a
discussion of the merits of the two
styles of rail, Mr.. Lardner being called
IN for various explanations. During
he consideration of the matter. Alder
nan Robbins presented letters from
Denver and from Milwaukee, highly IA
7oring the Shanghai rail. The Denver
etter stated that at recent election, |
he citizens had voted on a street rail- |
way franchise. and one of the provis-
ons was that at a certain rate yearly |
he company should replace the girder |
all with the Trail.
For City wOrkhOuse.
Aldermen Pratt, Robbins, and Ben |
on were appointed as a committee to |
.onfer with a committee of the board |
# supervisors and of the Moline city |
ouncil on the proposition to establish |
in the two cities. Super
isor Kolloff, who brought the matter /
efore the board of supervisors at the
asst session, was present, and spoke
riefiy of the conditions which exist.
lie did not outline the workhouse plan,
ut merely indicated that the conditions
equire the establishment of such in
titutions.
Matters I'm the Court.
Two city cases in the circuit court
we're up for the councils consideration.
n the Larkin case, in which Mrs. Mary
.arkin was awarded a verdict of $4,000,
. was voted to give the finance COM
littee and the mayor the authority to
mploy additional counsel to argue a
notion for a new trial of the case, and
o give notice of an appeal in case the
curt refuses to allow the new trial.
he question of appealing the case will
e considered later, but it is necessary
D file the motion for new trial at
his term in order to make an appeal
ossible.
The Rounds case was brought up.
nd it was voted to leave the matter
nth the mayor, the general opinion
eing thet the city should dismiss the
ase, which is an appeal from Milan
lstice. The case is one involving the
ght of the city to charge tolls on the
Iilan bridges, and it is not thought
to throw this question into
lie courts at this time.
Public Notice.