Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-15
MAY BEGIN new
LlNEssTHlS FALL
Progress Being Made in Secur-
ing Right of Way for the
Belt Road.
OVERCOME THE OBJECTIONS
Property Owners Coming to Realize
Importance of Project on the
Future of City.

III hoped for progress is made in Sc
curing right of way for the projected
belt line it may be possible this fall
to begin construction OF the road
There is some objection among the
owners on First avenue to consentin.
to the laying of an additional track
in frsnt of their property, and it was
expected that there would be.
But fund has been set aside from
the booster money subscribed by citi-
zens to develop the city industrially
and commercially with which to com
pensate the owners of the property
for whatever damage they may suffer
by reason of the new enterprise. The
committee representing the board Of
control of the development fund has
conferred with the owners on the ave
nue. between Eleventh and Seven
tcenth streets and asked that a price
be placed upon the 30-fOOt strip that
is necessary for the accommodation 81
the tracks Of the proposed line. A
number have fixed upon a figure and
agreements have been arrived at with
several of them. There remain a num-
Der who are standing cut against the
new road, but it is believed when
they realize the Importance of the
project TO the future welfare of their
city, and the resultant setback that
would follow its defeat, they will join
in making possible the undertaking.
No selfish Interests.
One fact that cannot be too forcibly
40 Of
avenue is that no selfish elements en-
ter into the enterprise. 1t is adyo-
Gated by men who know the possibiii-
ties OF the community when it is in =
position to compete with other cities
i'll bidding for new industries and rail
roads, steam and interurban: men
who are fighting for the future of their
community; men who are giving I'M
selfishly of their time and their
finances from natural pride that they
feel in the going forward OF Rock
Island. They will gain no more from
the belt line than will The humblest
resident of the community No indi-
vidual will profit by the new road.
But the whole city will be the gamer.
The belt is a necessity. 1t is essen
tial to the accomplishment of indus
trial advances that all desire to soc
realized. The hands of the men who
are entrusted with the public develop
ment funds are tied absolutely. and
will remain so, unless they have the
cooperation and support Of the people
to whom they are appealing in the
undertaking to which they are present
ly devoting their energies.
No Avenue of Entrance.
Interurbans for several years have
been knocking for admittance. and
they have been knocking in vai0
West end factories want competitive
railroad facilities. Owners Of factories
wishing to move from other cities hay
come here and gone over the GROUND
They look upon Rock Island as an
ideal location. It's central location
with reference to the rich surrounding
territory where they find buyers for
their output has appealed to them
stronghold, they say. they Will
never operate their factories in a cfty
where they are not accessible to all
of the railroads centering there. There
is one available factory site in Rock
Island. 1t is in the west end AS S
known. but one of the roads entering
here reach that section of the city.
The belt is aimed to solve. and will
solve, both the interurban and the
factory district problems It is pro-
posed to BULL it down First avenue
and south to the city limits. At the
latter point it will meet any raiIro1l
lines that may seek an entrance here
in the years to come. 1t will be OPEN
to all of them.
Thus 1T rests entirely wi h the Deo-
pie to say whether the city is to 90
ahead or atan1 still. The responsible
ity is upon their shoulders alone.