Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-18
0 is ALLOWED To
PLACE ITS TRACK
Morris g Lewis Make Brake
Shoe Contract Price of
Their Consent.
EXPOSURE BEFORE COUNCIL
Real Estate Agent of Burlington Di-
vulges Some Interesting BUSH
ness Secrets.

Peace has been declared between the
city and the Burlington railway in
reference to the stretch of track on
Second avenue between Twenty-third
and Twenty-fourth streets, the laying
of which during the early hours of last
Sunday morning was interrupted by
the sudden appearance on the scene of
the mayor and a squad of policemen.
The track would have been completed
had the forces of the company been
allowed a few more minutes, as there
remained but one span to put in place.
During yesterday afternoon a special.
committee of the council met with the
representatives Of the road at the dis
puted spot and the entire proceeding
was gone into. The committee, at the
meeting of the council last evening,
offered report sustaining the action
OF the mayor, and recommending the
withdrawal of the police guard, mas
much as the company had satisfied the
condition in the deed given to the city
by Timothy A. Babcock, that, in the
event of the surrender of the property
by the city for railroad uses, there
must be paid an additional $1,000 to
the Babcock heirs.
Morris 81 Lewis Object.
When this report was placed upon
its adoption, G. B. Marshall, as attor-
ney for Morris & Lewis, owners Of
junk yard that fronts on Second ave
nue. adjoining the new track, protest
ed against the council making a sur
render to the company until it first had
satisfied the owners of the property
affected He took the company TO
task for seeking to grab the stretch OF
property under the cover of darkness.
He believed in doing things in the
open. If the company was within its
rights it never would have proceeded
so stealthily. He insisted that the
council did not have the right to give
away a portion of a public street with
out seeing first that the public would
be guaranteed a sufficient highway AMI
that the property owners were dealt
with fairly.
Lets Cat Out of Bag.
Mr.. MarshalIs remarks brought
rise from E. a. Babcock, general real
estate agent of the Burlington, who
was present at the meeting in com
paQy WlJn l. L. w dlhGE anu - d. III
gram, local attorneys for the company.
Mr.. Babcock felt that the council ought
to have a little light since there seem
ed disposition to place his company
in the guise of a scapegoat. He denied
that any snap judgment was attempt
ed. He held that the company had
right for two main tracks under the
city ordinances. The company had no
use for the second track if it were
handling it's own business only. The
congestion was resulting from the
traffic of the Milwaukee and Daven-
port, Rock Island & Northwestern,
both of which lines shared the Burlirg-
ton right of way under the conditions
Of its franchise ordinances. The public
was more interested in the furnishing
Of the needed facilities than was the
Burlington, he maintained Too, he
felt that the council should know that
for over a year the Burlington had
been endeavoring to arrive at terms
with Morris & Lewis for the purchase
of triangular strip at the intersection
of Second avenue and Twenty-fourth
street to give to the city in return for
the strip that was occupied by the
second track. thereby insuring a high
way Of the same width as before the
track was laid.
$4,000 for 600 Feet.
Morris &, Lewis, he said, had put
price Of $4,000 on the 600 feet. There