Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-31
RIGHT ON LEvEE
CUT TO IS YEARS
City Council Tentatively Ac-
cepts Sand & Gravel Co.'S
Ordinance.
$500 ANNUAL LICENSE
Concern Agrees TO Turn Over Plant
to Municipality at End of Term
If Desired.

The ordinance of the Rock Island
Sand & Gravel company for the right
to occupy the river front between
Nineteenth and Twentieth streets has
been tentatively accepted, in revised
form, by the city council, the period of
the lease having been reduced from
i25 to Is years, the annual license in
creased from 800 to 5000 per year, and
other minor changes made. The ord
nance was before the council as a
committee of the whole last evening.
and was considered by sections. The
sentiment of the aldermen was al
most unanimous that the life of the
grant not exceed 10 years. thus con-
forming to the length of the lease of
the same frontage now held by the
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail
road company
In this connection it might be we'll
to clear a point that doubtless those
who were opposing the ordinance
might not have been cognizant Of In
1900 the council granted to the Rock
Island & Peoria railway (Which has
since been absorbed by the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific a lease of the
river front from Nineteenth to Twen-
tieth street for % years. 1t was on
condition that the railroad make GER
tain improvements, all of which prom
ises have been fulfilled. II was the
purpose of the railroad TO install
mechanical arrangement on the river
front for the transferring of coal to
barges and steamers from the cars.
The mechanism was placed, but it
proved impractical.
Concession Transferred.
In its stead a chute was built, and
this has since been in use, of late by
the Rock Island Sand & Gravel com
pany, which latter concern has become
the local agent of the Rock Island and
Henry county coal mines of the Rock
Island road. Thus, it will be seen, the
Rock Island road has retired from the
retail coal business. Under the lease
held by the Rock Island road, without
its consent, no other company or indi-
vfdual could use the block between
Nineteenth and Twentieth streets for
the handling of coal for the next Is
years. However, on account of close
relations, the railroad conceded this
privilege to the Rock Island Sand &
Gravel company, although not surren-
dering its own rights under the council
grant of 1900. The Rock Island Sand
& Gravel company, on the other hand,
has a grant from the city council for
the mooring of its sand and gravel
barges in the river between Seven
teenth and Eighteenth streets, for
which privilege it has been paying the
city 500 per year. These barges prac-
tically, during the whole of the navi-
cation season, made inaccessible to
other river craft the block between
Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets.
In the event that the company finally
is permitted to occupy the space be-
tween Nineteenth and Twentieth
its barges will be removed TO that
point and will be confined to the east
half of the block, leaving the west half
accessible during the navigation sea-
son to all other craft that may desire
to use the Rock Island harbor. Thus,
it is argued by the Rock Island Sand
& Gravel company, instead of lessen
ing the harbor facilities in this city,
the new arrangement would increase
them by at least block and half.
Opinion to Charges.
Alderman Charles L. Thompson was
of the opinion that the company should
pay pretty literally for the concession
carried in it's ordinance, and he be-
ieved that 5000 for the first three
years, $500 for the next two and 81 900
annually for the remainder of the life
Of the lease not excessive. Fred Gall,
manager of the company, and E. H
Stafford, the company attorney, re-
piled that the embodying of such a
license charge in the ordinance would
mean that it would not be accepted,
and that the company would withdraw
its ordinance. The company was will
ing to pay reasonable charge; be-
lieved that it should, but it would not
attempt to meet a fee that the returns
of the business would not justify. The
company 1t was stated, contemplated
an investment of approximately S15,-
600. and one that it felt would be a
benefit to the city and river traffic
generally as well as itself 1t had
reached a point in the growth of its
business that 1t must have the modern
facilities proposed or lay down and see
competing concerns at other river cit
les taking the trade from under its
very eyes. The company. it was stat
ed, would not attempt to block any
other local concern that might seek
similar privileges 1t was in a fortu-
nate position with the Rock Island
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