Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-28
SERVICE BEGUN
over SOUTHERN
Line Formally Opened to Bust
ness Between Rock Island
and Monmouth.
CARRY PASSENGERS ALSO
Combination Arrangement to Con-
tinue Until Starting of Electric
Cars in September.

Regular freight service was inaugur-
ated on the Rock Island Southern be-
tween this city and Monmouth yester-
day, the first train leaving here at $3.50
in the morning from the Twentieth
street station. Owing to the newness
of the roadbed, which was affected by
the rains of the night before, the trip
was slower than schedule, the train
reaching Monmouth two hours late. 1t
was due to reach here on the return
trip at $50, but did not pull in until 9.
The train will be run daily, and there
will be additional service as the bus
mess warrants. passenger coach is
attached to the train for the accom-
mediation of those desiring to reach
any of the points along the line. There
was good haul of freight and passen-
gers on the first trip.
Electric Train Sept. 4.
E. J. Dougherty. secretary of the
Rock Island Southern, stated today
that the present freight and passen-
ger combination would continue until
the electric interurban schedule was
started in the fall. Our plans are to
have the electric service established
between Monmouth and Rock Island
by Sept. l." Mr.. Dougherty said. Poles
for the electric wires have been set
for the entire distance between Milan
and Monmouth. The wiring has been
time to put it in place. Our power sta
ton, on which we are now working,
will be completed in time to furnish
the electricity for our trains. OF
course the problem of our entrance to
the city of Rock Island remains unset
tied. AS is known, our right TO oper-
ate electric trains ends at Fourth ave-
nue. and First street in Rock Island
The Rock Island road will not permit
US to electrify its right of way through
its local yards; neither would any 9TH
er steam road consent to such an ar
We are constantly asked
what we intend doing to get our cleo
trio trains into the city
Our answer is simply that we will
be obliged to make First street and
Fourth avenue the Rock Island ter
minus of our electric service until such
time as we are enabled to effect sat
lsfactory entrance from that point.
Eye stiH First Avenue.
1--WE still hope to be able to get up
First avenue although realizing the
public opposition there is to us taking
that route in view of the desire to
build belt line on the only remaining
trackage space on that avenue We do
not want any of the avenues south of
First, for the simple reason that it is
contrary to the policy of electric rail-
roads to operate trains over populous
thoroughfares where it can be avoid
ed"
Thus it will be seen that the Washes
have not abandoned First avenue as
an entrance for their electric line. It
is understood they are simply laying
low awaiting expiration of options
held by the belt line promoters on the
First avenue right of way, when, in
the event of such a condition arising,
they will jump in and buy the front |
age consent and proceed with the build |
ing of their line. Therefore it seems |
10 be up to the men who are pushing |
me DeIt 10 get quick action II they eX- |
pect 10 accomplish what they have set |
out to accomplish in the interest of the |
future of the west end factory devel- |
opment.
Bushnell Wants Road.
The citizens of Bushnell held an en-
husiastic meeting Friday nigh to dis
,uss the interurban proposition. Now |
hat the line from Rock Island to Mon |
mouth is completed, it is expected that |
he line will be extended further south, |
md the towns in that direction are go
ng after the road in earnest. Macomb |
s also deeply interested in the project, |
md it is thought ample bonds can be |
sold for the building of the line What |
hey want now is a definite proposition |
rom the Rock Island Southern as to |
he terms of an extension to the south.