Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-07
COUNCIL READY;
RAIL WAY DEMURS
Three Items on Which Tri- City
and Municipality Are Not
Agreed.
HOLDING UP ORDINANCE
Demand for $25, 900 Contribution to
Rock River Bridges. and Free
Street Sprinkling.


all that is now delaying passage by
the Rock Island council Of the new
franchise ordinance of the Tri-City
Railway company. These items are:
Ten-minute schedules on the Third
and Fourth avenue lines within two
years after adoption OF the ordinance.
$25, 900 contribution towards the re
construction and repairing Of the Rock
river bridges.
Sprinkling of all paved streets over
which cars operate from curb to curt,
without cost to city, company to fur
nish sprinkling cars and men to oper-
ate same, city to supply water free OF
charge.
Hitch ON street Grading Cost.
On all other clauses of the ordinance
the company and the council tenta-
lively have come to terms. The ordin-
ance was considered further at the
meeting OF the city council last even
ing. Both President J. F. Porter and
General Superintendent ]. G.. Huntoon
were on hand, and the ordinance was
discussed by sections. The first hitch
came in connection with the paving
improvement on Thirty-elghth street.
The assessment roll for the improve
ment, extending from Seventh to Eigh-
teenth avenues, is now before the
county court for confirmation. Own
ers of the majority of the frontage
have fled objections, holding that the
assessment is excessive. There is a
probability that the Improvement will
be knocked out, according to the Sew
enth ward aldermen. When the street
railway builds new lines 1t agrees to
assume a fair proportion of the grad
ing cost, and pay for the paving be-
tween its rails and for two feet on
either side of the same.
In view of the Thirty-eighth street
paving situation, the railway company
has been asked to build its proposed
line between Seventh and Eighteenth
avenues whether there is a pavement
laid or not, and that the company bear
one-half of the expense of grading the
thoroughfare. Mr.. Porter demurred to
this proposition, preferring that the
clause read that the company bear
such share of the grading as might be
agreed upon between the company and
the city council when the time for do
ing the work arrives.
Porter Says There Is Limit.
THE Tri-City Railway company will
not be found wanting in any particu-
lar in doing the right thing when con-
fronted by such situations as that on
Thirty-eighth street at present" Pres
ident Porter said, but we do not want
to be loaded down to such an extent
that will handicap us in our general
improvement and extension plans. We
do not know now what the cost Of
grading this street will be, and this
should be left open until the time for
doing business arrives. You are ex
pecting us to aid you in rebuilding and
repairing the Milan bridges. Doubt
less a large sum will be needed, and
the amount~of our contribution neces-
sarily will be measured according to
the financial demands made upon us
before we reach the bridge question.
Remember, there is a big cut to be
made on Twenty-fifth street, in the
extension of the Long View line, and
there are other outlays that we will
be obliged to make incident to our gen.
eral extension Improvement that should
be weighed by the council in acting
upon our new ordinance. We will go
as far with you as we possibly can.
But there is a limit"
BaIks at SprInkIing Proposition.
President Porter would not subscribe
to the demand for the sprinkling of
the paved streets, curb to curb. He
said that as far as the company could
go was in sprinkling between its own
rails. At this juncture the Tri-City
Sprinkler company was heard from
through its superintendent, james NJ.
Stoddard. He recounted the financial
difficulties of his company, claiming
that it had deficit at the end of every
season since it began business. Last
season he said IT had a shortage of
1880. The company had been unable
to induce the city TO pay anything for
sprinkling intersections, in front of it's
parks, ETC.. and in addition the city
had exacted a high rate for water. Mr..
Stoddard said his company was will
ing to withdraw If the city could get
some other concern to do the sprink.
ling without charge. In the meantime
his company would continue, however.
Turn Down Long View Change.
Alderman Frank Lawler, when the
clause covering the routing of cars was
reached, offered a motion that Long
View cars, westbound, be run down
Third avenue, returning over Second,
but the motion was defeated. AS the
clause now stands, the westbound
bridge cars shall be run down Third
avenue and return by Second, Third
avenue is to be double-tracked. and the
routing of cars on Second avenue is not to
be disturbed by ordinance. The company
agrees to the replacing of its wooden
trolley poles in the fire limits as de-
manded by the council In conforming
to the general improvement and beau
tifying plan In that districS.
City Engineer Wallace TreichIer es-
Inmates that it will cost $4,000 to $751;