Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-15


alton of both its electric and steam
trains from Presumption to this city
The Southern's lease permitted the
running of its steam trains over the
Rock Island. tracks to Twentieth
street, but the Rock Island would
not permit electrif1cation of its road
way further than Fourth avenue and
Mill street. The Southern had to
have an Independent entrance for it's
electric trains, Mr.. Walsh said, in
order to satisfy the bondhoIders. He
said there would be the same objec-
ton to using the rails of the belt line
as those of the Tri-City Railway. com
pany. Mr.. Walsh said his company
wanted to run its electric trains into
the Rock Islands station at Tween
tieth street, but it planned to have
another station at the foot of Seven
teenth street. where there would be
connection with the lines of the
Tri-City Railway company for trans
ferring of passengers to Moline and
Davenport. Mr.. Walsh insisted that
the Rock Island road had nothing to
do with the Southern, and he was
willing that all desired stipulations
be placed in the ordinance safe
guarding the city against the passage
OF the southernAs holdings into the
exclusive control OF any other rail-
road corporation. He was willing
that any other interurbans or steam
lines come in over its track on the
payment of reasonable charge.
should Ne Encouraged.
T. j.. Medin said that the Southern
should be encouraged rather than
discouraged in Its effort to get into
the city with its lines, and be believ-
ed that the sentiment OF the people
generally OF the city was favorable
to the Washes in their application
for franchise rights. Mr.. MediIl
wanted that a helping hand should
be extended to all railroads that
might be seeking entrance to the city,
but. as Mr.. Curtis had stated, there
should be reserved under control of
the people, through a trusteeship,
such an independent gateway as
would be afforded by the belt, for
the future protection of the city.
There were suggestions by several
of the aldermen that the Southern
take another route other than First
avenue for its passenger trains, fol-
lowing either Fifth or Sixth avenue
from Mill street to Seventeenth
street and north on Seventeenth
street to First avenue. and over the
latter thoroughfare to Twentieth
street.
Lawson Route Open.
Fifth avenue, 1t will be recalled, a
year ago, was surveyed for the Law
son interurban line, and 80 per cent
of the owners of the frontage signed
petitions of consent, but many of
them withdrew when they learned 1t
was proposed to haul freight cars in
over the line. However, the South
ern wants the new entrance exclusive
ly for passenger traffic, and doubt
less there would be no objection to
the use Of the Lawson route. Mr..
Walsh said his company would not
refuse to consider a different route
from the one sought, but First ave-
nue. was preferable.
1t was agreed that the members
OF the council would make a trip
over suggested routes for the South
ern this afternoon, the Washes to
furnish automobiles in which to take
the trip. The Southern ordinance
will be further considered at the ad-
journed meeting of the council this
evening. At that time the members
of the Rock Island Industrial COM
mission are to be present and confer
with the council in reference to the
belt line interests. There was a
large gallery of interested citizens
at the meeting last evening. There
should be another big house tonight. |
The Tri-CIty Extensions.
The pending ordinance involving ex-
tensions of the Tri-City railway lines |
is not likely to come up tonight. as
President Porter will be unable TO at |
tend. Before the matter comes I'D |
again it is likely that the Tri-City PEG |
pie will have some more definite pro |
gram outlined. Public sentiment is in |
favor of all additional lines |
that may be acceptable to the company
and of a just and reasonable attitude /
toward the company. but it is opposed |
to the Twenty-fOurth street link as |
contrary to the welfare of Rock Is
land. contrary to the spirit of the orig
inal ordinance permitting the building |
of the bridge line and in no sense of |
need to the company in the
successful operation of its lines. Re
peated attempts to get line through |
Twenty-fourth street from Third 10
Fifth avenues have been rejected by
the city council. and even as late as
the last ordinance granted the Tri-
City company, the one providing for
hn
island, 1t is expressly stipulated that
mo regular service shall be maintained
over the same TO Davenport, Iowa"
This clause, by the way. is in a meas
ure being violated right now. which
Is fair index to what use might in time
be made of a line down Twenty
fourth street. The Moline council has
refused TO permit the Tri-City company