Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-05
SOUTHERN ASKS
TRACK up FIRST
Permit for Right of Way to Be
Asked of the Rock Island
Council.
FOR ITS ELECTRIC TRAINS
Latter Allowed to Come Only as Far
as Fourth Avenue Over Q. X.
1. & p. Rails.

The Rock Island Southern gives
out the announcement through }. w.
Walsh, head of the company, that it
proposes seeking permission of the
city council here to lay a single track
I along the river front from Fourth
iavenue and First street to the Twen-
tieth street depot, which is to be ter
minal of the steam and electric trains
of the new road.
1t should be explained that the
steam trains of the southern are to
come into the city through to Tween
tieth street over the tracks of the
Rock Island road, whose right-of-way
lis used for both steam and electric
traffic of the Southern from Preemp-
ton.
Stopped at Fourth Avenue.
However. the Rock Island road has
declined the use of it's tracks further
than Fourth avenue to the electric
trains, giving as the reason that this
traffic would interfere with the oper-
ltion of its own trains.
In just what manner the Washes
mean to proceed to obtain the desired
track from Fourth avenue is not stat
ed. Inasmuch as the company has
given the impression that the electric
trains are to be operating into this
city in June. it would seem that there
will be some early activity necessary
in reference to the right-of-way UP
First avenue.
1t was suggested that the tracks
of the Tri-City Railway company
might be used from Fourth avenue
east, but the Southern officials say
that their long cars could not make
the curves, and further that their
width is so much greater than the
Tri-City Railway cars that two could
not pass at the present space between
the paralleliRg lines. The logic of this
argument when the practices of other
cities are considered is not exactly
clear
Independent of the Belt.
The Washes are doing business
here entirely independent of the belt
line enterprise, progress on which is
making every day in the matter of
obtaining property consent between
Eleventh and Seventeenth street.
Some months ago the Washes stated
that the Southern would bear a por-
ton of the expense of the construc-
ton of the public belt if allowed to
do so, but is is not understood that
any definite proposition came from
them. Even though it did, the direc-
tors of the belt would not give it
consideration, for the reason that no
partnerships are to be entered into.
The belt is to be completed on the
lines originally set. That is, the
ownership and control permanently is
to remain in a commission, acting
for the Greater Rock Island Devel
opment fund, and if there is any sur
plus, in excess of means of main.
tenance and repairs, it is to go to the
funds to build and support the city
parks.
Accentuates Demand for Facilities.
After the completion of the belt, !
doubtless the Southern could share
the use of its tracks on the same basis
as any other railroad. as it is to be
open to all lines, whether steam or
electric. that may desire to come into
the city That is the prime motive
that is behind the enterprise. Fur
thermore, it will settle the west end !
1dCLOTy LFdChdS0 pIODlSLu, OpSulHS /
that territory to all roads AS it is /
now, but one line has trackage to
that territory. Factories demand /
competitive railroad facilities.
The predicament of the Southern |
If such it might be termed-only |
accentuates the urgent demand for
the accommodations that will be pro
vided by the public belt. In addi- /
ton, only yesterday a contract was
let for survey of another interur-
ban that plans to build from Musca-
tine towards this city. These new /
lines are blocked at the city limits
t is up. to the city to see them /