Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-28
ROAD is REFUSED
TRANSFER GRANT
City Commission Decides to
Allow No Addition In
East End.
OBJECTION is SUSTAINED
property Owners Complain That
Crossings Are Dangerous
Enough as They Are.

After hearing the objections Of
property owners in the Seventh ward
against the granting to the Rock Is
land and Burlington roads Of the right
70 lay a transfer track between Forty
fourth and Forty-sixth streets, as well
as the arguments for the right as set
forth by E H. Stafford, attorney, for
the Rock Island, the city commission
this morning voted TO reject the pro
posed ordinance, ali members voting
against the proposition except Mayor
Harry II. Schriver. who wanted fur
ther time. to gain concise idea of the
situation. The company may take the
matter into court.
CROSSINGS DANGEROUS.
Two weeks ago the matter was hrst
presented to the council by Nj Stat
ford, and at that time it was laid over
for two weeks. Today a petition sign
ed by - property owners living be
tween FCrtieth and Fortysixth streets
was presented 10 the council. In the
petition the signers cited the fact that
the crossing and tracks were danger
Gus TO the pedestrians, and especially
70 school children. who had at times
been forced to crawl over and under
cars in order 20 go to or from school.
They are of the opinion that the lay
ing OF a track TO be used for transfer
purposes viii only augment the dan
gers and will be a nuisance as well.
NJ J. Murphy was spokesman for the
petitioners.
ROAD CLAIMS OWNERSHIP.
Mr.. Stafford briefly reviewed the sit
uation as regards the ownership of
The property along which it seeks 70
lay another track. He said years ago
the strip Of land was purchased by the
road, and since then the crossings have
been established. He maintains the
road has a concurrent right with the
city in the control of the property and
therefore a right TO demand the grant
ing OF the ordinance. The company's
property is 100 feet il width and there
Is no abutting property The company
operates under a state charter and has
the same right to control of the prop
erty as the city. which also has life
under a state charter.
Citing a similar case which was de
cided in favor Of a railroad, Mr.. Stat
ford asserted that the company had
the right 10 cross streets, alleys and
roads. de said that If The streets were
blocked by trains there, IL is the duty
of the police department TO enforce the
laws, which are ample. covering the
situation IN 10 OF - years there have
been no accidents 20 pedestrians along
that portion Of the right Of way ~
the Rock Island road.
NO TRACK ELEVATION.
He asserted that the laying OF the
additional transfer track would lessen
the switching so that II could handled
by one switch engine. He said that
the city, the factories in the vicinity
and the railroad would all be benefited
by the Improvement; The scheme Of
track elevation. he stated. is one that
could not well be considered Sor Ssv-
crd years 10 come, because Of the
situation OF the factory district IN Mo-
line. The switching tracks are in such
shape that no change now would be
warranted. The factories are not
ready for f. and they are the ones who
are most concerned IN that scheme
OBJECTS To LITIGATION.
Commissioner Archie Hart present
ed the motion for rejecting the ordi-
nance Mayor Schriyer votsJ in the
negative because of the litigation in
which lhe city may be involved be
cause OF refusal TO grant the ordi-
nance He wanted To wait for the
opinion Of the city attorney, on the
matter. but the other members OF the
council preferred immediate action
COMPANY Is READY.
A communication from President J.
=. Porter Of the Tri-City Railway and