Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-02
OUTSIDE RIGHTS
FOR A TRACK FILL
Rock Island Southern Gains
Important Privileges by
Government Consent.
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT
Runs From Fifth to Twenty-fourth
Streets-Riparian Rights Yet
to Be Considered.

The corporation back Of the
project to secure railroad rights out
side the present water line running
along the entire river front of Rock
Island from the west end of the city
as far east as Twenty-fourth street,
as discussed in The Argus several
months ago, develops, as intimated
then, might possibly be the case, 10 be
the Rock Island Southern.
This much is verified by the action
by the war department upon recon-
mendation of Major Charles Keller.
in charge Of the engineer corps of
the upper Mississippi, of waving OBJ
jections on the part of the govern
ment Of the proposed fill and track
line The position Of the engineer
department is taken on the theory
that what is contemplated is not re-
garded as an obstruction to naviga-
ton.
b.. THE PRIVILEGES SOUGHT.
What the Rock Island Southern
asks and what the engineer depart
ment has signifed its intention to
permit, is the privilege of running a
track line from the foot of Fifth
street to the foot of Twenty-fourth
street by building embankm ents and
trestles above the low water mark
This does not mean that the South
ern can build it's line TO Twenty
fourth street without first applying
to the city for an ordinance and to
the owners of the property involved
for the riparian rights.
The Southern asked for the priv
lege of running from the foot of
Fifth street to a point between Eley-
enth and Twelfth streets. From that
point IL is proposed to build the
track on the present shore line to
Sixteenth street and to build along
the water line from Sixteenth to
Seventeenth streets. From Seven
teenth to Twentieth streets the com
pany expects to build along the pres
ent levee and from Twentieth to
Twenty-fourth street If the line is
completed that far, 10 construct a
trestle and entertainments.
UNDER THE CRESCENT BRIDGE.
The proposed line would carry the
track under the Crescent bridge and
all along where the emba n.kment is
built below the low water mark, the (.
harbor line would be carried further
out. AS the government intends at .
some time to narrow the channel of |
the Mississippi on both sides of the
river, the Rock Island Southern /
would lend aid in this matter. At
some OF the points between Fifth and .
Twelfth streets, the harbor line
would be carried out 100 feet by the .
road. From Sixteenth TO Seventeenth .
street. the plans call for carrying the
embankment out for a distance of 20 .
feet. From Twentieth TO Twenty
fourth street, the distance ranges .
from 20 to 10 feet.
A blue print showing the plans
of the grant of the government is on
file at the local Office of the United
States engineers. Like privileges. it
is claimed at the engineers office
have been given by the government
10 private companies in many in
stances for they aid the government
in establishing harbor lines. which
has come TO be an important feature
in the river Improvement work. \
similar grant was made in Davenport
some time ago and as a result the
harbor line was carried out severa!
feet.
WOULD COST MUCH MONEY.
The outside track would if the
rights to construct it are allowed, in
volve. OF course, the expenditure Of
immense sums OF money and the
proposition revives the belief that
some great railroad such as either
the Santa Fe or the Chicago 81
is back of the enter
prise To what extent the PROPOSE
tion if realized may or may not prove
a menace TO the leyee or the river
front. will remain for developments
TO demonstrate. 1t is not a matter
that is possible of immediate dispO-
sitiou. and in the meantime abundant
will he afforded 10 set
forth the proposed enterprise from
every angle.
The securing from the government
Of tho outside track rights will not.
the representatives OF the Rock Is
land Southern state. interfere with
their proposed ordinance up sixth
avenue and down Fourteenth 10
First.