Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-14
THE PROPOSED LOOPING OF
CAR LINES.

Commissioner Archie Harris propos-
ed system of looping the main lines
of the Tri.City Railway company to
Moline in one direction and to the
west and southwest sections of the
city in the other, around Third avenue
and Second avenue, as a solution OF
the car routing agitation affecting
those two business thoroughfares, may
have its advantages as well as its
sources of objection, and in the end
may prove a means to a mutually de-
sirable outcome of the entire contro-
versy. The brightest ray of satisfac-
ton that is thrown on the situation
comes in the fact that it. promises the
conversion of Third avenue from a
switch yard TO a double-tracked ave
nue.. and the transformation of Market
square from hay yard to a hustling
center of general public attraction.
Third avenue is justly tired of the
make-shift arrangement of car tracks
in lieu of the double tracks it is entitled
to and which have long since been guar
anteed. AS far as Market square is
concerned. Rock Island has long since
outgrown the necessity or desirability
Of having a hay market and weigh
master quarters in the heart of the
city If the new Arrangement goes
1 through, the present pavilion, which
has become an eyesore, will be
/ supplanted by an ornamental wait
| ing station for cars on all lines, inter
urban and otherwise. The market place
will be moved TO Flatiron square. back
OF the Central engine house, which
/ latter building will in time be convert
/ ed into a suitable city market. when
/ the central fire station is established
/ I'm another and equally advantageous
location. Such a consummaeion would
I prove eninently to be desired in all
| respects.
/ The proposition to terminate the two
main lines to and from Moline at any
point up town is apt TO arouse objec-
ton from the street car patrons them
selves. irrespective of how the bust
ness community may feel on the sub
jet. The plan would necessitate eth
er the payment of double fare or So
curing transfers on the part of people
coming from the east destined for west
of Fifteenth street or passengers from
the west end bound east Of Twentieth
street.
At the same time, the plan Of
through routing is becoming more and
more general in all of the cities, large
and small. According to the ordin-
ances Of recent date in both Chicago
and ST. Louis, as well as in the nearer
cities Of Davenport and Moline, the
longer the ride is made without trans
fer the better are the people salts
fed. In Chicago now there are through
routes that extend from the limits of
the north side to the furthermost point
oL the south side. and from the
extremes OF the west end TO the
north and to the south limits. So that,
no matter what arrangements are
risde, there should be some through
cars retained, not merely for the early
morning and early evening travel. but
through the entire day This much
should be insisted upon in the inter.
est OF the general public, regardless OF
how well the business district may be
accommodated. As has been said be.
fore, the street car patrons have rights
10 be taken into consideration, in the
premises3
However. the contemplated ordin
snce insuring as it does cars on both
Second and Third avenues is preg
nant with possibilities, II not prob
; abilities OF settlement OF the much
b mooted car routing question 10 the
satisfaction of all concerned, the main
suggestion being, OF course, to sim
plify rather than cOmp.icate the sit
uation
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