Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-16

NdluS depreciation on SECOND avenue, I
which will prove disastrous. This re-
routing agitation is injurious to the .
city as a whole. l am in favor Of .
the Rock Island Southern cars
up to the heart Of the city via Third
avenue, but fail TO see how change
in the routing from Second TO Third
avenue will prove beneficial"
TO STAND FIRM.
E. H. Guyer maintained that the
proposed re-routing of cars will work
a great injustice on Second avenue
property holders. These men have
erected buildings, made improvements
and invested their money in Second
avenue property with a realization OF
the facilities at hand. Take away
these facilities and there will be a de-
probation OF property values. A
change in the franchise is bound to
violate the rights of one party or the
other, and should this move carry,
Second avenue men will be put to
the expense Of litigation, as the move
will not be tolerated. Il do not be-
lieve," said Mr.. Guyer, that the city
can be built up by arraying one set
Of property holdefs against another
! am confident that the street car ser
vice in the tri-cities is arranged so as
10 discriminate against Rock Island,
whether intentional or otherwise, do
not know. Why not bring the Elm
street cars straight down Elm street
10 Fifth avenue, thus permitting the
bluff residents 10 secure better accom-
modations? / am in favor of allowing
Third avenue facilities, but not at the
expense of Second avenue"
H. s. Cable said there had been no
change IN street car arrangements
ana in the business district for the
past 20 years. This indicates stagna-
ton. 81 believe" he held, "it to be
wrong to build a fence around Sec
ond avenue and TO prevent the growth
and extension Of the commercial dis
trict. II there has been no change
for 20 years. as some have argued, now
is the time for an awakening Per
sonally, l would favor the routing of
the cars from Twentieth street to Fiji
teenth street on Fourth avenue, as this
would extend the boundaries of the
business district and permit Of a
healthy growth, instead of adding to
the congestion on Second avenue, and
making Rock Island a one-street
town The change in a few years
would be noticeable, and good sub
stantial buildings would replace the
Anticipated shaCks now to be found.
do not personally care what is done
in the matter, but | am in favor of the
adoption Of some plan which will work
the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der"
If FOR THE PEOPLE, ALL RIGHT.
b. D. Connolly asked who is re-
sponsible for this agitation? If it
comes from the people, well and good,
but II 1t emanates from some particu-
| lar set Of property holders, it should
! be ignored"
/ l.. s. McCabe said Although l am
property owner on Third avenue,
have not brought this matter to the
attention of the commission. l believe
that in routing cars on Third avenue.
/ it will merely mean the extension Of
/ the service, but not the taking away
of anything from Second avenue. ia
vor the extension of the business dis
/ trict"
Dr. Joseph DeSilva helS that Sec
ond avenue may be likened to an in
I FAINT which is just developing. By
detracting from it before it has attain
ed its full growth. an injudicious step
is taken. Several years ago, when the
securing OF an interurban was agitated,
not a handful of citizens attended the
commission meeting to take part in a
discussion which affected the welfare
Of the entire city. This afternoon,
when personal interests are involved,
see a crowd which taxes the capac-
ity of this room. There seems to be
quite a difference Why increase
Third avenue property values if Sec
oud avenue holdings will depreciate?
Let conditions remain as they now
are. There is no reason for the pres
ent agitation"
Mrs. J. +. Phillips said, 81 represent
an SO-foot frontage on Third avenue.
BY the terms of the original franchise,
the Blue line, which succeeded the old
Union line. was to have been routed
west on Third avenue. For some rea-
son or other the cars were shunted
onto Second avenue, temporarily it was
understood, but the old route has new
er been resumed Instead of the Sec
ond avenue men kicking on this prop