Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-31
FIGHTING BOND ISSUES.

Posters have been put up and scat
tered all over Rock Island county, in
Guiding this city. attacking the bond
propositions. They show, as TOO often
happens, that somebody is willing to
. spend money to block the wheels Of
I progress. All sorts OF reasons have
been advanced as TO why the county
will be better on without the Rock
river bridges anu the county jail.
The lower bridge is singled out for
especial opposition. Most OF the argu-
ments advanced against it remind
one OF the opposition watch developed
a quarter OF a century ago, when free
delivery OF mail was proposed in the
city of Rock Island and a number OF
merchants fought it on the ground
that if the people had their mail deliv-
cred at their doors they would not
come down town to trade.
There is some reason for the opposi-
ton Of those who own property along
the only gateway the city now has
and those who for these many years
have had a monopoly OF the local pro
duce market, but it is a selfish reason
the ground OF advancing the public
welfare. Instead of frankly saying
why they oppose the Improvement
they pronounce the plan impractical
BILE, say a vast expenditure would be
involved. that the road would benefit
only a few and would be a burden on
the many. They cite a long list Of
reasons, all of which might have OPP
Grated some years ago to prevent the
people Of Muscatine from bridging the
Mississippi river and building a grade
90 feet high for more than two miles
out TO the bluff to secure the trade OF
Illinois farmers for the Iowa town.
Doubtless all these reasons were actu-
ally advanced when this project was
under consideration, but the progress |
i've Muscatine business men went
right ahead and built the bridge and
road. and now they are getting more
country trade over this avenue OF ap-
proach than Rock Island gets over its
single highway. The southwest road
and bridge would reclaim part of this
business for Rock Island and would .
be mutually beneficial TO city and .
country. II would bring more traffic I
this way. without diverting any consid- /
cradle proportion Of that which now
enters via the present route.
II IS understood that the extreme
upper end OF the county Is fighting the
ColOna bridge for the same reason
that the southeastern part OF the coun-
Is Is opposing the lower end bridge
because these two sections viii not
reap a direct benefit from either. Such
e. -. q H.rfnWa- D
BILE and the display Of such spirit
AZ this time points 20 great deal OF
trouble in future.
The day is near when the movement
for highway improvement Of some sort
Is going 10 seize Rock Island county.
This work must be done BY state and
county aid and sectional interests
must be made subordinate 10 those
D. the county as a whole. II IS TO the
best interests OF all the people that
he roads giving the most direct routes
between important centers be first 10
,0me I'm for attention. The proposed
southwest road would be the most
iircct one possible between the coun-
s. seat and a large part OF the lower
nd Of the county. city and country
benefited are Just as much entitled 10
his road az are the people Of the up ,
,er end 20 their scenic and Rock river ,
ALLEY routes or the central and south I
IN parts Of the county 20 the most
lIrect and best improved highways ,
with the cities. q
The time has come. I'm short. when I
ne people OF all sections must pull
oEe;her. for e. Is inevitable that with {
r.F
VII come IN turn asking other dis !
riots for assistance in highway i'm I
irovement. y
Those who oppose the lower end
ridge aud road and the Colona bridge 4
ow for selfish reasons are simply lay .
lg up trouble for themselves. a