EARLY MEASURES
That the people of Rock Island county were progressive even back in the early days of their history, is shown by the fact that they soon realized that aside from the commerce of the Mississippi there was much business which ought to be secured that lay too far inland to be handled by the river alone. The leaders began working toward securing proper legislation and awakening popular sentiment in favor of the building of a railroad, and at the session of the county court in September, 1853, an order was passed which submitted to a vote the question of subscribing $100,000
for the building of the Warsaw & Rockford Railroad, which subscription was to be paid in county bonds that were to run twenty years.
The people decided in favor of the measure, and the county judge and county clerk were instructed to issue the bonds and .subscribe the stock in the name of Rock Island county, which order was promulgated and the money placed in the hands of this company. Unfortunately the project was not carried out, and Rock Island county lost about $200,000 in addition to the interest on the bonds. Probably the public-spirited citizens who made individual contributions and investments lost as much
more.
THE CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC
DAVENPORT, ROCK ISLAND & NORTHWESTERN
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Illinois Ancestors
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