1974: Eldridge residents fight to keep railroad spur

March 13, 1974: A group of Eldridge residents said they planned to fight the U.S. Department of Transportation’s plan to abandon the Milwaukee Railroad spur from Bettendorf to Mount Joy and Eldridge. “The economic impact of its loss could be very serious,” wrote the North Scott Industrial Development Board. The Milwaukee Railroad said it also planned to fight the DOT on the matter.