The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-03-15
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.


present Ms aonor, the Mayor, ana
Aldermen Rosenheld, Wollenhaupt, Eggles
ton. Riley, Spencer, Huber, P. Skinner and
IL W. Skinner.
The minutes of the last regular meeting
were read and approved.
The finance committee submitted the fol-
lowing report:
TO the Mayor and City Connca Of Rock
| Island:
| Your finance committee would report that
they have examined the accounts OF tue
/ following city officers, and found the same
| correct. to wit: City Clerk, Coiiector'
| Traasnrar Suneryisors OF the First, Second,
| Th;rd and Fourth Wards, Wharfmaster
/ ;abma.,er and Bridge Tender. In audit
- he accounts Of the Treasurer, we have |
com .red the several vouchers with the
TENS charged, and have Cancelled and
bnrned the orders, amounting to $74,374l7;
also domestic coupons, amounting to
$4,050.00. We have also DESTROYED promis
sorry notes amounting to 81, zoo
All OF which is respectfully submitted.
CHAs. W. SKINNER.
JOSEPH RosENFIELD.
Rock ISLAND, March II, 1870.
On motion of Alderman Eggleston the
same was received and ordered placed on
file.
The following preamble and resolutions
we offered by Alderman Eggeleston:
WHEREAS, Some weeks ago Ben Harper ESQ,
presented u communication to the City Council,
asking them to commute the taxes for FIVE years
on his hotel property, on the corner of Illinois
and Jefferson streets, in consideration of his
building expensive first class hotel at q cost
of from seventy to eighty thousand dollars Oh
said pre- misses. Also setting forth the fact that
| the invest II ent would be large, and the income
small in proportion. The communication was
| referred to the Law Department of the city for
report on the legality OF the proposition. The
city attorney, Mr.. Connolly, made his report to
the o,uncil setting forth clearly, that this Board
had no legal or constitutional right to grant the
desired application, and
! WHEREAS. This council is of the opinion thai
the business interests of this city demand. Just
such an hotel Mr.. Harper proposes to furnish
US, and it is no doubt the wish of large MAORI
/ ty of our fellow citizens to strengthen Mr.. Har-
per in the confidence of the enterprise There
fore this council does earnestly resolve that the
/ Mayor he au, horzed and is hereby requested to
lease from Mr.. Harper, the CITY Council cham
Der. for the ensuing five years, at the annual
rent of fire kanared dollars. in lieu of our legal
| ina nility, to rebate or in any way commute the
| taxes AS desired by Mr.. Harper in his commnn-
cation to this Council.
The yeas and nays being called resulted
as follows:
Yeas, Aldermen Wollenhsupt, Eggles,on,
Riley, Spencer, P. skinner and c. W. Skin.
/ ner-6.
Nays, Alderman Huber-l.
On motion, Alderman Rosenfie was e1
cused from voting
Mayor Buford, upon retiring, thanked
the Council, for the uniform kind
ness and courtesy extended him during his
term OF Office.
The Mayor and Aldermen slect, being
present, were qualified by Police Magistrate,
ID. c, Connolly, whereupon Mayor Skinner,
/ after a call OF the roll of aldermsu) in a
few well chosen remarks, addressed the
Council, expressing his views concerning
the wants and interests of the city; its nat
ursl advantages and world wide reputation
as q manufacturing point, the necessity OF
| corporation of the citizens IN sustaining and
carrying out ordinances and resolutions now
in force, and which may be in force from
time TO time, referred 10 the deplorsble con
dition of side walks at the present time and
urged the necessity of importing the condi
ton Of the same imniediafeiy.
/ Alderman Woods, moved that the city
printing for the ensuing year, be let by con-
tract 10 the lowest bidder.
Yeas and nays being called, resulted as
follows:
| Ieas-Alderman Koch, Sage aud Woods.
/ Nays-Ald. Wollenhsupt, Riley, Huber,
. c. W. Skinner and GRAY.
On motion of Aid. Skinner, the Council
proceeded TO choose by ballot, City officers
to serve for the ensuing year.
Aid. Skinner 4 Koch were appointed tel
lers.
/ The votes having been canvassed and the
/ following persons having received major
| ity of ali the votes polled, were declared
duly elected to the following named offices
to wit:
f. City Clerk. Frank Conway.
Marshal - L. NJ. Weber.
Weigh Msster-Chss Engle.
Bridge Tender hos. Gray.
Wharf Master-Wm. \. Jarvis.
I Assessor John Barge.
. Collector - Abram Wagner.
Pripting-Argus Printing Co.
| Attorney-H. c. Connolly.
TreasuIer-J. NJ Buford.
upervisors-lst Ward, Adam Marker;
% Ward, Andy Hoffman; Sd Ward, August
Roswog Attn Ward, Henry Fi,zsimmons.
! The following resolutions were submitted
By Alderman Eggleston, and, on motion
were Adopted.
Resolved, That the cordial and sincere respect
/ Buford, for his uniform courtesy and gentleman
/ ly department toward the members of this Coun-
ell. and for his unvarylng impArtiality With
which he has administered the arduo=s and diff
| cult executive duties of his Office, during the
term just expiring; and sincerely congratu-
/ late him upon the complete success of his Ad
mini stration trusting that he personal abuse OF
some of his political opponents outside of tins
Council viii eease with his retirement.
ResoIeed, Tha: the THANKS OF this Board are
due and are hereb, rendered to Frank Conway,
Esq, the efficient City Clerk, for his faithful
services, and tho accommodating spirit which
he has NANTES ted on ali OCCASIONS to the mem
bers of this Board; and TO ali persons wis have
had official business connected with his Office
On motion of Aid. Skinner the Mayor and
Marshal were authorized to appoint the
! police constables.
On motion OF Aid. Huber it was ordered
that all licenses remain the same rs las.
! year.
The Mayor appointed the following stand
ing committees, to-wIt:
| Finance mmittee-Aldermen Skinner
and Koch.
On Streets and Alleys-Aldermen Riley
and Woods.
| On Fire and Water-Aldermen Huber
and Riley.
/ On Bridge-Aldermen Gray and Riley
/ A petition, numerously signed, was pre-.
seuted by s. s. Guyer, Esq, asking the
Council to signify their Willingness to grant
the incorporator the righr of way through
such streets and alleys, and over the Cam
/ den bridges across Rock River, as may be
necessary for the complete maintenance and
operation of q Street Dummy Railway be
/ tween the city of Rock Island and the town
of Camden Mills, in an ordinance hereafter
to be drawn by the City Attorney, and
passed by the City Council, designating as
the most desirable route, as follows, viz
Commencing in Market Square, running
south in Eagle street to Toledo, west an
Toledo to Otter, thence south to the city
| limits, and continuing south, crossing the