Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-08-04

In answer to the published call for meet
Works in Rock Island, large number Of
our leading merchants, manufacturers, bust
ness men, members of the City Council and |
property owners assembled at the Council
Room at three o'clock this afternoon, with |
VIM. Eggleston, Esq in the chair and J, S. |
Drake as secretary. After q general dis |
oussion upon the feasibility, and advantages
Of water supply, during which reports were
made on the workings of the Holly System
in various places, the committee appointed
ct the last meeting reported as follows:
REPORT TO CITIZENS NESTING.
The undersigned, q committee to whom
was referred the matter OF pre- pairing an or.
diuance authorizing the formation of
stock company to supply the city of Rock
Island with water, would respectfully report
that we have prepared an ordinance which
is hereto attached.
We would farther report that it 10, at least,
questionable whether 9 joint stock company
for the purpose of supplying the city with
water can be legally formed 1t is Also very
questionable whether the requisite amount
of So subscription TO the stock could be OBJ
tanned except under an ordinance so bur
densome to the city that the council ought
not to grant it.
Il is therefore the opinion of your com
mittee that the work should be done by the
: city, SO that the city receive all the profits
arising from the sale OF water, and coutrol
it IN all respects.
P. L. MITCHELL,
CM OSBORN
Z. CARTER.
We omit the publication Of the ordinance
referred to in this report, as it is drawn ex-
pressly TO suit the case, in the event JONI
stock company could be formed, which, il
has been decided, cannot be done. The
language of the Law upon this point is. tina
any company can be formed "for the pur
y pose of carrying on any kind of manufactur
ing, mining, mechanical or chemical bust
ness" The supplying Of the city with
T. water does not come within the meaning o
. any of the Purposes named, and as the cit
charter is granted on this Law it will pro
hjbit the formation of company. 1t is
however, the universally expressed desire o
n citizens that the city undertake the work
1t and it is the opinion of we'll informed Law
st yers tina; even under this law the city cal
lie borrow money for this purpose, but if Their
10 be doubt upon this point, perhaps, the diff
,e Guilty may be ovisted by the following from
E. chapter Is, article Ga, section 2, on the law
e, passed by the last general assem- bly, in ref
E erencs to Water Works Tax, which is a
r follows:
/ The legislative authority Of any such cit
E. which now has, or which may hereafter hsv
established Water Works Tor the supply @
water to the inhabitants thereof, shall nav
z power to annually levy and collect a ia,
s. upon the taxable real and personal estAt
"a Of any such city, not to eyeeed one mill OIL
the dollar, for the extension Of water main
or pipes therein, and the maintenance O
Q such Water Works, which tax shall b
4 known as the Water fand tax and shaI
n be levied and collected in Inc same name
- thst other general taxes of any such city ar
Ievied and collected; ProUided, hoperer
o that the board Of public works of such city
: if any, or the head of The water department
q Of such city, shall first certify TO such legis
:. lative authority the amount that will be ne
cesssry for such purposes and shall fsr;he
certify that the revenue or income from sucl
q Water Works wall be sufficient therefor.
. But even this may not be done, as eigk
per cent bonds can be issued under the nev
assessment to cover the entire cost OF tn
works, and these bonds will find read
market even with those who furnish IL
works and the pipes. As this is, in a.
= probability, the plan that will be adopte
2 We again give our estimate Of the cost 0
! the entire works complete, together witt
's the prospective revenue from the same
which all will admit TO be reasonable an
II within bounds. Notice also the fact tina
II according TO these figures the revenue wi
c pay for the works and give Us free water i
G ,ess than ten years, and prevent any recours
J. TO the one mill tax referred TO in the Ia,
II quoted above.
Engine and boiler set, pumps, cIpaci-
?, ty for Z, 000, GOO gallons and lot, all set
: in working ~, so
J