The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-10
The Water Works.

Our mayor, Elisha P. Reynolds, has
called the attention of the citizens to the
condition of the water works, and to break
the silence. / will give my opinion. Il
The necessity of the removal is not yet
proven. We do not know for certain that
the diseases ascribed to the use of the con-
tamiuated water are caused by it or by al
mospheric Influence, but we know by the
testimony of Mr.. Z. A. Kramer that the
water in severe winters will be impure, and
the very thought, of drinking water, con-
taminated with sewage is nauseatiDg and
should prompt as to effect change. Our
MAYOR proposes three different plans, all
of them connected with a good deal of ex-
pense. when the city is not able to make
apv. | am of the opinion that the evil
can be remeied with very little cost. Our
superiptendent of the water works, Mr.. 4.
Kramer, states that the contaminated
water is carried along the pipes to the
place of suction. If we change the direc-
| ton of these sucking pipes so as to run in
northeasterly course from the water works
the rocks cannot follow the pipes against
the stream, land our water will be good and
pure These pipes should be run in the
middle Of the river Neither plan, sug.
gested by the Mayor, will furnish the city
with perfectly pure water. This is sub
ject to the same objection, the contamina
ton differing only in degrSe.
/. The Mayor states, that the
capacity of our water works wi II
not be sufficient in 5 or years. This
depends on the growth Of the city: only
admitting that it might be advisable,
to enlarge the capacity Of the water works
at the same time, when re locating them.
Ii re location is not necessary, we might
well wait until the city has outgr0wn the
capacity Of the water works.
| 3 A reservoir will not purify the water
from sewage; it will save expenses in
running the works, but the building of it is a
large expense, and the city is not able to
build.
| t. Tho Mayor states that we have gone
into debt all the law allows US Ii
is we'll for the Mayor to state this
much; it is only part OF the truth The
full truth is, that we have exceeded tho
legal limits Of our debt,and that the larger
part of it is Illegal.
There is no use to deny that our city is
il bad shape financially, We have over
reached ourselves. There are many i'm
provemeuts to be made in this city very
desirable. which cannot be made fer want
Of money. Our resources are hot large
enough to pay the interest Of the funded
debt, and the necessary improvements anC
the running expenses of the city. The
city Of Rock Island should be conducted
on the most economical principle, and il
view of the last resolution Of the council
= to rent part of the Armory for ten years
at rental Of $500; in view Of these propo
sitions from the Mayor, and of the sewer
age enterprises continued last year, the
new council should consider we'll whar
should be done, and the citizens of RocA
Island ought to express their opinion freel,
= in regard to these matters, SO that bano
fetal results may be obtained {. Z.
Why DO so many parents think childrei
troublesome? because they cry; and VIII,
= do children cry? because they suffer Dr.
/ Bulls Baby Syrup will relieve at once al
,,a;r that Robrbond IL Suhiert 2,