Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-04
AIDING TRAFFIC.
The Proposed Ordinance for Side
walk Improvement.
Aid. III, Of the Special Committee,
submits Pr0p0sitions---Wha the
Provisions Are.


Provisions Are.
Probably the most important proposi- |
ton which came before last nights coun-
Gil meeting in the interest of the city and
of public welfare, was the report sub
mitted by Alderman III, of the special
committee appointed at a previous meet
ing to take into consideration and report
upon the matter of sidewalks. Alderman
III, who was one of the committee which
visited Peoria and Chicago for the pur-
pose of obtaining ideas in the framing of
an ordinance such as is desired, reported
an ordinance covering the situation,
which was ordered copied in order that
each alderman might have a copy, and
referred to the ordinance committe. mayor
and city attorney to investigate and re-
port. The ordinance is a lengthy one, but
its provisions may be briefly stated. 1t
requires:
That all sidewalks which may hereafter
be ordered by the city council shall be
constructed under the superintendent
and supervision of the street commits
sioner and to the satisfaction of the may
or and street and alley committee, and
shall be of the following specified widths:
On all streets which are eighty feet wide
and upwards, fourteen feet in width; on
all streets 81 sixty feet in width and ups
wards and less than eighty feet in width,
| twelve feet in width; and all streets less
than sixty feet in width, ten feet in width.
When built of full width, substantial
curbing of stone or plank not less than
three inches in thickness well tied in. shall
be laid over the outer edge of the side
walk.
| That the grades for all sidewalks shall
be given in all cases by the city engineer
or superintendent Of streets until per-
manent grade shall be established by the
city council.
That all sidewalks shall be so construc-
ted as to incline upwards from the outer
edge of the sidewalk towards the build
ing or boundary of the lot at the rate of
one inch per foot, and that no part of
the sidewalk shall be blocked or obstruc-
ted for private use.
That no part of the sidewalk which
has been established shall be laid or re.
laid at any other grade or level than the
adjacent portions of such sidewalks.
That no person shall extend or build
any sidewalk beyond the established
width.
That after the passage of the ordinance
described, no sidewalk shall be construct
ed or rebuilt within the fire limits of the
city unless it be of stone or other ipcom-
bustible material.
That all plank walks be at least four
feet wide. the planks to be not less than
two inches thick and of uniform thick
ness on the same block; three sleepers
under the plsnks of three by four inch
scantling set on edge twenty inches from
center to center and running parallel with
the street, the plank to be crosswise and
well and securely spiked.
That no person be allowed to use fol
vaults, areas or other purposes, the space
beneath the sidewalk included within the
sidewalk line OF any street in the city
unless a permit to so do is obtained from
. the superintendent Of streets.
: That the opening in any sidewalk fo
vault or coal hole or aperture, shall b.
covered by substantial iron plate witt
a rough surface, and that the owner o
such aperture be held responsible to tn
city for any accidents occurring there
from.
That no boiler, steam shaft, furnace o
d steam pipe or cesspool shall be con
2 structed or located for use and no ex
plosive substance of inflsmmable oil o
substance shall be stored for any purpos
: under any sidewalk in the city.
: That whenever the owner or occupsn
r. of real estate in the city of Rock Islam
shall be notified by the city engineer @
superintendent of streets to raise. lowe
e or repair or cleanse any private drain i
= front of, adjacent to. or upon any prem
v Uses owned or occupied by him, it shall b
the duty of such person notified to caus
such improvement to be made.
u That all awnings shall be at least eigh
II feet at the lowest part from the level {
1t the sidewalk
~ That it shall be the duty of the ownel
= of each building in front Of which an
Ill sidewalk is now or shall hereafter be cor
r structed to provide and securely fssten
such sidewalk one iron ring of not 'e!
;, than two inches in diameter and or
quarter of an inch in thickness at son
nc one point or erect a suitable iron post fl
p hitching at every twenty feet Of sue
IS sidewalk
q That no person shall keep or leave ope
=, any cellar door, or vault, or grating, {
Nv allo W sidewalk in front of their prem
II Uses to become or continue in such col
p dition as to endanger life or limb.
A That no person while receiving or d.
:, livering goods, wares or merchandise
- shall permit the same to remain on al
q, sidewalk longer than four hours, and f
rs this purpose shall not occupy over fo
D feet of the outer edge of the sidewalk
front of his store or building.
That on and after the passage of th
as ordinance all permanent improvements
IS the sidewalks of this city be done
special taxation, and all permanent il
provements to the streets and ale
a shall be done by special assessment
~ special taxation as may be provided
in the ordinances passed for said improv
ments according to the statistics of t
state of Illinois.
up The ordinance is composed of thirt
four sections, and onlya synopsis of ca
be of the more important ones is given;
provides severe penalties for the viol
It, ton Of any part or portion of it. T
ordinance will probably meet with pub
an appreciation and receive the support
the council that it should, as it 4
he only provides for a uniform system
m sidewalks and consequently the impro,
IN, ment of the appearances of the city,
lu, under Its provisions the city will ha
less damage suits on its hands than it
~, had in the past.
yer