Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-09-14
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
The Solution of the Second Avenue
Difficulty.
Satisfaction OF tire Aggrieved Proper
~ Hoiders---The Pavement Prog
ress---The viad net Question.

The proposition of Mr. David Don ap-
pearing in last nights ARGUS to ask the
council to permit the present grade of the
curbing and walks on Second avenue be-
streets, where the knoll is to be removed.
to remain standing-simply substituting
q deeper curb-meets with satisfac-
ton among the property holders oppOs>
ing disturbing the present street grade.
One of the moer who fought the
change OF the grade stated last evening:
The proposition is the solution of the
entire difficulty, and if the council will
simply leave the curbing alone at its
present grade-of course ordering a
wider curb-we will consider our griev-
snce at an end. My better judgment
told me from the first that the street pros
per ought to cone down. if it was
to be permanently improved, but l OPP
posed il because l believed it would be q
serious and unnecessa-y detriment to my
property interests. The council can just
as well, and without committing itself to
it's future policy, make the COM
promise now suggested. OF course
when the time comes for any
new buildings to be erected in the dis
trict in dispute. there will be time to
think of something else. have no de-
sire to interfere with public improve
ments, and if the council can make them
in this case without running abutting
property. so much the better"
This gentleman Was one of the most
emphatic opponents of the lowering of
the street to the proper grade. yet he
spoke with much enthusiasm of the
present system of public improvements,
and the council will show the proper
policy by giving the new proposition
careful consideration and granting the
wishes of the property holders in this re-
gard IL it can possibly be done.
Contractor Atkinson and Supt Nevins
transferred the scene of their paving
operations this morn ing to the intersec>
ton of Twentieth street and Second
avenue, the width Of the street having
been left when the paving was COM
menced. This space will now be
attended To, and will be COM
pleted by Monday noon. The mayor
should then direct the altering
OF the sloping gutter at the corner of
Eighteenth street and Second avenue.
the location of the unsatisfactory experi>
ment. This can be accomplished in half
d day and then all the work will be CONS
pleted to the west line of West Seven
teenth street. The contractors will then
begin at Fourteenth street and work
east. while the excavation is being made
in the block between Sixteenth and West
Seventeenth streets.
Mayor McConochie had a conference
with Division Agent Mack, of the c., B.
& q road. yesterday relative to the put
ting in of the gates at the crossings on
Twens-yfourth and Eighteenth streets.
MIR. Mack, while expressing the entire
sympathy of his company with every eff
fort on the part OF the city 10 pro-
tect human life and also improve
the city. stated that the company
and he believed it II be the position of
the g r & r., as well-was more de-
sirious of seeing the viaduct built and of
every assistance reasonable
to secure it's construction. II there was
a prospect of this Improvement being
provided the railroad companies would
dislike the expense of putting in the
gates in the meantime.
The mayor will lay the matter before
the council at the next meeting, but any
delay that may be occasioned by
prospects of the vilduct-and it is a
pleasure to note that the prospects are
goOd-should not interfere with the pas
sage of an ordinance requiring gates
on Eighteenth street. which is also
a dangerous place dur ng the larger part
Of the year when the ferry is in opera.
ton.
The transformation made by the prop
erty holders near the corner of Twelfth
and Third avenue is spreading M.
r. Iglehart has received the contract from
the property holders fronting on Third
avenue and Twelfth street for a large
amount of work-the principal portion of
which is curbIng and substantial walks
on the line OF the property. The grade
was found to be eight inches below the
present road bed. The property owners
cheerfully complied with City Engineer
Paddock's survey-Jerry Dsrrah, Mrs.
Jacob Frysinger, Chris Scheiner. John
Ohlweiler, Jr.. VIM. Sunley and Henry
Houseman agreeing &c make the curbing
and sidewalk uniform. People owning
abutting property will fall in line. There
has been many notice able improvements
in The lower end of the city with more
to follow. The readers of the ARGUS
will continue to be promptly advised of
what the people of tn. whole city do to
the general advancement
Rays from the headlight
Another new time card is talked of on
the c.. r. l. & r.. and also on the c., b
SO.