Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-19
WELL, WILL PAVE.
The Council Orders Improvement
of Second Avenue.
Granite Fixed as the.Materiul---W What
the Tax Payers r avored---Now Let's
Pitch I'm.

the Tax Payers Favored---NOw Let's
Pitch in.
The city council-took an important and
commendable step in the way of prog
ress last evening in ordering the perma>
nent improvement of Second avenue by
means of granite pavement. Aid. Negus
introduced the paving ordinance, an out.
line of which was given in last nights
ARGUS and in connection Herewith spoke
of what he believed from personal in =
formal canvass of property holders. to be
the prevailing sentiment. the preference as
he took 1t being for granite, and he be-
lieved 1t to be the most economical, too.
Mr.. Negus spoke as An extensive proper
ty holder as man who knew whereof he
spoke, having fully investigated. and he
spoke in his official capacity as alderman
and his remarks carried weight with the
council, notwithstanding that he was
twice interrupted by the mayor. who was
| very anxious to show what he thought he
knew about granite.
In support of Mr. Negus' theory as to
the practical economy of granite. Mr..
Nevins, a contractor of wide experience
| OF Omaha, who has used granite for paw
ing and building purposes. expressed his
opinion that gra mite would be the mos,
economical material and be told the
council that he would be glad, we're op.
portunity aft orded, to give a bond OF
$50 900 to put down the granite for IS
per square yard.
City Attorney McEniry laid before the
council the action of the tax payers at the
afternoon meeting, and read the resolu.
ton appearing here after.
The council then adopted the ordinance
ordering granite. as the official proceed.
ings show.
At the adjourned meeting of the prop
erty holders along Second avenue at the
rooms of the Rock Island Citizens I'm.
provement association at o'clock yes.
terdsy afternoon, f. D. Buford presided
and City Attorney McEniry was secre.
tary. The question of paving was dis,
cussed in Its various aspects by Capt T.
j. Robinson. P. L. Mitchell, VIM. Jack.
son and others. E H. Guyer gave it as
his view that $3.50 was the lowest posi-.
BILE cost per yard at which pavement
could be laid down. p. L. Mitchell
offered the following:
II the city council decide to pave Secs
ond avenue, we. the property owners on
| Second avenue recommend q vitrified
brick pavement. laid in the best manner
Fred Hass offered the following which
was adopted. after it had been voted that
the sense of the meeting he expressed
that Second avenue be paved:
WHEREAS, The city council has adopt>
ed an ordinance under date of October
30. 1888. that all permanent improve
ments thereafter shall be done by special
taxation or special assessment, and have
thereby adopted article nine, of section
"a of the general mu nicipal incorporation
law of the state of Illinois or as much
thereof as may be necessary to fully ex-
ecute said ordinance; and
WHEREAS, 1t is the sense of the tax
payers now presenL that all improve
ments such as filling, grading. grsveling,
macadamiZing, paving, asphalt or what
soever the nature of such improvements
may be. shall be considered permanent
~
necessary repairs. and such are subject
TO removal. And it is the further sense
OF the tax payers that there shall be no
sum expended during the municipal year
exceeding $40; and
WHEREAS, 1t is the sense of the tax
payers here Assem- bled that the city
council should hereafter not make any
appropriation for the improvement OF
streets and alleys in this city, except for
the proper cleaning of such streets and
alleys and the permanent improvement of
The intersection OF streets and for neces-
airy repairs.
ResolUed, That ii is the sense of the
tax payers here assembled, that all per-
manent improvements to the streets and
alleys in this city should be made by
special taxation, an6 that We are not in
favor OF any system which shall require
the consent of the majority of the prop
erty owners affected by such improve
ments, but do desire that the city coun-
Gil shall be the sole judge of the neces.
sity of such permane Mt improvement, and
shall order the same in manner as pro-
vided by law and whenever. in their
judgment it Is for the best interest Of
the whole city. And be it further
Res0lped, That it Is the sense Of the
tax payers here asse nbled that the sys.
tenn of special taxation should be faith
fully applied las matter of justice to all
tax payers until all streets in this city
are permanently improved, reference
being had to their condition and their To-
cation and that general taxation shall
only be resorted to for the permanent
improvement Of street intersections. the
cleaning OF streets, and necessary re-
pairs
Mr.. McEniry was instructed to inform
the city council of the action of the meet
ing
The determination to pave 10 one Of the
best steps that Rock Island has taken in
years and it will result in q genuine
boom. The city hts placed itself in the
line with other progressive, go-shead
modern cities, and every cent invested in
pavement will come back with good fat
compound interest. As we have had oc-
cssion to say before, let the good work