Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-04
DOES 1T MEAN BUSINESS?

The Proposition TO Buy the Water.
works---The Advisabiltty Of selling
Mt Proper Fiynres--- What May Come
oft.
Last nights ARGUS made allusion to q
movement on foot looking to the pur>
chase of the Rock Island water works.
The assertion was verified later in the
day by the filing with City Clerk Koehler
by o. j. Dimick. in behalf of gentlemen
from Chicago and Cincinnati who have
been in the city for few days, of the
following brief but important PROPOSE
ton:
GENTLEMEN " Will you please set a
price, spot cash on the waterworks, If
for sale. If not favorably considered
please state what will buy the city's in
terest in Union square, the city to give a
special warranty deed. The principals
represent will take all chances of defect
in title
In view of the city's present financial
state. there can be no question as to the
advisability of the sale of the water
works if the right price can be
obtained in spot cash." The present
estimated value is $3.50. 600; of course
the city would not consider a proposition
for any less. Since the construction Of
the works eight years ago, the expenses
have been $65, 735: the cost of incidental
construction-water mains. etc.-has
been $2S. $50 So. making a total of $94.
297; while the city's income in that
period has been S11S. 1911. During the
last municipal year the city paid out
80. 99S for ordinary running ex>
penses, and S7,770 for construction.
amounting in the aggregate to
$l6,76S, while the city got in SIC, 467
from rents. The sale would relieve the
city of burden, there is no doubt about
that. and the proceeds. if the estimated
value is obtained. would wipe out the
municipal debt and leave a balance in the
city treasury of some $40, 600. besides
transferring to other souces the taxes that
now fall upon the citizens.
But there is another way to look at it.
The city SHOULD not sell unless the pur-
chasers are bound as to the limit of the
charges they may make for water rent
the people should be protected from ex-
action, and the city itself provided at
reasonable cost with hydrant protection.
These provisions made, the municipality
should have no hestancy about selling
Then there is another very decided gain
to be made by the sale in the event of its
being consum mated. A paid fire de-
partment is one of the improvements the
city is bound To make early in the coming
spring. Its al institution more necessary
and desirable for e growing city than
almost any of the very commendable
propositions talked of by the Rock Island
Citizens Improvement association. Els,
scntial as the paved streets and uniform
sidewalks, they are but luxuries when
enterprises and new industries will not
come to Rock Island until this means of
protection to their property is afforded
The city must make the move if it is to
grow, and it must be put on foot this
spring. The $50, 600 over and above the
amount necessary for the liquidation Of
the municipal debt would more than
equip such a department as Rock Island
would like to start out with, and as we
are certain of having the paid department
at any cost, this is one important reason
why the sale would be desirable
Altogether the ARGUS favors the sale,
if there is such thing as it being made
with the legal stipulation that the city
may fix the maximum of the rate of
charges for water rental.
The Union square proposition is not SO
important. II 1t can be sold with the
understanding that it is TO be built up
with substantial business blocks, sell it
Anything is preferable to vacant property
and this piece is too small to be ever con-
sIdered as a park. Bounded as it is on
three sides by street railways, it ought to
bring good price. Let's have business
blocks in the city, and parksmore remote
from the scenes of business activity.