Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-03
COUNCIL CHATTER.
Tae Park Commissioner Ordinance
Defeated---Tolls Reduced.


81 cannot conceive" q progressi We
minded citizen stated this morning. why
the council should object to the park
commissioner idea. The filling of Uuion
square impresses every citizen. as the
work progresses, of the necessity for that
improvement and the great advancement
it will be to the city when il is COM
pleted. 1t Is difficult now to understand
why it was that such ragged, rough
place was allowed to continue from year
to year in the very heart Of the city. All
the progressive cities in this country and
the world consider it an absolute necessi.
ty to supply the people with neat, orna,
mental parks. where the poorest citizen
can enjoy the beauties of nature; IN fact,
they are great breathing spaces, where
the people can resort and breathe the
pure air of heaven. The rich can have
parks of their own. but the common peo-
pie must depend on the public parks. and
rs the cost TO each member of the munic-
ipslity for a fine park is tri6ing, espec-
tally where the land is already owned. no
reason can be urged why Union and
Franklin squares should not be made
places OF beauty where the young and
the old will delight to go. especially
where this can be done at slight expense.
The people at the lower end OF our city
are becoming convinced that to make
Franklin square what it should be We
must de something more for it than is
being done. The fact is. Franklin square
Is bed of gravel and it will be always
difficult to grow trees there and make q
rich sod. The city needs the gravel and
can we'll afford to replace the gravel with
good loan, such as they are now placing
in Union square. But If the city does
this 1t wants to be begun and ended in a
reasonable time; 1t must not be allowed
to drag for years. if this is done, Frank
lin square will be what Union square has
been. place to be stunned rather than
sought. The people of the lower end
ought to urge this matter in earnest
they have a beautiful square which can
be ornsmented and made a place
OF beauty, but it will never be done un
less some person takes an interest in this
matter. We hope some enterprising and
progressive citizen will move 10 this mat
ter. We are satisfied the city council
will render all necessary assistance. Dig
out your gravel and fill with good earth
that will make you thick green sod and
nOurish the trees.
The ordinance for the appointment OF
park commissioners should have passed,
so that the mayor might appoint men of
| good judgment and taste, as is done in
other places-men who will give their
| time for the love of the work to be done,
then our public parks will be places OF
resort aud will Weld TO the people more
comfort at less cost than any other thing
we can do. / do hope the council will
/ ItCuuslutI us ut us utAA
and adopt the park commissioner ordin-
ance"
The council showed the right spirit in
reducing the tolls at the Rock river
bridges one-hslf, but il would have shown
better policy had it abolished the tolls
altogether. The ARGUS is not disposed
10 criticize the councils action in this
respect. as it is indisputsbly in the right
direction, but there is question as to
whether the compromise of the tolls is
going TO be productive of good results to
the city in bringing in more trade. The
wisest course would be to declare the
bridges free-there is no doubt about the
wisdom and the good results to come
from such course.