Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-08

question. III IS natural ana convenient
for the farmers to the south and south-
west to trade here, and it is also desir-
able for our merchants that they should
The benefits would appear to he
mutual, but Is il sof What have we
contributed to secure this trader
Who has in the last thirty-two years
paid the thousands of dollars TO build and
rebuild the roads and bridges? do not
believe the city has contributed one far
thing to secure and hold this valuable
trade. But On the other hand the far
mers and patrons of these bridges. have
not only built and kept them in excellent
repair but have paid into the city treas
uary handsome revenue for the privilege
of coming into the city to trade. Trade
is the life OF every city. Unfortunately
our city is so situated that we are prscti.
cally cut off from country trade on all
sides but this our main inlet and outlet
And right here we have established a
custom house To levy tribute upon all
who enter our gates. although they do
not come as competitors but to sell us
what we have not got and in return buy
our goods. You are all we'll aware OF the
gigantic effort that is being made by our
sister cities TO secure this very trade which
by nature and location belongs to US. We
will be derelict of our duty IL we do not
make as grand an effort to offset the laud-
able schemes of our enterprising neigh
bors. Upon this question will make no
recommendation. simply stating the facts
as | understand them and intending to be
fair to both sides. If / have drawn them
a Hftlp IN fa Of frae. hr;I
it Is because my sympsthies lean that
way, and my judgment may be erroneous
And should this question come before
you. which in all probability it will,
know you will give it that calm and de-
liberate consideration that a question OF
so much importance demands, and what.
ever your final action may be, am satis-
fled will be what 10 your judgment is for
the best interests of the city.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
We have by ordinance adopted the
special taxation and special assessment
laws OF Illinois, but as vet they have only
been partially enforced and that only on
open work of permanent character and
few sewers. The laws governing im-
provements under this system are very
Su"CSAoOAhO huu CAPCuclNO. ~ NC sue
cessful the laws must be carried out TO
the very letter. All improvements, no
matter how trifiing. must be done by ordi
nance. Every item must be infinitely de,
tailed. all material specified and described
commissioners must be appointed To
make an estimate of the cost, report the
same to the city council in writing,
which Will then adopt the report and by
resolution instruct the city attorney to
| hle petition in the county court asking
To have commissioners appointed TO m AXE
the assessment. Their duty is 20 ascer-
tain from the county records who owns
the property abutting upon the street OF
alley TO be improved and assess the same
in proportion to the number of feet front.
ing upensuch street or alley where such
Improvement is TO be made. But IL BY
] special assessment to assess such other
property as may in their judgment be
specially benefited, and how much, by
such Improvement, although such prop
erty mag not abut upon the street or alley
improved, should the judgment of the
commissioners be proved to be in error,
! the collections could not be successfully
enforced. After passage the ordinance
must be published; commissioners notices
must be published and posted up; work
must be advertised in the daily papers at
least twenty days; spec .ticstiOns printed
and slips with the ordinance sent to all
who may call for them. IL goes into
! court and il successful the city will get
| judgment in from three to nine months.
Those specially taxed or assessed are
given an opportunity TO file objections,
and with the aid of shrewd attorney. il
so disposed, may pick flaw in the ordi-
nance work or proceedings which would
invalidate all, and the collection could
not be enforced. The cost of carving
through successfully the minor improves
ments in the city during the past seas on
would exceed the actual cost of the inn
provement. l would undertake no i'm
provement under this system except in
the strict compliance with the law. Dur
ing the last five years several sewers have
been built by special assessment but the
proceedings in each and every one have
been defective, consequently the collec-
tons have failed. The present city att
torney commenced proceedings again
upon all Of them and has succeeded in
some, but Others were so defective that
we have been compelled TO drop them at
loss OF thousands TO the city. con-
graduate the city attorney upon his suc>
cess In this line, not only in getting jndg.
ment on all of his own but on some of the
ordinances of previous administrations.
You can readily see that the success of
this system depends entirely upon the
thorOughness of the work done BY the
city attorney, and no one but an attorney
knows the amount Of extra labor placed
upon him by this System of improves
ments. l have thus infinitely described
this system to show to those who have
clam ored TO have all improvements, even
TO the dumping OF a load OF dirt upon a
sidewalk, done by special assessment,
some of the difficulties we labor under in
the strict compliance with the law.
will take this opportunity of stating my
position on this question. believe the
law is good and is the fairest and most
impartial way of making public improve.
ments OF permanent character, but for
repairs and miner in provements il is too
expensive. There is too much paid for
printing. court costs and commissioners
fees, and too little for shoveling. If some
system could be devised to group the
seasons work in one or two ordinances
with one or two sets of commissioners,
ali going through court at once and be let
at one time. IL would be different. l do
not believe such a system of grouping
would be valid; but should the council
decide to do work by special taxation
now is the time to adopt some plan for
next years work. We will have all win
ter to mature plans. and If you can agree
upon any feasible system to overcome tue
difficulties have pointed out. you shall
have my cordial cooperation and support.
SIDEWALKS.
IInnn assuming tho d,,fiaa az nffina 1