Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-05-08

the city limits is hillside and low grounds with
but few Of the main streets improved, this nee.
essarily requires large annual outlay for repairs,
with bnt few perma nent improvements TO show at
the end of the year for the money expended.
But nevertheless, this important department, I'M
der the supervision of Superintendent Harris, was
well and acceptaby managed. and as result
many valuable Improvements in all parts of the
city are TO be seen as monument to the untiring
zeal of this valuable department.
PUBLIC HEALTH.
The health d. partment is and should be the
most important In the city government. To look
TO the health and welfare of the people is very
essential part OF the duties of city official and
should not be neglected. Health ordinances
always difficult matter to enforce in cities of our
size; most people wish to consult their own judy
ment III ma tiers OF this character. But in the in
terests of all, sanitary laws should be rigidly
forced. During the fall and early winter diphthe
ria and scarlet fever was prevalent in the city 10
such extent that at one time 1t was thought ad
yisabie 10 close the schools, but happily IL was
abated, and at the present time there is but a
few scattering cases in the city. For a detailed
report as to the causes will have to refer you TO
the report of the health comm ssioner, Dr. Eyster
But am of the opinion that most of 1t may be at
tributed TO using impure water taken from old
wells in the THO ly settled portions OF the city
| II is strange with what tenacty some people will
cling TO their old wells, which were no doubt good
| forty years ago. when every house had block of
land around IL. But now death turks IN every
| draught from some of these same wells, which
under proper sanitary laws would be con iemned
and filled up.
| THE FIRE DEPARTMENT..
Our fire department has always been the main
| staff our people has had TO lean upon for the
curty OF their lives and property and it cannot be
said OF them that they ever failed TO perform tdeir
perlous duty OF to respond TO call for help from
| our neighboring cities How often have
heard the terrible fire alarm borne aloft on the
winters midnight blasts and almost instantly you
| would hear the mad rushing of the hose and hook
| and lsdder carriages TO the scene OF destruction.
straiuing every nerve though he who reached
| the fire first would be knghted. l have always
been surprised at the high state OF efficiency dis
/ I'll. ,.la.xE .
though they have a chief which under all ordinary
circumstances they are i'll duty bound TO obey
| The city aids them fnancially-probaby not gny
more than they have to-bpt nevertheless they are
virtually independent of their chief the city or
| each other. We will wake w some morning
| without q fire company in the city and what are
| you gong to do about it? We cannot compel them
TO the city without compensation, furnishing
| their own outfits, including their own horses and
apparatuses. Then on the Other hand. the city S
| annual expenses Tor fire purposes is too large not
| to control them, which we DO not under the pres
| ent system Some arrangements must be made;
| this system cannot VI contirued successfully
much longer. pa9fre department will cost pot
less than $1,000 pei annum. The question would
naturally arise, isour city in condition financially
10 support a paid department without crippling
other departments: The first step would be the
fire alarm system, costing about So 500 There il
what they call partial paid fire department sys
TEN In operation in some of the smallar cities
which, understand Is giving satisfaction, Per
sonally know nothing about il and could there
fSre neither approve or disapprove it, That sys
TEN Is TO have two paid men In each company &C
1 take charge and be responsible for all property
10 be always on hand and keep everything in goVt
condition, the balance of the company 10 be vol
unteers. II we Should adopt paid or partial paid
system, three companies would be all we cOult
affOrd-One at each end and one in the center
My idea would he 10 condemn the hook and adder
building on Fourteenth street and the Nineteentt
street nose house and build good house OF
Flat Iron square, where the Hook and Ladder
company should be located.
DEPARTMENT.
The law department OF the city has been wei
| and ably managed. The city attorney can DOL
with pride and much satisfaction 10 his lega
achievements during the past year. not alone 10
his successful defense in the many damage suit
he has been called upon 10 defend. but also in
mounting the many difficulties encountered in III,
enforcement of the special taxation laws, all o
which without single exception he has carried
| through 10 a successful te rmination.
ROCK RIVER BRIDGES.
The Rock river bridges will have no repairs q
| any consequence this year. Some slight repair
are necessary on the Milan road. You nj
no doubt well aware the city lost the toll hous,
last fall. If the policy of collecting tolls is 10 b
continued. II would be in the interests Of economy
to buy site near the north end of the noItl
|, bridge and build toll house. We now pay TO tn,
Cooley heirs Si2 50 per month for the prv eye u
using our own house built on property whicl
unfortunately for the city, the title had
cond upon 1t which eventually oyershad
! | owed il aud extnguished our title.
IL THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM.
A proper sewerage system is indispensable q
| pra.aryt the health Of the neenIe Unforinnatal
our city like most OF the older cities of the west
always built 20 meet present cOnveniences with
| out any regard TO future requirements, and unit
the Fifth avenue sewer was built we had no wei
defined plan. That sewer forms what tu m,
opinion viii be the basis of about the best system
OF sewers our city situated 1t f., can have
There is no doubt in my mind but that IL woulC
be in the interests of economy to have the cit,
, subdived into regular sewerage districts IN such
manner that would insure the best system GU
| peculiar location will admit of. This would ne
| cessiate considerable outlay TO make proper sur
veys, maps and drawings. II alr limited T,.., n
VIII not admit of our perfectDg Se;tilar system
the next best thing for US to-d IA 1vbstaver a,
do do 1t with view-ss..fs Conforming To the hes
Syslrm tnsL-effiy be inaugurated in the future
ittH question of drainage in some districts Of III
city Is one which requires prompt and careful leg
lslation and engineering attention from persons
/, visitation and examination in the eastern part O
the city. IL seems apparent that speciH
i method must be adopted TO meet the preseu
! pressing necessities in certain localities. 1t
also clear that relief in this regard be secure
at present only by the expense being borne by IN
; property benefited Some suitable arrangement
. | in my opinion is necessary to have all sewer
: | properly and Systematically flushed during tn
r summer months 10 keep down the bad smells an
: sewer gases; also To keep them clean in the eJ
| tremely dry weather as at present.
Al SWEEPING THE PAVEMENT.
| Some plan must be adopted TO sweep the pave
I streets, as at present there is no system wba
ever. Some will sweep one day, some anOthe
and the reactionists not at all. have waited p
: tiently for the business men to take the lead. an
TO inaugurate a system for both sweeping an
sprinkling. have promised in behalf Of the cit
to do our share with your consent, but no one hs
shown any disposition to take the initiative
j this matter, as it now appears we will have
| take the lead, and make some arrangements tbs
will be satisfactory TO he property owners and tn
. city.
PUBLIC PARKS
/ Our public parks neglected for many yeari
are now in fair way of being improved and beau
titled in such manner that they will be one of tn
chief attractions of the city, which will be
| credit to the good taste and refinement Of on
I | people. l do not believe that there is any wa
that money could be expended 10 better adyar
tage than in this manner. 1t speaks well for tn
Intelligence and progressive spirit of our citiZen
=, which cannot fat to impress strangers favorabl
Z with our energy, aud IL has certainly inspirin
influence upon ourselves, so badly needed, W
a must all admit. Spencer square, under the a
tistic tastes OF our progressive park commissions
Z William jackson, is passing through a regult
v transformation scene, and will ere long bloom
r the rose, and when once completed we will n
| longer hear people croaking that the old fro
| pond was good enough for us. The Garnsne
. square park commissioner, Mr. Youngberg, hs
not yet TO the best of my knowledge, adopted an
plan for the identifying Of that park, but there
;, | no doubt we will near from him due time. 4
= | TO the best methods of identifying 1t, l think
, | will be advisable 10 consult the views and co
= slider the wishes of those living in the iulmedia
q vicinity. | have in my mind plan which l thiI
:, Ia the only solution OF this vexed question, but
y may be too radical to meet the views of tho
= in the west end. l, therefore, hold it in reser,
: for the time being.
ST. LUKE's HOSPITAL.
= We have in our midst private hospital. INST
q tanned and supported chiefly through tie exertoi
: of society Of philanthroi ic ladies'. There il
y | question but that they have worked hard to ale
" late the sufferings OF the unfortunates who IA,
= been fortunate in coming under their kind ar
= skil1fnl treatment, and in their laudable efIor
/. OF tying to snsiain an institution
:, | this character In this city In the face
| adverse circumstances, they have never, to Il
q best of my knowledge, received any aid fro
= either the city county. At present they fe
y discouraged at the outlook for the future Pa
, | experience has demonstrated to their entire ga
- isfaction that even charitable institution cam
4 be successfully conducted unless there is som
Z thing more substantial behind them than me
q promises. Bills will accumulate and must
= L nAlu. and liz they ARE tn I'M in, fhoir b