Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-05-08
The MAYORS MESSAGE.
Mayor McC0nOchie's Annual AID.
dress to the City Council.
A lengthy Document Read Mt Monday
Nights session and Ordered Made q
Part OF the Onicinl Record--.Review
of.MunicipaI Matters.
Following is Mayor McConochie's an
nnal message to the city council read at
Mondsy nights session:

rOHoWiuB u mayor MCCOnOcnte an
nlai message to the city council read at
Monday nights session:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CRY CoUNcIL:- I'm compli-
ance with the law and the established customs of
my predecessors herewith transmit for your con-
siderstion my first annual message. II has been
my endeayor to make Il as brief as the questions
under consideration will admit of. and as we turn
again new leaf in our municipal calendar let us
hope Its bright page may not be furnished by any
Improper OR retrograde legislation which would in
any way jeopardise that progressive spirit which
Is now slowly but nevertheless surely making its
impression on the minds of our people And let
our record be OF snch character when written
thereon that IL will bear the closest scrutiny and
stand the severest criticisms OF time. / wish TO
say one word In behalf of the council now retiring
The members have made for themselves a record
that Will stand unparalleled In the history of our
municipal government, not only for the pro yres-
sive spirit shown on all occasions and in the
prompt and methodical manner they have had Of
transacting municipal business but more espec-
: tally Tor their harmonious actions displayed upon
each and every occasion-in fact party lines were
entirely obliterated, no contension has existed
except that honorable rivalry In which each indi-
viuual member endeavored TO excel his colleague
In trying to do the most good for the greatest num-
Der. majority of you have been associated To-
gether and with me in the management of city af-
fairs in the past year. have no doubt mistakes
may have been made; IL is human TO err but |
believe the mistakes were honest and not inten-
uonal- L enter upon this, my second year with
renewed nope. and the experience of that year
Justifes me in believing that greater results can
be accomplished this year and with a Arm coavic-
ton OF doing what is right and lust to ali classes
OF our people, and in this j ask your hearty co
ope' alton and support One thing should be
borne In mind and that is the inspiration OF every
city government should and mast be a united
effort In the maintenance and perpetnation of an
honest management of the city's affairs and with
lh,s sentiment as our rule and guide our conduct
VIII receive the endorsement of the people
FINANCE.
Fhe first question wish to draw your attention
20, Is the question of finance and revenues. This
necessarily is the important question. A failure
70 Keep the city's finances in clean and healthy
condition. dsrupts, disorganizes and corrupts any
goseIhment A municipality, like private cor
poraton. must keep its credit good or il cannot
succeed or prosper. Taxes to maintain a govern
ment are necessary and indispensable The least
p 'i, you can place upon the people is one
TINT VIII yield sufficient revenue 10 be econoni-
eally and carefully used Tor the peoples Welt re
For full, complete and detailed statement OF the
ciiys finances will refer you To the able and ex-
haustiye report of the city clerk which is so sim
pie and methodical in its construction that ch}ld
could not fail 10 understand it. Appended tot is
financial exhibit OF the city's revenues aid dis
bursements for the past ten years in Condensed
form, on which the clerk has devoted rboth time
ana study perfecting. II will be ot.fuestimable
value 10 al conservative citizens wBO take a nrda
IN the study OF municipal affairs. AT a glance we
mist recognize the fact, no matter What mtstet o.
may nave been made in the past, the fnances of
the city have been well aid ably managed FOR
many years and the crstit of our rits toJsy
stsnus second to none IN the state of illinois,
rT lnhi, LnfkoVESENY BY SPECIAL ASS zssMENT
uone improvement by special taxation or
special assessment is stiff passing thropgh the
eAPeIlmehtal Stages In this CITY The system has
not received tHat cordial support which II is on
s,ona ~ " Its friends, bu: on the contrary its
,snJ usest advocates secretly oppose ii whenever
tnTu pSfsonal interests are affected and theiI
opi,ihi1hs are not adopted regard ess of how il
10 eneet the tights OF others. In starting out
tto<inake improvements by special taxation on lrst
Impressions II would appear 10 be the popular
msue, ana especially when such Improvement.
would De or permanent character, but exper
fence has taught us such Is not the fact Surface
indications form no criterion whn ever; whenever
tue practical test IL applied by delying below
tue SURFACE deep enough TO reach the pockets OF
tue oenehclaries then the most rmined opposf
ton Is encountered. Most men wish 10 be classi
neu as progressive citizens and have no don III
r nn honestly believe 4 and are in good faith
until they are Individually interested; then yor
Will meet their determined opposition and II vii
not De that open manly warfare we all must ad.
-, IN pfave and aggressive enemy, but IA kind
OF euefllia warfare so detestable TO civilization
every city has experienced the same dificultie.
SIn,an2ing from an old 10 new system. In
making improvements under this system we en-.
Souutet the opposition OF two distinct classes
one lie composed OF those who are opposed 10 mi
improvements. The other unfortunately, is com
posed OF class who are too poor TO paw for them
This class Is entitled 10 our symns,bies I'm, ~
former use The latter a bstte1ing ram Ia rol In
IIoht OF them to hide behind to IRE their mali
elous shafts nj the breasts of men who have tht
courage 10 stand up for what they tbink IL r,gbt
regardless or the consequences This system ot
nsmkns pubic Improvements is now being uniyer
sally adopted Ia all progressive cities ami l. DIV,
ing good satisfaction wherever fl is carTtsJ ori >,
lHe Ieler You cannot lanP continue the policy
ans portion OF the Inn -. - ~
without Creating disc ce from the general funC
OF all Ann nt net in am IN v IL
OF gong 10 extremes. l do not think you woult
oe Jnstlned In going so far as TO order a residenc,
street improved without strong petition backing
u, anu not then II ous finances would not admit 81
" But when 1t comes 10 a leading thorouphfar,
Woere the traffc Is unusually heavy Won WonId n,
Jusuned In ordering the improvement wheneye
the city's financial condition will admit of ON
paying our share for street intersections Sine,
the death OF our esteemed townsman Bailey Day
snport nothing has been done about the propose,
IMentleth street paving south of Ninth avenue
III this work can be done upon the instalImen
plan similar 10 the north Twentieth street i'm,
Hrr1pYWemsn'' l would be heartily in favor of it
While MI Davenport in my opinion was the kind
est hearted and the most benevolent citizen in ON
midst, his insane policy OF conducting both oil
private and public affairs was detrimental 10 m,
city while living, and he made no reparation wheI
ne dted. Now his vast landed estates are involved
II endless litigation, and 1t should in measur,
atohe iof some OF hts mistakes by being com
Psheo 70 pay Tor the improvement of at least on,
good street through IL. II our city attorney car
point out any legal way TO accomplish this he shall
nave my cordial support In pushing it through
Inc proposition OF Alderman Schnell TO bGilC
sidewalks upon Third avenue upon the fnstallmen
plan Is worthy Of your consideration II there i
one lining We need more than another it is goo,
sidewalks. Cinder sidewalks are becomtng WOW,
common OF late and by people who are well ablI
TO do mnch better. They are simply make.shIft
IN IAcI lney are no walk al all. They are yer,
destructive TO floors and carpets and shnuId h.
disc 5uraged by all who have any pride in the CITY
HOW many men we meet will say, II would Law
sidewalk II my neighbors would do likewise. :,
such men are neither patriotic or progressive !
they were either they would go right on and la
good walks and the chances nine Of ten of the
neighbors would do likewise
THE wATERwoRKs
Our waterworks are in fair condition. Som
improvements VIII be necessary around the watel
works grounds and baidngs, but few light exter
eions will be required this year New and i'm
proved machinery Will be necessary before man
years, and to have good and wholesome water a
al seasons OF the year the reservoir System iney
itable. To provide for such improvements
sinking fund should be created ard begu
out OF the surplus waterworks' revenues whic
are now upon good paying basis Since IN
revision OF rates under my predecessor m
revenues have been Increased twenty ne
cent The collections have been successful wit
out one exceptions patron who has epioined IN
city from shutting him off as "A delin1lent I'm
We expect TO have the Injunction set aside In
rev days, when the water will be shut of and III
back water rents collected by legal process Tn
city loses nothing by shutting of large consume
like Mr.. Wager; he has a rate which simply COW
ers the expense OF pumping. The amount Of Wa
ter ne uses wonid bring four or five times the re,
enne he pays from private consumers and as IN
number or private consumers increases we mn
either drop the Improbable large consumers Q
increase the capacity OF the works at large e1
pense. During the summer months the machiner
Is crowded TO its fullest capacity. / have ha
some correspondence with banking firms in Chi
eago and New York In relation to the sale OF m
waterworks. The former representing n Londo
syndicate, sent their constructing engineer :
make the necessary surveys and to get sufficien
data TO make proposition TO the city council 10
the sale of the waterworks. In the conversation
had with him, understand they have built an
bought large number OF plants IN this couutr
and his opinion was that our rates were tifty ne
cent too low, and ais they would expect to charg
fair rate for fire hydrant services. / informe,
the gentleman Ii he expressed the views OF hi
company upon the essential POINTS his chances ii
my opinion OF buying our plant would be YER
slight indeed. do not know what your opinion
may De- out personally Iwould strenuousl " oppos