Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-08-21

Feau the report of the committee on parks
and bouievards with reference to the pro-
posed improvement.
Your committee on parks and boule
Yards would respectfully report.
ina, on The TIN day Of Angus meet
ing was called for the purpose of Inspect
ing seventh avenue east of Thirlieth street
win view to determine the feasibility
OF Strengthening. widening. grading ard
oou!eVardlng the same 10 the boundary
between Moline and Rock Island That
your committee did meet on the above date
WIN all members present, except Gustav
Stengei, and.iu company with his honor,
VT NrConochie, msvo- of the city of
ROCK Island, City Engineer Paddock and
the members of the committee on streets
ana alleys, of the city council. proceeded
10 seventh avenue aud after carefully
LOOKING over the ground adjourned to
meH' a%e'3 ~ August 18th 81 4 o'clock
p. III. That ca the last mentioned date
your Committee again met at the rooms
OF tnis association and after carefully look
ing over tbs estimates OF Gig Engineer
fadlock and discussing the several oues-
uohs peEtinin9 20 the project, agreed
upon the following recommendations: to-
wit:
Owing to he locations OF the cities of
Moline snd Rock Islsnd, the former With
population OF IS 600. the latter OF Is
900 int Abitarts, making a total OF % 900
which 70 Steadily incrrssicC, nrly three
Ahes apart Ii"m center TO cen ,er aud
WIN out Two tuorJughfares, nam ely Fifth
ana SeVentn avenues, connecting these
large ceutofs, one IF which is practically
inaccessible To loaded wagons owing TO
the steep grade, aud ne otger IN addition
10 tbe vast tr6tii} which from the very
necessity OF he case must pass upon il.
bas dolb.e street car tracks with cars in
cessantly passing. and located rs it is
slong the tracks and yards of three of the
leading trnnk lines of the great northwest,
30 that 'r~tfc el"ng said thoroughfare is
actually dangerous owing to the necessity
Icr horses unused To steam locomotives
travelling upon II.
Your committee therefore investigated
the amount of excavation and cutting
thst would De necessir y in cutting down
Seventh avenue, as in their minds it
would be tie ouly available avenue that
al the present time could be so improved
as 10 be of advantage to the public, and
nue. to a per cent grade would re>
cure ~" "X"Evation of $1,000 cubic
yards; thaJ hy the excavation of $4,000
cubic yards 8 per cent grsds could be
established, making difference of 49,
600 cubic yards, as between a 4 and )
per cent grade.
Now, therefore, we think it advisable
and would recommend thst Seventh ave
nue. east of Twentieth street be straight
eneG; that the grade be reduced TO
per cent grade; that right of way be Sc.
cured of 100 feet. but that an excavation
be made but so feet wide, requiring the
removal of 81, 900 cubic yards, and that
the said avenue be boulevarded from
Thirty eighth street east to the bound
airy between the cities of Moline and Rock
slaDd.
1t was also reported that one member
of the committee had minority report
favoring a per cent grade. but it was
not presented. and DR.. Paul spoke at
length urging the importance of the i'm.
prcvemert and estimating the aggregate
cost at not over $4,000. r. Champion
spoke in favor Of the PROJECT also.
Manager Jesperson, of Augustans
college, stated this Improvement was
one which the college had been looking
for and waiting for, for 10 years An in
stitution such Us he represented, he held,
ongnt TO present better front. He spoke
Of the very great desirability of a nea:
and psssabe tnoroughfare past the col.
lege. Il was indeed necessary that some
thing be done if Rock Island would keep
the college here IN is present advancing
condition. Ia 90 there would be q great
jubilee at the college when 5000 siran>
gers are expected, and the faculty would
be ashamed 10 welcome visitors with the
streets aoUGL the college IN their present
| condition. Mr. Jesperson also spoke at
past 10 years. and how greatly those Who
had its management in hand. felt the neg
lect that had oeen shown in this matter of
Seventh avenue, and ne was heartily
applauded u hen he finished his remarks.
1t was at this juncture that NJ. Z
Sweeney spoke his piece. which h IS been
the talk of III who hear! is eyer since.
1t was never known before that the ex-
city attorney aspiIed to be a wit, but his
studied effort of last evening
fully illustrated that there was
glowing will there to SO appear
if not brilliant way. Mr.. Sweeney
commenced by visionary landscaping
Then after his hearers hau found lneir
bearings he paid his respects to the Union
street railway, the city of Rock Island
and the property holders, all of whom IN
their turn came in for a share of the
speakers csustic ssrcasm(O
1t happened that there was one repre-
ooptafiva nf tho ctfv cOunp,l IN