Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-17
SIDE TALK.
How the Council Discussed the An.
preparation Ordinances.
The PropOttiOnate Iistt ibutiou of
Funds for the Ensuing Year
the Best Perhaps that has
Ever Been Made.

The city council made it's appropris-
tons for the current year at its adjourned
meeting last evening The distribution
OF the various funds as made BY the al,
dermen in committee of the whole aud
later reported to. aud adopted by the
council is, perhaps. the wisest and best
ever made by Rock Island council.
The official record elsewhere contains the
ngures. The two most i'm portant funds,
that is those which must provide for per-
maueat improvements this year the
fire ard the library received the conside r,
alton on the part of the council they were
entitled 10. and the best of it is the other
funds were not cuitailed as much as
might have been expected, the way the
available money was stretched out an q
made to do the most good where most
needed. being al exceedingly agree.
able disappointment. The fire depart
ment received SIS SOO to equip the paid
department and run il one year, while the
library has IS, 200. enough to make the
Improvements the library board centem-
plates in going into its new quarters.
There were some entertaining discus
sons during the committee S deliberations.
Director J. ". Welch, of the library
board, address d the council and sub
mitted some interesting figures. The
total expenditures of the Rock Island pub
lie library during the past year were So
46S 90; the total number of volumes
ssued for home use, e. 27; 10 account
s kept OF the use OF books in the refer
ence department, but il is estimated that
at least 80 sre consulted during the
gear, which would make total Of 90
)21. The total number now drawing
books is 1900, sad only 81 per cent of
books drawn sre works of fiction. The
total attendance Of visitors in tie year
was So, 529. Mr. WEIGH also spoke of
the pupils in the public schools using
books, the total being , 49, In one
school room il the city 222 volumes on
%AN--~A A~SA A4SNNA1 NCCl III aN u on tue
teachers card, ard IN addition TO this.
several pupils cards have been in con.
slant use il the school. The books so
drawn on American history, have been
consulted in the school room 3 555 times,
and ,aKen home by pupils for consulta-
ton 25G lines, the total use being s.
el4. This is report of only one school.
Twelve other teachers use cards in the
same way, bat no record has been kept of
this work
Alderman Corken made gallant 4 ght
for the fire department, and succeeded
admirably, the council in recognizing the
important duty of the hour as regards
the fire department as well IS the library.
showing its proper regard for those insii-
tutious which are OF greatest interest and
value to the public
Alderman Evans made a short but
splendid speech on street work He ia
vored all future improvements BY special
a. sessuent in accordance with the policy
adopted two years ago. He rightly held
that all money expended cut o: the gen,
ersl fund in Improvements of a tempo.
rsry nature was as good as thrown away.
Let the Improvements be permanent, aud
only such work done by general taxation
as is absolutely necessary to keep up re-
pairs.
Briefly stated, the council did its duty
well, and every alderman has reason 10
feel proud of the wise spportionment of
the funds made last night.