Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-07-07
SIDE TALK.
Entertaining Discussions at Last
Nights Council Meeting.
Aid. HuesiDg Vicinity Assails the
street Railways, and gers
scorching RepIy-Other
Matters OF Interest

out of a question raised by Aid. Huesing
relating to bill of 81 presented by
City Clerk Koehler for recording vital
statistics. Aid. Huesing thought this
duty devolved upon the health commits.
sioner, and that the amount of the bill
should be deducted from the salary Of
that official. He therefore, presented
motion to that effect Ali, Corken
moved as substitute that the bill be
allowed
An opinion from City Attorney Haas
and An explanation from City Clerk
Koehler were requested. The former
stated that the council could not in Jus.
tice to either the city clerk or health
commissioner ignore this bill as present.
ed. However, if the council chose to
take steps in the future to haye the health
commissioner discharge those duties, it
| could do so by ordinance. The city
clerk explained that previous to the adop>
ton of the health commissioner system,
the department was regulated by board
of health composed of three physicians,
| and the city clerk as clerk of the board
was compensated for the additional duties
of recording the vital statistics.
| The council had since continued that
practice. Aid. Corken's motion was then
put and carried unanimously, Aid. Hue
sing explaining his vote in the affirmative
by stating that he had no objection to
allowing the bill to the city clerk. He
merely thought it should come out of the
health commissioner.
When the committee on fire and light
was called. Aid. Corken the chairman.
reported the signing OF contract for a
/ system of electric fire and police alarm
and the purchase of irst-class hose
wagon from the Revere Rubber company
of Chicago. The wagon, which
is to be delivered within 40 days.
will be of the lates, design. which is be.
ing adopted in all the larger cities. and is
10 cost $3.50. The weight of the vehicle,
which somewhat resembles police patrol
wagon, is 800 pounds. The width of
the box is three feet ten inches by eight
feet ten inches in length, while its width
between hub and hub is SIX feet thr ee
inches. The box is of hard wood. ele,
g4ntly finished, and the sxles, springs,
etc, are made of the best material 10 be
had.
Aid. Bladel offered an ordinance which
was adopted by unanimous vote, provid-
ing for the following up of the paving on
Fourth, Third and Moline avenues
with substantial walks of either brick or
tile, and forbidding the use of plank
walks hereafter on those thoroughfsre S.
Now by applying its regular ordinance
! pertaining to sidewalks, the council can
secure good walks through the portion of
Rock Island now being paved, as is the
case in the other paved districts.
The ordinance for the paving of Third
avenue from Twenty fourth to Ninth, of
Nineteenth from First to Third and of
| Commercial alley was called up by Aid.
Hue sing ard after some discussion in
which Aid. Klox opposed the provision
for the paving of Commercial alley, passed.
The city attorney was instructed to secure
judgment at the Novem Der term of court
in order that work may cenm ence early
next spring.
With reference to the prayer of the
| Davenport & Rock Island railway COM
| panY TO abandon the Ninth street line
south of Fourth avenue without jeopar.
dizing the remainder of that line. Aid.
Kennedy reported adversely on the
petition, and Aid. Huesing promptly NOV
ed the adoption of the report. The
matter was briefly discussed and various
opinions expressed, and finally referred
back to the committee for a written re-
port ut The next meeting.
Aid Huesipg called upon the street
| and alley committee for report on the
girder rail being pat down by the Rock
Island q Moline street railway on its line
| through the city. Aid. Kennedy, the
chairman, reported that the committee
had investigated the rail at the close of
the council meeting on the night that it
was brought up. and was satisfied that
the rail was unobi -ctionable.
Aid Huesiug then took the floor for
speech which was directed entirely at the
owners of the Milan road and Managing
Director Louderbsck in particular. This
rail matter he gravely asserted, was not
to be laughed at, and it was his opinion
that the street and alley committee should
| have a raking over the Goals for treating
it lightly and neglecting its duty in the
premises. He expressed his regret that
Mr.. Louderbsck was not present in order
| that he might hear what he (Mr. Huesing)