Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-05-07

ton better than l do. Daily people
call my attention to the deplorable
condition of our streets. And it ia a
fact after 40 years OF street improvements
we have but few good streets outside of
the paved district. Six inches of macsd-
am on our mud streets such winter as
last is of no use whatever. An extensive
system of street improvements should be
adopted as rapidly as the demands Of the
people would require it. Whenever a
majority OF the frontage on any street
becomes satisfied that their street is no
longer pas sable it should be improved
and brought to q uniform grade as now
established either brick with one or two
courses, macsdsm with o: without curb
ing, or any class of improvements they
may agree upon. But should they fail
to agree, then the council shall designate
the improvement as is its right in all
cases. Our street and alley fund after
cleaning the alleys in spring has to be
very economically handled to keep in any
kind of repair our IS miles of streets and
alleys. on SIC. 900 per annuIn. To make
any extensive street improvements from
the general fund 1t would have to be
largely increased. The people upon the
bluff are interested in having a bridge
built across the deep gully on Thirteenth
avenue at cost not to e, coed 81, 500
1t would open up large territory now
almost inaccessible. Mr.. Blsnding left
me plan of bent bridge which he says
can be tuilt for 81, 300. If the property
owners could be induced to cont. ibute
something to its construction it would be
worthy of your consideration.
SOME RIGID SIDEWALK LEGISLATION
is necessary to protect q class which is
willing and does improve. II is dis
coursging to any progressive citizen who
has made all the improvements necessary
to accommodate the travelling public to
have his fossilized neighbor laughing at
him, who at the same time is getting the
benefit OF all advances in property values,
which he has done all in bis power 10 pre-.
vent. The time has come when this class
should be crushed under the whirring
wheels OF progress. The most effective
way to do this is TO build walks in front
of their property by special tsxstion, pass
ordinances to build sidewalks all along
the paved streets and in al sections where
they can be put in to d uniform grade.
have organized a University association
with the intention of establishing the
largest university in the northwest at this
point. The location is very desirable
one. Some Improvements should be
made upon Seventh avenue, especially
that part of it east of Thirtieth street. 1t
should be Strengthened. graded and inn
pro7ed to a width of not less than 40 feet.
the balance not occupied by sidewalks
parked with rows of shade trees on both
sides of The avenue Thisis ant should be
made the finest avenue in the city. Some
steps should DE taken to ascertain if some
mutual arrangement could not be made
with the interested property owners TO
accomplish these desired results.
wATERwoRKs
II q sufficient number of water con,
sumers c. uld be secured on the bluff TO
justify the expense of extending sn s.
inch water main up Thlrueth street
think it should receive favorable consid-
Grafton. The most economical way TO
supply that section is to put frost proof
tank al least $50 feet above low water
mark and have five or ten horse power
electric motor 10 pump from the main
about half the distance up and supply
them from the tank by gravity. The
Cable filter plant has been started again
with two new pumping engines with q
capacity of 4, COO 900 gallons dsily-sbout
double the capacity of the tubs. Whether
the results thus far obtained will satisfy the
public expectations will vet have 10 be
determined. So far il hiss not fulfilled
what was claimed for it by its enthusiasts
-. INV he
Tents necessary to clear the water
Of mud ard stsins at certain seasons will
materially increase the running expenses,
but if it will give US pure clear water free
from vegetable matter the money will be
well expended in promoting the health of
or people. In am event the donor is
certainly entitled to the thanks and graf
itude of the people of this community.
For all information in relation to the
waterworks / refer you to the detailed re
port Of the superintendent.
A SEWERAGE SYSTEM.
Nothing is SO conducive to the health
OF any city as good sewerage system
Sooner or later such q system must be
adopted. The longer it is put off the
more difficult it becomes. Much of the
work we are doing now perhaps cannot
be utilized IN regular system and is
money wasted. the first step necessary
is to make surveys and take levels with
plans and proflles Of the entire city divi.
ded into sewerage districts Then all
savers built hereafter should conform to
this system and have regular sewerage
tax, all property to be assessed in pro-
portion to the benefits.
Another serious problem must be met
and solved and cannot much longer be
ignored is how to dispose of the storm
water from the bluffs which has now no
well defined course. The city off cers
with few policemen and the shovel bril-
gade can make no permanent solution of
this question. such matters can only be
resorted to in extreme cases TO prevent ir-
reparable damages that would occur be-
fore we could get re.iress through the
slow and tedious process of law. Some
mutual arrangements should be made