Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-03-23
A PITY TT is 50.
Deplorably Slovenly Appear
ance of Market Square.
SHAME AND DISGRACE TO THE CITY


Yet These Things in City That
Hoasts ofa Mayor Who Has n Liking for
Public improvements and NeatneSs-
How tine McConochie Pet is Allowed to
Garry Or-Wonderfui sudden Activity
on the Part of the street Clearing Forces.
Have YOU taken walk across Mar
ket square recently. say from the
alley. in the middle of the east side
of the block?
Ii YOU have not, stroll across the
square on the line indicated some
evening. about o'clock. and ii you
are not Disguised with the sights
which greet YOU, YOU are not over
burdened with pride in the city, and
the question viii unavoidably come
to vou-how can mayor who seeks
to have his name identified with pub
lie improvements permit such things
to exist? The weighmaster's quar-
tiers in the middle OF the square.
which has been permitted to continue
as disgrace despite the protests and
PRAYERS of the business men. i bad
enough. but when the delivery wag-
ons OF an institution facing on the
square are permitted to be stored
about ii for a night. it gives the entire
surroundings the appearance OF a
barnyard more than 4 public square.
while looking to the north one sees a
Idilapidated looking structure that no
executive with pride in the city
would tolerate. Taking advantage of
4 courtesy on the part of the council
| in permitting the establishment OF a
neat appearing booth for the sale OF
fruit, nuts. etc. the owner has per-
mitted additions to be built on until
the outfit has much more the appear
ance Of 4 relic OF Shantytown than
an ornament to public square And
all these things are permitted to eN-
| list by mayor who poses aS 4 pro-
moter OF public Improvements.
The Mayors Pet.
But this is not all. Take 4 look
into the alley opening from the west
| side OF the square while YOU are
about it. and your eyes Will fall
upon a heap of rubbish, such a old
cans. etc, which would not be tOlera-
ted elsewhere in a city. But this
is in the very heart OF the city. and
| the alcy Is the one into which the
mayors pet policemen throws the
ofIal OF his restaurant. the same indi-
vidual who last night, by the way.
created quite sensation on the
square by painfully SCATTERING what
might naturally be termed piece Of
his own character. But it was all
right. as the act was performed by
one OF the mayors official family.
All Over the City.
Market square is but an index to
the entire city in the matter of SLOW
enliness. just at the present time
the MAYOR is attempting TO pull the
wool" over the eyes OF the people by
having all the laboring men he can
get together engaged in cleaning the
pavement 1t is the first time in two
wears the Job has been attempted and
the mayors cunning just ut this par
ticular time is so apparent that even
those few OF his own party who may
have been induced to support his
candidacy are laughing over it. The
| ARGUS hiss only to express its nope in
connection with this passing refer
ence to the unprecedented reforma-
ton that it will extend between now
and election day to all portions of the
city. and that last, but not least.
Market square and the alleys which
open into ii. will come in for a share
of political attention.