Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-03-06
THE MONTHLY MEETING.
Aassssss Acted Upoa By the Rock Island
CITY ooe.csl.s


CITY Coascil.s
Omcial Report.
CRY COUNCIL. ROOM, Rock Islam
March 6.-The city council met in
regular semi-monthly session at z so
p. m. Mayor Medill presiding and ali
the aldermen present except ricken-
scher. The minutes OF the last req
ular and subsequent ad journed meet.
ings were read and adopted.
The mayor read a special message
In favor OF the erection of a CITY hall
and general municipal headquarters.
and submitting plan to obviate i'm
creasing the city's bonded indebted
ness by incorporating q company TO
take charge Of the enterprise under
direction OF the city council. Ala
Maucker moved that the MAYOR be
authorized to appoint a committee
oil five to take the matter into con-
sideration and report. The motion
was adopted.
Mayor Medill's message on the
proposed city hall building is as fol-
lows:
| GENTLEMEN OF THE CRY COUNCIL:
II has been the boon of the different
councils aud of the many property
holders and taxpayers of the CITY of
Rock Island to have city hall and a
home Of their own.
Public pride and public interest
have demanded such for a long time
but not within the memory OF most
OF us has the city ever been in a posi-
ton to accomplish this desired inn
provemcnt.
Necessity and convenience re-
quire, and experience has taught us
that the officers in discharge Of the
duties OF n city should be domiciled
in the same building or in easy &C.
cess to one another.
To have the offices of the MAYOR.
city clerk, city attorney, city collec-
tor of taxes. chief of police and DO
lice station, superintendent of
streets. chief Of the fire department,
superintendent of waterworks, CITY
engineer. health commissioner, pub
lie library. board of education. DO
lice magistrate and court room. in
the same building will commend it,
self to all.
To erect building that would fill
the requirements Of our city. but in
creasing the taxation upon our prop
erty holders. would be out of the
question. but would suggest q plan
to your honorable body. which after
careful investigation. l trust. and
have every reason to believe can be
carried to a successful completion.
A plan which is now generally adop-
ted by people in all conditions of life,
who are DESTROYS OF aquiring home
of their own, without having availa-
bic means to procure the same on the
cash basis. l mean, what is or NAV
be called leasehold in INSTALL
ment plan.
My efforts in formulating such a
plan and obtaining the co-operataion
of public spirited men of means. have
ut last been successful and the form
alton of company or corporation
consisting of such persons who are
willing to furnish the capital to erect
building which will fill all the re-
quirements of onr city government
has now reached the stage OF posi-
oility. aye certainty.
The plan is as follows:
A company may he formed whose
object il shall be 10 erect a city hall
under the supervision and dictation
of the city council and in conformity
with plans and specifications adopted
and furnished by the city council.
Such plans may include Offices. and
even halls which NAV be leased or
rented and from which the city might
obtain a revenue to be applied on the
payment Of rent or interest on the
capital invested.
After the completion of the build
ing. the city under its contract
with such company. accepts and uses
the same as its own house. paving
legal interest or rent on basis to be
determined between the city and
such company, not exceeding the
legal interest on the amount invested
and so much of the principal as the
city may determine on from year TO
year in the appropriation ordinance.
Enough Of the anticipated revenue
III >aiOou iiCeuSes may De appTOprl-
ated for such purposes. which. if
done. will insure to the city build
ing and hall without the cost of one
dollar to the taxpayers.
Gentlemen, il this enterprise be
consistent with your views, would
ask that you appoint committee of
five Of your number 10 act in con-
junction VITA the mayor and report
Mt future meeting Of the council.
Very respectfully.
L. j. MEDILL, JR., Mayor.
Officers reports for the month of
February were read and ordered
plsced on file.
The clerk reported the cost Of the
Fourteenth avenue improvement and
condition of the funds. Aid. Ken
nedy moved that the report be re-
ceived, and that the city pay to MIR.
Gaylord, the contractor. the amount
Of the deficit. Aid. Schroeder moved
as substitute that the matter be
referred to the street and alley COM
mittee, which was adopted, 8 to 5.
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