Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-02-26
SEVENTEENTH ST.
The Meeting Of Property-HoId-
ers Saturday Night.
PAVING PROPOSITION CONSIDERED

I. "a
The Prevailing Opinion Is That the Thor
ouEhfarc Shoaid he Paved to the Top Of
the Hiii-Thc Quicker the Improvement
b Made the Better foo Public welfare.
In pursuance of the announcement
previously made. a meeting of the
proPerty-hOlders on Seventeenth
street south of Fourth avenue was
held Mt the city council chant Der Sat
urday evening. to consider the propo-
sition to pave the street in accord
ance with the ordinances pre-
pared in obedience to the Pc
ti;ions Of the taxpayers. The meet
ing was called 10 order by Cant.
George Lamont. and on motion j. X.
Johnston was appointed chairman
and Il. a. Donaldson secretary. Mr..
Johnston stated the object of the
meeting and expressed his opinian
rs to the advisability of paving.
After discussing the project at some
length, ii. ". Dusinberre read the
memorial which he had already pre-
sentcd to the council on Monday eve
ming. At length G. w. Schlegel
made a motion to postpone paving
Seventeenth street for one year.
Capt.. Lamont made substitute mo-
ton that when Seventeenth street be
paved it he paved to the top of the
lhill-Eighteenth avenue. This mo-
ton was carried. and Mr.. Schlegci
then asked that his motion be put.
and Chairman Johnston complied.
and il was adopted. The meeting
then adjourned.
During the course of the mcetinr
Mayor Mcdill explained the reason
why the paving ordinances had been
entered in the county cour: in the
three parts. Aid. Maucker. being
catcchised. expressed himself favor
able both as a citizen and TAXPAYER.
as well rs an alderman. The chief
opposition to paving was led by C..
W. Schlcgel, but on the issue the
sentiment seemed to be evenly di-
vided as far rs expressions were con-
cerncd. Indeed, the heaviest tax
PAYERS having improved property
are almost with one accord for paw
Ing. The ruling opinion on Seven
tecnth street is not different from
that on other streets in the city. and
the city council. if disposed to carry
on, the policy of preceding councils
and continue the system of paving
improvements so well established
and without reservation or discrim-
ination. will not be moved by a
spirit which, If given vent. is sure to
crop out everywhere in the city.
ABad Precedent.
Rock Island would have had no
paving had the city council in the
past yielded to the will of the OBJ
structionists. 1t would not have
been difficult matter at any time to
have brought out opposition to paw
ing. but let us thank our lucky stars
that that spirit. no matter how
strongly it may have prevailed in
the under current. never came to the
surface. The consequence has been
that Rock Island has gone to the
front. and now at this time. it is not
the part of wisdom to call halt. 1t
is no, the part of fairness to those
who have cheerfully borne their bur-
den of improvements in the past. to
draw the line the moment it strikes
any particular locality. Neither is
it setting a wise precedent to recog-
nize opposition to public improve
mcnts, tina; adopts the subterfnge OF
waiting for another season. There
is nothing TO he gained by put
ting Off to the morrow that
which should be done today.
II there is any sincerity in the
declaration that people want paving
ut all they must realize that it will be
practically rs expensive q year hence
rs now. and that n year hence will
find the preliminaries and other
preparations no further advanced
than now.
The council in acting on Seven
tcenth street should not lose sight OF
the fact that it requires no great
force to create opposition to any pub
lie enterprise. People naturally are
very easily convinced that it is just
rs well to get along without spend
inc money as to make improvements.
Hitherto the majority of people OF
Rock Island affected by paving inn
provements have looked forward.
The ARGUS believes the people on
Seventeenth street as whole hold
that same view, and are today really
where they were when they sought
the ordinance.
Will the Rock Island council fol-
low the course of its predecessors and
continue paving. or will it permit il
to he checked by the first snas:
Let the aldermen remember the dan
ger of delay. and the danger of a
rctrograde course. Not alone does
Seventeenth street depend upon the
outcome.