Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-05-10
MAYORS MESSAGE.
The Paper Read by the City Elk.
ecutive Before the Council.
A CLEAR AND ABLE DOCUMENT.
Review Of the Fiscal Year just Closed aud
Some Timely sugges,ions-Reserv on
the Blur and Other Matters Proposed =
Credit to the City of Rock Island.

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Mayor Medill's first annual mes
sage to the Rock Island council is
one OF the most able and thorough
documents ever prepared for the
public. Ii is business like
and clear IN detail and volume.
and is appended in full: -
Gentlemen of the CITY Council
We have now arrived ut the end OF
the municipal year OF 1S93-1S94. and
u becomes my duty rs the mayor OF
the city to call your attention to the
many improvements that have been
made III the past year. and at the
same time to lay before your honor
able body such suggestions for the
future as may occur to me.
In the irst place | desire to call
your attention to the great blessing
we have enjoyed in the matter of
good health. At the beginning OF
the past year we were confronted
with the probability of an invasion
oil the Asiatic cholera, which. happily
for us. was avertcd by the careful
and prudent sanitary regulations of
the authorities of this country. This
community has in the main been
particularly blessed with good health.
which | think is partially due to
good sanitation. 1t is true we were
threatened some few weeks
ago with an epidemic OF
small poN. The discovery of a tram u
in our city suffering with the first
stages OF this dreaded disease caused
considerable CONSERVATION, but for
tunatelv was discovered in time, and
the prompt measures taken by the
board of health and your honorable
body prevented the spread of the
dircful malady. We were enabled to
use the old abattoir building. and at
slight expense. made it habitable as
pest house. The patient is now in
a convaiescent condition. and | I'M
derstand from the physician in charge
that all imminent danger of the dis
case becoming an epidemic in our
city has passed. In the matter OF
sanitary work this spring will say
we have accomplished rs much as
could possibly he done. with the eX-
ception of the flushing OF the sewers.
The streets and alleys have been
cleansed. the garbage wagons have
been started to work. and other
things necessary for the promotion
OF good health have been accom-
plishcd.
After consultation with the health
commissioner we have decided to
have q careful survey made OF the
sanitary conditions OF the city upon
the lines laid down hy the state board
Of health, which we think will prove
Of great assistance and benefit to Us
in disclosing and correcting the
many causes of complaint.
street Department.
To the streets and avenues OF Rock
Island we point with particular pride.
During the last municipal year We
have permanently improved by paw
ing the same. Fourth avenue from
near First street to Twcntv-fourth
street. with the exception of three
blocks; Twcnty-fourth street from
Third to Fifth avenues; Eighteenth
street from Third to Seventh avenues:
Seventeenth and Nineteenth streets
from Third to Fourth avenues. max
ing total oil fraction over two
miles in length. added to what had
been previously paved. will make a
total of little over seven miles Of
paved streets in this city. The paw
ing done the past year has been
somewhat experimental in its ma
ture, i. c.. it is the first pavement we
have laid consisting OF one course OF
brick. all previous pavemcnts having
been laid with an upper and lower
course. From the brief experience
we have had in our city and Obser-
walton in other cities where single
course pavement has been subjected
TO heavy traffic for period of five or
six wears. ! think we have made no
mistake. Our main object should be
that the road bed he properly pre-
pared and that we use the best of
vitriiied brick. This last object
should have our careful attention.
| The cost of paving streets comes
HIGH IL those who have il to pay for.
and we should take particular care
that the best OF material is used ::
this appears to me to be one of those
instances where the best is the cheap
est. We have now laid out so far.
and passed ordinances authorizing
the Improvement by single course
brick of Seventeenth street from
Fourth to Eighteenth avenues,
divided into three sections: Nine
tccnth street from Fourth to Seventh
avenues. and Sixth avenue from Nine
teenth street running east to TWEEN
tieth street. We have also in view
the Improvement in the same way of
few side streets, in order 10 con-
meet up some of the leading thor
oughfarcs. The improvement OF
streets and alleys out OF the general
fund has been large and extended.
which Tor more detailed information
/ will refer you to the report of the
superintendent OF streets.
One feature which we inaugarated
during the past year was the sweep
ing of the paved streets with a Cham
pion street sweeper, which we pur-
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