Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-07
per 800 upan the valuation as re-
turned by the shove named board:

County .-.-----...............-. .t5 10
Town ---........--............. 10
scfool ----. ----.--...--. 3.0 4-%
Special .riil tax by county 30 81
Mun'cipai.---.-..- .......-...------ 26o 31l
s3sl y G
By this you will readily see, if the
assessment was placed at three times
would be less than 8 per cent. The
above showing also affords oppor-
tunity to those people who so
bitterly complain that they are
paying all of their taxes into
the city treasury and get so small
returns for it. that the municipal
government gets but 5 per cent, one
fourth of which goes to pay the in
terest on the bonded debt. We have
paid during the last two years sll, 200
on the new pump at the waterworks.
leaving a balance due of some $500:
also have paid the balance on the
steam roller. We were compelled
last August to contract a debt OF
$4,000 rendered necessary by the
putting in of a new intake pipe.
This amount falls due in August
$4,000 be paid this year and $4,000
be carried over to next year, at
which time 1000 can be paid and
the balance renewed for another year.
thus extending payment over three
years, as the amount is too great to
take it from any fund in one year.
waterworks.
T., h., -
your honorable body, | caused to be
prepared complete and exhaustive
survey and report of our waterworks
system. The same was made by an
expert. Daniel W. Mead, civil engi-
neer, of Rockford, and was drawn
with a view of reinforcing our pres
ent system of mains, and the estab-
lishment of a reservoir and stand
pipe system. Our earlier predeces-
sors must have labored under a
wrong idea of economy when LAYING
mains throughout the city, that they
used so small pipe. When one
stops to reflect that the carrying ca
pacity of a pipe is the square of its
diameter; that an S-inch pipe will
carry four times the volume of a 4
inch pipe: and 10-inch pipe SIX
and-a-quarter times that of a finch !:
that the cost of laying such pipe is
but trifle more than a small pipe,
and the difference in the cost of the
pipe being meagre. we would natur-
ally think they would have used the
larger pipe. However, the report
above alluded to provides for the re-
Enforcement and l would recommend
that in the extensions of your mains.
you follow the lines laid down in such
survey. In compliance with the rec
concentrations of MIR. Mead, aud a
resolution of your honorable body.
we purchased lot on the bluff near
to the intersection of Tenth avenue
and Thirtieth street, upon which we
are now constructing standripe to
supply water and fire protection to the
bluff portion of the city. The stand
pipe is constructed of steel, 80 feet
in height. 16 feet in diameter and
will have a capacity of 10000
gallons. The contract for the con-
struction of the same was let to the
Chicago Bridge and Iron company at
cost of s4,294. To supply water to
this standpipe we have contracted for
a 500, O00-gallon Dean pump to be
placed in the brewery of Mr.. Huber,
on Elm street, whore it will be at
tached to the city's mains and the
water pumped at a cost of p cents
per 1000 gallons.
During the hot summer months of
1894, when the water of the Missis-
sippi river was at very low stage.
the 20-inch intake pipe which deliv-
ers the water supply at tine pumping
station could not meet the demands
made upon it, a water main stared
us in the face. Through severe re-
strictions put upon water consumers.
and the kind assistance rendered us
by the city of Moline, who allowed
us to open the valves connecting the
system OF the two cities, and the
pumping of water from Moline into
| our mains, we were enabled to tide
over the threatened catastrophe.
BY means of an emergency ordinance
passed By YOUR honorable body. we
were successful in contracting a loan
! VI S1Z,VVVs WIFI Whltu we CUu-
structed an additional iron intake
pipe 80 inches in diameter, reaching
| distance of 1850 feet to the chan
| mel of the river. This additional
| supply is sufficient for city of TO-
| 900 people, and l trust will obviate
| all fear OF similar trouble in the flu
/ ture. The extension of watermains
throughout the city has been extern
sive in the past year and the increase
| of water consumers has been encour-
| aging. For the information in detail
1 refer you to the report of the able
superintendent OF watcrworks.~ l
would recommend a revision Of the
| water rates and a closer restriction
of water rights. as fully believe many
people are using the water without
paying for it.
The permanent improvement OF
the streets and avenues has occu-
pied the attention of your honorable
body for 2 period OF five or six years.