Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-27
ARE A DISGRACE.
The Neglected Streets of Rock
Island.
PAvEMENrRECEIvEsNo ATTENTION

Property Holders in All Parts of the
City Protest Against the Policy Charac
teristic of the Fl esent Administrator
Systematic Sweeping Demanded.
From all over the city goes up the
cry for clean the streets. In the old
days before Rock Island had pave
ment extending over most of the
thoroughfares. the people were more
or less accustomed to the inconyen-
fence of mud and rough travel, but
it was to obviate this, to insure pas
sable streets the year around that the
system of improved streets was in
augurated. Tax payers cheerfully
acquiesced in the design, which, al
though expensive at first. was re-
garded as insuring condition
worthy Of the outlay and no COM
plant was heard from any quarter.
For number Of years following the
inauguration of this means OF per-
manent improvement, the anticipa-
tons of property holders upon whom
the burden fell were realized. 1t
was found that after all substan-
tial street was an economical invest
ment. and any incidental cost that
might be imposed by the city in
keeping it clean and neat was a wise
expenditure.
but Now Things Are Different.
But now an entirely different as
pect of things is presented. Under
the present administration of city
affairs the streets. like many other
institutions which the municipality
should maintain and improve. have
been totally neglected Mud has
been permitted to accumulate until,
as is known, a short time ago long
suffering business men erected
mounds to the enterprise and public
spirit of the municipal powers that
te. The response came in the way
of little cleaning up along the prin.
cipal streets, but through repeated
neglect the situation is as bad as
ever again, and to add to the per-
plexity. the mud has frozen to the
brick pavement and the prospect jus,
now is that we will be obliged tc
rough it through the winter.
Some system should he Adopted.
The city owes it to the property
holders who in all parts of town
have sustained the expense of good
streets to keep them good. This is 8
business proposition that no business
man would fail to comprehend were
it matter of individual concern
with him. An investment not prop.
erly protected and maintained would
soon depreciate in value. The ia,
payers of Rock Island have invested
in good streets, and they look to the
city authorities to protect that in
vestment and not permit it to be.
come neglected. 1t is matter
which the council ought to take uF
at early date. The city should MOI
suffer another seasons disgrace such
as the past has been. Provision
may well be made, first for a thor
ough cleaning of all paved streets and
thereafter systematic sweeping al
stated intervals throughout the year
The city has sweeper, which has
not been out since the inauguration
OF the present administration. Ii
the more travelled sections it could
readily be used, but in the res
idence portions sweeping squad:
might be organized and detailed and
the streets kept in more creditabl.
shape and appearance the veal
round. People who have pride in
the city demand some such action on
the part of those entrusted with the
municipal government.