Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-05
BEGIN A NEW YEAR
Retiring City Dads Give Up
Their Seats.
MAYOR DELIVERS HIS MESSAGE.

Refers e the Several Improvsments
Necessary and Makes Few saggsss,ons
-Coancn Listens 20 the Annual Reports
Of the Omcials.
Another year Of the republican ad-
ministration with Mayor B. F. Knox
At the helm was entered upon at last
nights gathering of the city dads,
three Of whom gave up their seats to
the gentlemen q little more Success
fnl than they in the recent alder
manic election. Those surrendering
their benches aud official titles were
George Schneider, Fred H. Schroe-
der and William Zeis. The COM
position OF the municipal body as it
begins the new year is as follows:
First Ward-John Surman. NJ. v.
Concannon.
Second Ward-C. j. W. Schreiner,
6. 1. johnson.
Third Ward-W. c. Maucker, B.
Winter.
Fourth Ward-w. P. TindalI, v.
Dauber.
Fifth Ward-T. A. Fender. H. L.
Wheelan.
Sixth Ward-Fred Gall, William
Kennedy.
Seventh ward--C. w. Fcss, A. E.
Nelson.
BY the time the clerk had finished
reading the annual reports OF the
several officials the old clock which
hangs above the mayors rostrum
said it was getting late and the
aldermen were not anxious to act on
anything they could lay over. Aid.
Cali asked what was being done
about the levee improvement. but
the syllable had not left his lips be-
fore it was smothered with motion
to adjourn.
II Mayor Knox's Annual Message.
Mayor Is. +. Knox then read his
annual message. In it the mayor
makes numerous men6ations.
He speaks in particular of she storm
drain to the river for the purpose OF
carrying the water and rubbish away
from the business portion of the city
and preventing Twentieth street
from being sewer OF the territory
south Of Fourth avenue as far south
as Thirteenth and Fourteenth ave-
nues. and urges the importance of the
much desired relief. He alludes to
the streets and alleys and sets. forth
the importance of cooperation on the
part OF the people in keeping the
alleys clean. and in observing the Or
dinances as to throwing or deposit
ing paper on the streets. He eau
tions the aldermen before passing or
dinances to improve the river front,
Twelfth street, First avenue and Fiji
teenth street, to ascertain exactly
the status OF city funds to meet its
proportions. de speaks with graft
ication of the sidewalk improve.
ments in the Fifth, Sixth aud Sew.
euth wards and expresses the hope
that the Second. Third and Fourth
wards will receive like attention the
coming year. Sewer matters, he
says. have been sadly neglected, es.
pecially as to flushing and cleaning.
The Sixth and Seventh wards are
about completing good sys-
tern Of sewerage. He refers tc
the Improvements at the water
works. such as repainting Of the
machinery. the utility of the stand
pipe and the extension OF mains. He
suggests more extensions in pipes
in the lower end Of the city south of
fifth avenue, and the establishment
OF u reservoir on the bluff On police
matters he speaks of the "peace and
harmony" Of the city as ..haviny
been good" He recommends an
additional policeman aud stone
pile to "curtal our boardcrs at the
the station" He alludes to the Rock
river bridge and the 81, 800 expended
on the Milan road from Fourth ave-
nue. across the bridge to the city OF
Milan. The bridge on Thirteenth
avenue and Twenty-eighth street is
completed and ready for traffic. He
speaks with pride OF the fire depart
meut and OF the approaching necessity
OF home company on the bluff. On
the all important matter of finance
the mayor says: IL am pleased to
have the report Of the accountant
. completed although it cost consider
able time and money as was ordered
BY the city council under the man
agement OF special committee with
all the details in regard to the city's
funds and how it has been spen,
for the last few years. Without
casting reflections on any party or
administration You can very readily
see by the report that there has been
no person dishonest. but the accounts
in former years were not kept in a
proper manner in regard to the paw
ing funds. In formers years We
started out new in this direction and
the money collected was not Sc,
aside to apply on the various war.
rants when is was wanted but spen,
for various other improvements and
now We have to raise money from
some source to pay warrants pas,
due"
He extends his thanks to the alder
men for the courteous treatment
during the year aud to the heads o.
the various departments for the kind