Rock Island Argus., 1897-07-29
IN QUINCY TOWN.
What Rock Islands Touring
Officials Saw.
THEY INSPECT A JEWELL FILTER.

Mayor Medill Talks of the Purposes
and Aims Here. Of the City, the Wood
men and Things In General.
The Quincy Herald, speaking Of
the visit of the Rock Island munich
pal party to that city, says: The
party is composed of Hon. T. j. Me-
dill, mayor; j. A Murrin, superin d.
tendent OF water works; DR.. Come
gys, health commissioner, and Aids.
Winter. Dauber, johnson and Sur
man. The gentlemen have been at
Peoria and st. Louis, and at O'Clock
tomorrow morning leave for St. Jo-
seph. They are on a tour of inspec-
tion of water works plants. Rock
Island owns her own plant and
draws her supply through two con-
duits. each 1000 feet long. from an
uncontaminated part of the river.
The system in use is the standpipe
and direct-pressure, but changes to
a gravity system with Fl ter connec-
tions are in contemplation. The
visitors. chaperoned by Aid. Tell
buescher, called on the mayor this
morning and while talking in the
office of the latter were introduced
to Supt. Dow &. Gwinn, of the Quin-
cy water works.
Later visits we're made to the fill
ter and settling basin plants of the
water works, the pump house and
the reservoir. The gentlemen ex-
pressed surprise when they saw the
crystal, sparkling water that came
from the Jewel filter from the turbid
water Of the river. 1t beat anything
trey had seen at home or in their
travels. One of them remarked that
a city with such a water supply must
surely be healthy city. and desira-
BILE for residence purposes. He was
told that that is what Quincy is pre-
eminently noted for. The Rock ISL
anders are registered at the Hotel
Newcomb. They are bright and en-
terprising. and socially it is . pleas
ure to meet them"
What tho Mayor Says.
The Quincy journal says of the
inspection in that city:
"Asked as to elevation there for a
reservoir, Mr.. Medill replied that
they have bluff elevation of 1865
feet above the city datum, or 1856 feet
above low water mark. Rock Island
expects to establish a 50-acre PARK
on the bluff and build a RESERVOIR in
the park. The city now has no
reservoir. The elevation at the
Quincy reservation is 239 feet above
low water mark, but the ascent is
gradual. Our reservoir contains
about four acres, and has q capacity
of 20, 900, Quo gallons. Mayor Mediil
estimates Rock Islands present pop
ulation at about %. 900; and the ag
gregste population of Rock Island,
Moline and Davenport at about
$4,000. Rock Island and Moline are
contiguous. while Davenport is Just
over the river.
"Acting under an act Of the Forti-
eth general assembly. Rock Island.
South Rock Island. Moline and South
Moline contemplate a joint sy stem of
parks and boulevards. The general
idea is to establish a district which
will have power to levy a tax and
issue bonds for the common purpose
OF establishing parks and boulevards
for these cities. The act referred to
is an amendment to the law under
which Peoria operates. II the visit
ing officials saw Quincy's tiue pro-
gress in parks and boulevards, the
sight could not fail to add to their
interest in this profitable line of mu-
niciPal Improvement, especially
lovely Riverview. picturesque South
PARK. aud the unequalled river view
from Indian park.
"Speaking OF the efforts of Fulton
to prevent the Modern Woodmen
from establishing their headquarters
at Rock Island. Mayor Medill under
stood that the Fulton people got out
another injunction yesterday, bnt he
is confident that it will do them no
good. A decision is expected very
soon. He said that the Woodmen
building to be erected at Rock Island
will cost $75 900. At three separate
conventions have the Woodmen de-
cided in favor Of locating the perma-
nent headquarters at Rock Island,
but each time the Fulton people
have had the action epjoined. This
is the third effort, and Mayor Medill
eXDeCtS il to nr0vo tho charm ~