Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-05-04

tieth street from Fifth to Seventh ave-
MUGS; and also Twelfth sreet after a
long and wearisome fight in the courts,
has been paved from Fourth avenue
to the city. limits, about eleven blocks.
which adds greatly to the improve
ment and identifying Of the city.
The finances of the city were such
for the last two years that improve
ments OF this nature had to be very
limited. wish we could see the pros
porous time in our city when every
laboring man could be employed ev-
cry day apd not have to tell men mo
work." I assure you this has been the
most wearisome time in my life to not
be able to give the willing workers Of
our city constant employmentA
The financial condition of the city
is a subject in which all are interested.
We have from all known sources, aside
from the collection of special taxes
and assessments, collected the sum Of
s126, 1865 and expended through the
various channels by orders of your
honorable body, the sum of 1922 ,045.2s.
which for detailed information will
refer you to the comprehensive state
ments of our most worthy cir Clerk.
DThe bonded indebtedness Of the city
of Rock Island is $170, 900 of per cent
funding bonds due September 1, of this
year and $4,000 of per cent water
works bonds due Feb. 1, 1902. This
matter has been brought before the
people at our last election and the
bonds will be renewed and money OBJ
tanned, SO the finances will be in bet
ter shape for my successor in Office
and the new Council. The city has
grown so rapidly in the last four or
five years that it requires a great
amount of money to run the different
departments and to keep the city in a
clean and wholesome condition.
My predecessor in his valedictory
message called the attention of the
Council to the great injustice the city
was subjected to by reason of the re-
duction of the assessed valuation by
the State Board of Equalization. de-
sire to call your attention to the same
feature. Notwithstanding that the
city has increased in population from
about $4,000 to $4,000, with the con-
struction of new business houses and
great number of handsome resi-
dences. still the assessed valuation OF
property in Rock Island as returned
by the Board Of Equalization, is $780,
600 less now than in 1895. Is this not
worthy Of attention? Is not the as
sessment system at fault for our fiinin-
cial ills?
The present system is primarily at
fault, but even under the present sys-
tenn it is my belief that a great deal of
property is insufficiently taxed or es-
capes taxation altogether, while it is
doubtless true that some property is
over-taxed. If all taxable property
could be made to bear its fair share
there would probably be no occasion
for any general increase in the rate of
taxation, but merely a more equitable
distribution of the amount raised and
a larger and sufficient revenue to the
city and perhaps lower taxes. This
tax question is one that must be con-
stantly discussed and ultimately solved
if the municipal government is to
keep pace with the demands upon it.
If this were a full grown and finished
city the financial problem and the tax
problem could be very differently
viewed, but at the present time the
city resembles a poor parent who must
provide for large family of growing
children.
The city waterworks is in my opin-
ion one of the most important matters
the city has to regulate. AT the pres
ent time we have a small filter plant,
but it needs enlargement and per
haps new strainers and general i'm
proving. We should have a reservoir
on the the bluff in some good place
and perhaps the removal of the filter
plant to the bluff. This 1 believe
would filter the water and also lessen
the strain on the pumps and be a very
great saving, and the pumps would
last from five to ten years longer; and
by this method We should also save Oh
fuel. I think the voice of the people
is, Let us have good water and get il
by the gallon, not by the yard" YOU
are all well aware it has not been fl
for use for about eight weeks; this i.
the case from year to year and it i!
not right to receive the peoples money
for water when it is not fit to use fol-
hardly any purpose.
There have been a great many
blocks of brio k and tile Sidewalk
laid during the last two years, which
has greatly improved our city, ant
there ought to be more every year
[ would recommend that the aldermen
of the different wards arrange thei
sidewalk ordinances SO as to have tn,
filing and building of sidewalks don,
early in the season, not later thar
July or September. Then, by winter
| the walks would be in good condition
also recommend large brick fol
crossings in districts where there is n,
paving.
Our fire department is at presen
well equipped and is a credit to tn
city, costing great amount each year
and the money is, in my opinion, wei
spent. We could have no better pro
lection unless a new comDany was e.;