Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-11-15

Improved Must BE Protected and Main
tained-The Expected Blair Ordinance
Fails to Materisifze at Last Nights Meet
inG-The Lighting Contract.
All Instructions must be removed
from the Rock Island river front from
Seventeenth to Nineteenth streets.
and Immediately at that, in order that
the work in progress there may not
be hampered Such was the COM
menda bic action taken by the city
council at its adjourned meeting last
night. Mayor Medill and the alder
men are justly proud of the improve
ment now going on, and are determ-
ined that no eyesores shall be left on
the leyee to delay the work, or mar the
appearance when completed.
But nothing was heard from Mr..
Blair and his additional Terminal or
dinance,l notwithstanding the prom
Use recently made by his mouthpiece,
the Union, that he would present his
application for more track east of
Seventeenth in another form. As Mr..
Blair is not man who sleeps when
he wants anything. his ordinance may
be expected to bob up at future
meeting. The aldermen to a
man, almost, are determined
that there shall not be an
other track beyond those at pres
ent authorized east of Seventeenth
street and are equally firm in protect
ing likewise the Seventeenth street
approach to the river.
What the Resolution Really Meant.
The Union. it will be remem bered,
recently attempted to show that the
innocent appearing resolution offered
in the special meeting of the council
by Mr.. Blair for a switch near Seven
teenth street implied no more than it
meant on its face. and all sorts of
mean things were INDUCED in about
The ARGUS because it contended that
what was really sought was more
main tracks between Seventeenth and
Eighteenth, and thereby not only the
practical complete possession of all
privileges on the river front as far as
the Terminal company was concerned,
but the complete thrOttling OF the
city in letting any future independent
company in there from any direction.
Now the Union in its issue OF this
morning admits:
in that resolution of Aid. johnson for
the extension of the two main tracks
of the Terminal company. east to the
west line of Eighteenth street, but it
was not read in full by the clerk.
The aldermen were in Il hurry to in
spect paving. and the heading was
sufficient to indicate its reference to
the committee which on return re-
-,
1t is this policy of a corporation
asking one thing and meaning anoth-
er that The ARGUS has Persistently
protested against. Having seen, to
its regret, the cunning, but deter
mined opposition of the Terminal
company to the levee improvement
all along, it was only when this reso-
luton was presented that the fact be-
came fully apparent that the purpose
of the new company was to grab the
leves, and it was not until the actual
was progressing, despite
the obstacles thrown in the way, that
the Terminal finally showed its hand.
Lighting Contract.
While the combination system of
lighting was recommended, it was
agreed to put the tower light 10 a
test before finally adopting it. Only |
one bid was received, and that was
from the Peoples Power company. |
The signing of the contract was or
dered held in allegiance, pending the
test of the towers, one of which will |
be erected by the company in a local |
lty 10 he determined by the mayor
and fire and light committee. The |
I,1 ha irrbt
every night schedule. thus insuring |
an improvement no matter what sys-
tenn is selected. The aldermen who
champion the tower claim great
things for it, and feel that the trial /
i is to he given will convincinglyl
demonstrate its worth. The contem-
plated arrangement is for a tower in
zach of the seven wards. Each tower
six lights. capped so as to
spread the illumination for a consid-
,rable distance in all directions, and
with the cooperation of the low lights
insure the Frightening of the pathway
If the wayfarer in whatever nook of
he city he may be on the darkest
night on the calendar. The council
5 not fully decided as to the length of
he contract which it proposes enter
ng into with the company. II will
lot be less than five wears and prob
lblv ten. ). 5. Davis having made
that showed the IO-vear
to be the more economical
or the municipality.
Can't Complete 1t.
Mayor Medill announced with |
-egret that it would be impossi-
Die to complete the reservoir i'm
oroyement this fall. Although he had
hoped the contrary, numerous oJsta-
les. including the weather. over
which he had no control. had COM
1ined and forced submission to the
Inevitable. He blamed the Sennott
company for the delay,