Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-03
NEW COUNCIL SEATED
Continued from Fifth page.

into effect, and Rock Island became the fu-
ture permanent home OF this noble order, one
Of the largest, most fouIishing ard greatest
OF its kind in the world. This order is now
within the shadow OF Tire City Hall, engaged
in erecting a most magnificent Office 5uId-
Ing at a cost of SIS 900. the corner stone OF
which was laid on Wednesday of last waeA
by men of national reputation, amid the
paucits OF 5J,U00 people VINO came &c Join
the people OF Rock Island IN celebrating her
victory.
The general Improvements CT the city have
been very encouraging. Several large bug
mess buildings have been erected ana | I'M
derstand that others are contemplated. Sew
eIal new additions have been added to- the
city and d great many buildings have been
erected for homes. Our relations with our
sister cities OF Davenport and Moline have
been cordial and pleasant ana we have found
the authorities and citizens Of both cities
ready at all time to join Rock Island in ev-
erythirg that pertains to cur common inter-
csts. Situated as We are in the center OF 4
group OF three cities our interests are; and
can not be otherwise, than common with our
sister cities. Combining population OF near
t. $1,000 ii renders US one OF the largest cen
ters commercially and otherwise, west OF
Chicago, the importance OF which j. being
Acknowledged throughout the length ana
breadth OF our land.
Through a resolution of your honorable
tody, our city assisted in the organization
Of and Joined the League Of American munich
palitics, which embrace nearly all CT the
cities In the United States and Canada, The
result Of this organization was the establish
ment of a bureau of Information, whereby
we have access TO the Information collected
and are kept posted as to the cost of lighting
charges for water, gas, street sweeping, rav-
ing, collecting OF garbage and every other
public utility from nearly all CT the cities OF
America. At the national convention held in
Columbus, Ohio, last October, the city of
Rock Island was hOnored by the appointment
Of its mayor as honorary vice president for
the state Of Illinois.
We have within the past few months been
the recipient of most magnificent GIT.
a plat Of land comprising nearly forty acres.
II is situated on the sides and on the top
of the bluff between Fifteenth and Seven
avenue. 1t is picturesque in its character
and commands a splendid view of the city
and the Mississippi river.
1t is presented 10 the ethyl for public park.
For this magnificent gift the city Is Indebted
to Capt. I. J. Robinson, Mr.. Frederick
Weyerhaeuser. Hon. G. II. Deere and Mr..
Morris Rosenfed. and I am sure that these
honorable gentlemen will always be held in
a grateful remembrance BY an appreCiative
public. In this connection | desire also 10
acknowledge the able and kind assistance
rendered by Mr.. S. S. Davis and Col. Henry
Curtis OF this city.
FINANCE.
We have collected from all sources aside
from the collection Of special taxes and as
sessmonts the sum of $l70,9iS.96 and have paid
out on the order Of your honorable body the
sum Of $lj0,0ll.G6. the details Of which YOU
will find in the reports Of the City Clerk.
On Sept !. 1881, the large Indebtedness
known as the six per cent funding bond debt
of $4,000. became due. AS you are aware,
this bond issue was made in the year 1877
and was for the purpose Of taking Up or
iquidating the large floating Indebtedness OF
this city. Provision had not been made for
the payment In whole or in part &C this is
sue and we were forced under the circum-
stances to reissue or refund the same. A.
the general municipal election in the spring
of 1891, your honorable body submitted to
the voters Of the city a proposition to issue
$4,000 Of bonds at an interest of AZ per cent
per annum for the purpose of refunding the
bond issue of 1877 and TO lquidate an indebt-
cdness Cf $4,000 that had accrued. The
proposition carried and in due course o.
time we advertised for bids for the entire
issue, $4,000 Of the said bonds were sold 70
the First National Bank Of Chicago at O
premium of $Iii.47 and the old issue of Sl70,-
coo was taken up and are now in the posses
sion Of the city.
The issue Of 1897 consisting of $40 0nO al
Az per cent requires that 500 900 shall be
paid in ten years; $4,000 in fifteen years and
| $4,000 in twenty years from Sept. !. 1897
The 100000 were made in another issue and
sold to other parties.
WATERWORKS.
In pursuance Of the recommendations OF
the Mayor, your honorable body decided C
construct a reservoir and altering plant upor
the bluff. Having engaged as consulting en-
gineer. Mr. Jacob 4. Harmon of Peoria, III.
and upon the examinations OF several plan:
drawn by him, and the hearing of the report
OF the Waterworks Committee and Superin.
| tcndeHt OF Waterworks, your honorable body
decided to construct n plant to be composed
OF two settling basins with capacity O
100000 gallons each, three natural sand
filters with a capacity OF filtration OF g.
100000 gallons in twenty-four hours, and
double reservoir with storage capacity o.
100000 gallons. 1t is believed By your com
| mlttee that this plant will give to the cit!
q pure and wholesome water. 1t comprise!
| the standardization, the aeration, filtration
! and the storage of water.
Plans aud specifications were proposed, bid!
| for the excavation. rubble work and the ce
| ment were asked for. and on the 18th day O
| April were received and opened. but ar,
now held in allegiance. An independent pro
[ posal was made by the o. II. Jewel Filte
| Co Of Chicago, to substitute for the natura
| sand filter, system Of mechanical filtration
and the watcrwcrks committee have deter
/ mined before committing the city to any sys
| TEN Of filtration to first make an expert
| mental test Of small sand filter in order Il
ascertain the efficiency as well as the pro
portiCnal capacity of the same. II is hoped
| that the saving effected by either plan
/ the reservoir site. If capitalized will pay al
! interest Of per cent upon an investmen
, sufficient TO construct the proposed plant.
! The city has contracted for the purchase
3 Of sufficient land between Twency-second ant
Twerty-fourth streets and Twelfth and Sever
/ teenth avenue to accommodate all OF the pro
! posed Improvement.
A portion OF the excavation was done las
/ fall by day labor in order TO afford work {,
many Of our citizens. About one mile o.
I the 16-inch main leading from the pumping
station to the reservoir site has been laid.
! The extension Of water mains during tn,
last year has been quite general and the in
| crease Of water consumers very satisfactory
STREETS.
We have during the past year pave(
! Seventh avenue from Twelfth to Seven
teenth street and Seventh avenue from
4 Twenty-third TO Thlr,icth street. Also Firs
avenue from Sixteenth to Twentieth street
! BY way Of an EXPERIMENT and at the solicit
tation OF some Of the propertynolders W,
paved Ninth and Tenth streets between Sec
ond and Third avenue with macadem. con
s!sting OF twelve inches OF broken rocl
covered with four inches of crushed grave
from Joliet To some this kind of pavement
has not seemed satisfactory, but with m!
knowledge Of It's use in Joliet and the wa!
II appears this spring l believe it will max.
n good pavement. We have In contempla
ton the paving with brick of Twenty-slxtl
street from Fifth 10 Seventh avenues an;
Thirtieth street from Seventh avenue to tn,
south city limits. Ordinances have also beer
passed for the improvement of Twenty-frs
Twenty second and forty-fourth streets
] would recommend that as our principa
Improvement this year will be the compile
ton o. the reservoir and the publication o
the city's water supply, which will reduir,
considerable outlay of money that we e