Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-03

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| one man to attend to a certain number of
blocks.
| In the matter of sidewalks We have been
| very active in the last year. We have caused
| over six miles of sidewalks. As the greater
portion OF the city in now well provided l
would recommend that We continue in this
| line and complete this work
1 FIRE DEPARTMENT.
| During the last year the CONGREGATIONS have
| been very light. The absence Of large fires
have in a great measure been due tovigilance
and promptness Of ourfire department. BY
virtue OF resolution passed by your hon
orable body and on the advice of Chief
| Swenie Of Chicago, / employed an expert
| fireman, Mr.. Greene, eX-assistant chief of
| the Chicago fire department, to teach our de-
partment the art Of fighting fires. The re-
| suit Of this instruction is very apparent, and
We now have as efficient department, con-
| sidering the number of men employed, as any
city in the state. / desire to make especial
| acknowledgements of the manner in which
| Chief Collier has handled the department.
POLICE.
| The police department has been ably cared
/ by Chief Fender new uniforms have lately
| been purchased, and the appearance and con-
duct of the officers have been the means of
! cur receiving many compliments.
HEALTH.
| The general health of our city has been
good. We have had no epidemic to con-
tend with. Much credit is due to the Hea
commissioner, DR.. Comegys for the interest
| he has taken in this department. Through
! his recommendations we have determined to
make some radical changes in this depart
| ment We have lately purchased three i'm
proved garbage wagons and horses and will
| collect the garbage under new system.
| Also, by means of an ordinance passed by
your honorable body we have caused or will
| cause all househoders to provide a covered,
water tight metallic can as garbage recep-
| tacle, thus materially assisting the garbage
| collector and lcssening the probability OF
| disease and an epidemic. l would recon-
mend that your honorable body pass an
| FINANCE requiring property holders to pro-
! vide box or receptacle to hold their rub
| bish and in this we will be able to keep the
alleys clean.
RAILROAD AND LEvEE IMPROVEMENT
| The long mooted question OF the disposition
| of the several railroad ordinances. which
| have occupied the attention OF your honor
| able body for so long time has l believe
been permanently settled. and l feel that we
| can be exceedingly thankful that we will not
| have it to contend with this year.
| The ordinances passed recently seem to
| give general satisfaction and l trust will
| prove a solution OF this vexed problem.
| We have received concessions from most
| OF the railroad companies. to assist US in the
| levee Improvement and | would recommend
| that We make an carly start in this much
| NEEDED improvement. We have reason to
| expect that two or three additional railroads
will seek entrance to our city in the near
| future
| STORM DRAIN.
| The unfortunate condition of the storm
| drain which was constructed some eighteen
| months ago has given your honorable body
| considerable annoyance. The history Of
| this improvement is familiar to you all. At
| the request Of the contractor and per reso-
| luton Of the Council, ! appointed a special
| committee Of three to act with the Manor
in making thorough investigation of the
| condition of said drain and to establish it's
| actual worth to the city. The Investigation is
| progressing as fast as possible and in due
| time the committee will make report as to
/ its findings.
| In conclusion, gentlemen. I desire to i'm
| press upon you, that in addition to the recon
| mendations made Of the minor improvements.
! that our undivided attention and energy
| should be directed to the completion of tho
| Improvement of the water supply and the i'm
| proyement Of the leye. The publication of
| the water appeals to all and makes every in
habitant of our city and every stranger with
| IN our gates beneficiary and confers
| blessing upon all Of our people.
desire to return my thanks to the retiring
| aldermen and trust that their lines may fail
| in pleasant places.
| TIiOS. J. MEDILL. JR., Mayor.
| Other Notes.
Toll Gate Collector Johnson's re-
port for the year shows a total of
S4.61.72 for the year ending April
Is. and sl25.j6 since that time. max
ing IN all Si.191.2S up to MAY /.
Mayor Mcdill stated that the water
works committee had decided to con-
struct Il sand filter at the reservoir
site for experimental purposes to
demonstrate the efficiency of this
system, and would soon he able to
make Il report to the council.
Aids. George W. Aster and Harry ID.
Elwell were each presented with beau
tiful bouquet of flowers. The card on
the one sent to Aid. Elwell stated that
it was from Sixth ward friends. while
Aid. Aster's was accompanied bv the
compliments of W. II. Lamont. Louis
Cohn and John Linn. the card also
bearing the quotation: There is a
tide in the affairs of men. which
taken at the flood leads on to for
tune
The report of Health Commissioner
}. p. Comegys for April shows seven
deaths, one each from the following
causes: Confusion of the brain.
lapoplexy, pistol shot, dropsv Of
heart. peritonitis. menengitis. con-
sumption. Six were married and one
single. There We're 10 births-six
males and four females-recorded
and one case of diphtheria reported.
Eight nuisances We're found and six
of them were abated.
Chief J. ID. Collier, of the fire de-
partment, in his annual report recon-
mends that the striking system of
indicators be substituted for the one
now in use: that furnace be placed
in the Central house: that LOCO feet
of new hose be purchases; that the
council create an ordinance enforcing
the state law regarding fire escapes,
and that members of the department
he allowed Is instead of II hours.
Chief of Police Pender asks the APP
Ipointment of three additional patrol
men and a night desk sergeant.
Bucklen's Arnica SaIye.