Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-05
FOR A CITY HALL SITE
Council Committee Named to
Receive PROPOSE.
tons.
TIMELY MovEoF AID. HL.wHEELAN

States That Desirable Locations Are Scarce
and 1t Is Incumbent Upon the Munich
palItv to Purchase as Soon as Possible
Slot Machine Ordinance Passes-HeaIth
Commissioner Advises Sanitary Measures.
A move that will be endorsed by all
enterprisiug citizens of Rock Island
was made bv Aid. H. L. Wheelan ut the
monthly meeting of the city council
last night, when he offered a resolution,
which was unanimously carried, that
committee of five, including Mayor
McConochie, be appointed to receive
propositions for a site on which to
erect a city hall. As such committee
the MAYOR named Aids. Wheelan,
Willis, Aster. Lawhead and Concan-
non. Aid. Wheelan stated that if the
city intended building a city hall, as
it must necessarily do within few
wears. it would be wise to purchase
location at once, as desirable sites in
the business center were getting
scarce.
An invitation for The council TO at
tend the Tri-Citv Midwinter fair, en-
tended by Manager Rod j. Mcdonald,
was accepted.
The ordinance prohibiting the Oper-
alton of slot machines in the city of
Rock Island was unanimously adopted
by an ave and nay vote.
Repairs at waterworks.
1t was voted to make necessary re-
pairs on the machinery and put in
new floor at the waterworks. 1t was
also ordered that the work be done by
union labor and that bids be adver
tised for.
CITY Clerk Schaffer'S receipts for
Novem Der were $27. 40 II, as follows:
water rents. IS, 721. So; iloon licenses,
s1S, 800; peddlers' licenses. $35; ped
dlers' stand licenses. $50 so; billiard
and pool licenses, Sl10; street ac-
count. 80; scale books sold. 5000;
fire department. No. /. S.; wagon Ii
cense. IS; fire department, $3.50.
An unsigned petition was received
asking $3.50 damages for the destruc-
ton of a well on the premises ut S23
Seventeenth street. 1t is declared the
we'll that has for 10 yeafs supplied
nv family with a clear, healthy and
cool grade of water was to-
tally ruined a year ago last September
past by the hIling with slop, offal,
rubbish, ETC., the well upon lot u,
both of which wells having been sup
piled with the same vein of water.
The petitioner holds the city authOri-
ties, 10 whom he states he appealed
for relief in vain, responsible for the
destruction of the we'll The petition
was referred TO the claims committee.
Telephone Franchise Asked.
An ordinance giving a franchise to
the Union Electric Telephone and Tel
egraph company was read and referred
TO the ordinance committee and city
attorney. The company, for which
Bills and Workman, are promot
ers, and which has received the
endorsement of the Rock Island
Club, and is already soliciting sub
scribers, offers to furnish free tele-
phones to each of the fire department
stations. In case the city should de-
sire any additional telephones for use
in the public schools, buildings or
offices OF the city, the right is re-
served to secure the same at rental
of SIS per annum, the company also
to place two telephones in booths, and
to maintain and keep them in repair,
upon the streets of the city, the loca-
ton to be selected by the council, and
to be for the free use of the public.
The company offers rate of $50 per
year for business houses aud $24 per
year for residences, all to be full me-
tallic long distance instruments. No
charge or rentals are o be made until
at least 600 bonafide subscribers are
obtained.
The police committee was author
lied to ask for bids for the taking care
of the citv ambulance and furnishing
n team to answer all calls when prop
erly made through the police depart
ment. New rules are also to be
adopted governing charges to be i'm
posed for the use Of the ambulance.
Originally it was intended to assess 81
for each call. except in cases of acct
dent or where the party carried was
unable to pay, but it appears that the
ambulance has been summoned in in
stances where the parties were well
able to pay, but refused to do so, and
the consequence is the monthly bill
for the operation of this convenience
has been costly to the municipality
Sanitary Recommendations.
The following communication was
received from Health Commissioner
G. G. Craig: Within the last few
years typhoid fever has developed to
an alarming extent in the Mississippi
valley. In this city il has probably
never been more prevalent than in the
last six months, and more deaths have
resulted from it than from any other
disease. While it may originate from
food, contact with soiled articles.
Transmission through the air, flies and
other insects, the bacilli which cause
this disease usually enter the human
system through the drinking water.
This should be examined, especially if
it is suspected. and. if possible. the
source Of contamination eradicated.
A aon,.Iata opalvsis of Watar il diff