Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-02

Comprehensive Review of Works Per
formed During His Administration

MAYOR MEDILLS YALEDICTORH.
formed During His Administration
Mayor Medill thereupon delivered
his valedictory address to the coun-
Gil The retiring executive did him
self proud in his closing message, a
most brilliant effort, covering thor
oughly and comprehensively the list
of improvements carried on under
his administration. Among other
things Mayor Medill said:
1t should be a matter Of pride TO
every public spirited citizen that our
City has been 50 favored in general
prosperity during the last few years.
1t demOnst rates the fact that by con-
certcd effort on behalf of the people,
our city will become one of the best
cities of the West. During our brief
administration. the general improve
Inents Of the city have been very en-
,-ouraging. Several large business
blocks and residences have been erect
ed. aud others are contemplated. We
have witneSs1 the completion of tn.
pOstnfTice 10y the general government,
the Court House by the county. The
erection of one of the most handsome
Office buildings in the state by the
Modern Woodman of America; the
reconstruction of our hotels. and the
laying out Of many beautiful resi-
dcnce additions. all of which show a
tendency toward the improvement and
the expansion of our city. We Ger
tainly have just reasons TO feel proud
Of the progress that our city has made
ard TO learn that her fame has trly-
elcd throughout the West.
Finance.
We have heard 50 much relative to
the financial condition Of the city
within the last two months, and So
many statements and missrepresen
tationS have been made that | have no
doubt but you have a very confused
idea Of the same. During our admin
istration we have received from all
known sources. aside from the collec-
tion of special taxes and assessments,
and the bond issue of $4,000, which
replaced the issue of like amount is
sued in 1877. the sum of s347, 5oO.sO
and have disbursed on order of your
hnnorabIy body the sum of S340. 527,47,
leaving balance in the general fund
of the city treasury of s25.O64.33 which
statement and report of the City
Clerk.
As you are all aware the City Coun- |
ell submitted to the peop,e at the
spring election of 1897, Cat which time |
the present retiring administration |
was elected) the proposition to issue |
100000 of bonds to be used in IL |
quadating or replacing the ISSUE of
IL,
bonds and $50, 900 TO be used to pay an
indebtedness that had accrued from
differences in paving assessments, lay
ing OF water pipes in the Seventh and
Third wards and other causes. Such
authority was voted by the people and
the bonds issued accordingly.
The $4,000 issue. drawing AZ per
cent interest. was sold TO the First |
National Bank of Chicago. at a prem
ium of S44I47 and the proceeds used
10 Iiquidate the old issue of the same
amount drawing an interest of six
per sent per annum. thus ofrecting =
saving of $3.50 per year.
The same and other parties refused
To purchase the $4,000 issue for the
reason that it wGs in excess of the |
limit of bonded indebtedness allowed
by law. Consequently they were is
sued Ivy order of the City Council
drawing sin per cent interest. and sold
to our own citizens. $1,000 of this
issue have already been paid off. There
are also outstanding S25.OOO of five
per cent waterNvorkS bonds issued in
1SS2 which becomes due on Feb. l.
1902.
Reservoir.
In the year 1897 by authority of
your honorabIy body we caused To DE
prepared exhaustive plans and speci-
fications for system of Reservoirs.
Before committing the city to any
specific plan of the treatment of wat
ter. the waterworks committee of
YOUR honorable body with the Superin-
tendent of waterworks and the Mayor
visited many of the larger cities OF
the West and North with view of
acguainting ourselves with the differ
cnt system of filtration employed.
Upon our return and after careful
study and investigation. your commit
tee recommended to the Council the
adoption of the system commonly
known as the English system or slow
sand filtration. The report was adopt
cd. Before entering upon the con-
struction of the same. we decided to
build n small experimental filter on
the same lines as the ones designed
for the public use We therefore
erected Il small sand filter in the rear
OF the pumping station. Filtration Of
water y gagged and measured entire
" Ivy the square foot of filter surface.
and as the best results are obtained at