Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-04-10
THEPROBLEM SOLVED
City Council Adopts Wisest Plan
for Disposition of LeVee
Warehouse.
MERCHANTS PETITION SUSTAINED.

Business Interests and Those of the Mu-
nicipaIity Jointly UpheId-QuestiOn Con-
sIdsred at Last Nights MeetinE-Dis-
mond 10 Ordinance Observation-Disclosures
to Create once of Public Works.
The Rock Island city council last
night sustained the petition of the
merchants of Rock Island for the pro-
viding of warehouse facilities on the
new levee, and likewise sustained the
principle of municipal ownership and
control of all that goes into the new
river front. By this action the coun-
ell also evinced the purpose and de-
termination of the city to protect
from private design the property
which has been improved and re-
tanned at the expense of the taxpav-
ers for the city and its com mercial
interests for all time.
These are the aldermen who stood
firmly by the two great princi-
ples-the interests of the business
men of Rock Island and the ccntinu-
ance of municipal control of municipal
property:
r. c. Beck, NV. Concannon,
C. Heidemann, Il. Winter,
c. f. WILL. HI. wheeIaD.
T. A. Pender. J.w. Lawhead.
A mum Der of the merchants, acting
in behalf of the Merchants associa-
ton, which was in session last night,
attended the meeting of the council,
and when they returned to the meet
ing of their association after the
council had acted. and made report
of what had been done, a cheer went
up for the city. for the aldermen who
had adopted the only practical way
of complying with the prayer of the
business men. and for all who had
been instrumental in bringing about
the result.
Ordinance Read.
Aid. Wheelan, chairman of the
license and markets committee, read
the last ordinance of the Diamond 10
Steamboat company for the leasing of
a certain portion of the levee for
period of % years at an annual rental
of 81, for the erection of warehouse
or depots, as heretofore described
in THE ARGUS. Aid. Wheelan also
submitted the petition of the Re-
tail Merchants association, asking the
city to provide a suitable warehouse
on the levee for the accommodation of
river traffic. Aid. Wheelan moved
that the petition be received and the
prayer granted. receiving second
from Aid. Fender, and calling for an
aye and nay vote.
Aid. Wheelan said the time had
arrived when some definite action
with reference to steamboat facilities
should be taken by the council. 1t
was proper the city should build and
=
from rentals good interest upon its
investment. He said the Diamond 10
proposition should be rejected.
Asked his opinion, City Attorney
Scott said he could see no legal o5iec-
ton to the municipality providing a
warehouse OH the levee. Aid. Willis
said the city could clear at least $500
per year by providing warehouse.
He favored city ownership. Mayor
McConochie said the aldermen should
not lose sight of the fact that the city
had reached that state. in a financial
way, where it could not borrow any
more money.
Business Proposition.
Capt. John Streckfus was asked to
speak. He said it was plainly a
business proposition. He would pay
800 per year rental and Capt. Walter
Blair would pay 5000, and certainly
the Diamond 10 company would pay
something. He said it was time for
action. Rock Island should make
some sort of move. Davenport, he
said, was to provide warehouse for
the steamboats, Capt. Streckfus would
either rent warehouse privileges of the
city or he would erect the building
himself if permitted to do so.
Aid. johnson said the idea of the city
building was wrong. He would vote
against such proposition.
Aid. Lawhead said he had been OPP
posed to any building going up on the
ievee. He had contended that float
ing dock would answer the purpose.
But the question had reached that
point where commercial interests de-
manded immediate settlement. But
he never would vote to give away to
private interests foot of the levee.
Whatever was to be built should be
provided and controlled by the NUM-
cipality. The vote on the granting of
the merchants petition was as fol-
lows:
Ayes-Beck. Concannon, Heide-
mann. Water, Willis. Wheelan, Pen
der, Lawhead-S.
Nays-Johnson, Freed. Aster, Ell
we'll, Gall, Soderstrom-6.
Diamond 10 Ordinance Referred.
The Diamond 10 ordinance was re-
ferred to the license and markets COM
mittee, and upon motion of Aid.
Wheelan. the city clerk was instructed
to advertise for bids for the erection
of a warehouse on the levee in accord
ance with plans and specifications on
file, the bids to be opened at the next
meeting of the council, Monday even
ing of next week.
The proceedings of the last meeting
of the public library board in regard
lihrarr-