Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-04
MEETS W|THSET BACK
Fifteenth Street Paving Propo-
sition in Statu
Quo.
NAMES WITHDRAWN FROM PETITION
Change of Sentiment in Regard to
Material Finally De-
velops.

The board of local improvements
Saturday met for the purpose of con-
sidering the Fifteenth street paving
matter. Mayor Knox was not able to
be present and no official action was
taken. Enough of the property hold
ers on that thoroughfare who had
originally signed for asphalt pave
ment asked to have their names re-
moved from the petition to necessi-
tate suspension of activity looking
toward the Improvement.
In the first place over 1000 feet of
frontage was signed for asphalt, when
BOO feet was sufficient for a ma ior-
| ity. Since Saturday between l 500 and
! 1000 feet were Withdrawn, as the
land owners have a right to do at any
time before the ordinance is passed
by the city council. Therefore pro-
lcecdings have been dropped where
they stand.
The reasons given by the property
owners for the withdrawal of their
names are various. Some of them OBJ
ject on account of the cost. Others
were fearful lest the Tri-City Rail
way company would not run a line
| up the street and the portion of the
cost it was intended should be as
sessed to the company should be
thrown upon the abutting property.
Some were not so much alarmed over
present prices as they were over the
increasing cost of materials, which
they argued might cause the cost to
go still higher before the contract
could be let. There were still others
who wished to wait and see how the
Twenty-tirst street property holders
come out with their asphalt paving.
How the Pavement Was Killed.
The outcome of the delay over the
Fifteenth street paving while a dis
| appointment is not surprise. 1t is
rather what was expected after it be-
came apparent that the majority of
the property holders were determin-
ed to have asphalt. From that mo-
ment it was she policy of certain
interests to prevent the work being
done at all unless brick was specified
And the amount OF influence that has
been brought to bear upon the prop
erty holders to convince them that
they did not know what they wanted
| is remarkable to some, and not so
much to others. Politics and corpor-
alton interests were made to play
| their full parts. While. one agency
was to prejudice. the other was Ito
lprOcrastinate. And so the scheme
worked to perfection. While be it
said to the credit of the alderme n
they were not willing parties to the
kill everything but brick campaign,
there were those connected with
public affairs who put in as
much time on this particular case as
if it was a personal matter. One city
official, acting under the dictates of
the political hammer, made himself
conspicuOusly otficious. And so the
paving of Fifteenth street was kill
ed. Possibly now, however, that the
powers that be have gotten asphalt
pavement out of the way. the proper
~ holders will be permitted to circu-
late a petition for brick. And then,
too, they Will after Il while get street
cars and other conveniences for
which they have these long months
been waiting.
There isn't any doubt but that the
property holders have been unduly
pre- JUDGED against. asphalt, and it is
safe venture to- say that in the
course of time they Will fully realize
this fact. Apart from the
property holders most interested
there was a general desire through
out the city to see Fifteenth street
paved with asphalt, it being felt that
as it is one of the main thorough
fares leading to the new park district
it would be particularly desirable to
have it so improved. But the con-
trary pressure was too strong alto
gether. Meanwhile Moline and Dav-
export go right ahead with their
street paving operations greatly to
I'll J.,