Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-06

a steam-heating plant be placed in the
/ Central hose house, believing that this
Improvement would result in great econ
or1y Ct fuel As well as add greatly to the
| comfort of the men quartered there.
| | would recommend to at once number
! the street by new sign boards on cor
ners for the convenience Of visitors.
Health Department..
The health department has done a great
amount of good during the past year
l wish to impress upon your minds the
fact that it requires nearly twice as
much help to remove the garbage as it
did four years ago. When YOU take into
consideration the distance which we have
had 10 haul our garbage, as we'll as the
fact that, as the city spreads out, the
territory which the wagons must cover
IL greatly increased, you can readily APP
preciate the expense OF this work.
ncpc, this year, that we may be able ~
get our dump-boat into a good landing
at the foot of 18th Street. BY so doing
the wagons can make from two to three
times as many trips daily with no ad-
ditioIml expense.
In regard to contagious diseases, we
have been very fortunate. few small
pcN cases developed, and / must give DIR.
DE = Iva. our Health Commissioner, great
credit for the stringent precautionary
measures which were taken to prevent
| the spread of this disease, and, although
the money used in this particular amount
eel to large sum, 1 feel that the city
was well repaid by the results which
were obtained.
The refining of the well at the water
works and the repairing of the intake
pipes has added wonderfully TO good
health in the city this winter, and |
hope may be able to keep the city
clean and healthful in the future.
Our plumbing Inspector, Mr.. +. Yer
bury, deserves great credit for his faith
full work in compelling the plumbers to
sanitary plumbing, and this adds great
ly to the health of the people of the city
Police Department.
We have a good, well equipped Police
Department, which is giving general sat
isfaction to the people of the City. We
have had very little burglary or crime
committed during the year. You all re-
member we had a great crowd of peo-
pie in our city last summer at the Wood
man picnic-three days and Buffalo Bill
day, yet there was no person robbed and
no house-breaking and the Police De
partment deserves great credit and the
thanks of the community for their faith
full and efficient work. All worked ov-
ertime with no complaint. There have
been some changes in the department
but we have now a good and well-disci-
plined department. which we hope to
make all the better this year. | would
recommend that two more Patrolmen be
provided, the territory to be protect
ell Is constantly growing larger. The
inhabited portion of the city, is mo- long
er bounded on the south by Ninth ave
nues and on the east by Thirty-eighth
street. We are spreading out and the
city must expect to increase its police
in number as the territory to be pro-
tected expands. We have grown in the
last year wonderfully. so that now we
are built up almost entirely to Eigh-
teenth avenue on the south and Forty
sixth street on the east; thus you see
we need more police protection and
trust that the Council will agree with
me on this subject. I also recommend
a policeman in citizens clothes and If
possible police matron.
The street Department.
This department was badly crippled
last year, with so small an appropTia-
ton think of doing all of the street and
alley cleaning in city of this size for
$500 The street Commissioner de-
serves great credit for keeping the
streets partially clean in the business
district with so little money. We have
beautiful city-one to be proud Of
and there is nothing that speaks SO well
for a city as clean streets and alleys,
and in this connection i desire to say
to the merchants of the City that you
could help this department along by
preventing paper, straw and excelsior
packing and other debris from being
thrown out and placed in the rear of
buildings and in alleys where the wind
can carry il around to the streets. This
adds greatly to the littering up of the
streets. and if the business men of the
city would cooperate with the street
department in this particular, it would
be highly appreciated by the depart
ment and the City Council, and | be-
lieve, equally so, by the public at large
Bridge Toll Collector.
l desire to commend to you our worthy
bridge toll-collector, John Williams, who
attends to his duties as a collector with
the same degree of care and diligence
that he would to his own private business.
and does it in gentlemanly manner.
He has increased the bridge receipts be-
yond all previous records, and up to the
present time there has not been one COM
plant entered against him. believe
him to be worthy and strictly honest
and the right man in the right place,
In conclusion. wish to speak with
praise of our City Clerk, Superinten-
dent of WaterworSs, City Marshal,
and Police Force, Street Superintendent
or Commissioner, Chief of Fire Depart
ment and Firemen, DIR. Desiiva, Health
Commissioner and Frank Yerbury, Plumb
ing Inspector. Also I extend my thanks
to the entire City Council for their court
es;es extended TO me during the past
year Our relations have been of the
pleasant character, and to the retiring
Aldermen. i again thank you for your
kindness and hope that your life and
path may he pleasant and prosperous
and that we may always be friends.
wish You all success in life and business
and hope To have your good friendship
80 long as l am spared to live in the
City.
And to the new members of the City
Council, this evening assuming your of
fetal duties. congratulate you on this