Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-05

i
important measures that can be taken UP
by the City Council
With reference TO finances, we have re-
ceived during our last year from all known
sources aside from the collection of special
taXesl the sum of 1859, 45091 and have eX-
pended the sum of $17S. 629.30. For more
detailed report of finances. will refer
you to the report of our most courteous and
efficient City Clerk.
Reservoir.
We have q reservoir and filter plant but il
is not of sufficient capacity to give our people
filtered water at any season of the year, that
is thoroughly filtered. There are soma
serious contentious such as leakage and care
lessness in regard to the OF water.
that we required to daily pump almost
twice much water a city of our size
ought to We have stopped great deal
of waste the last year by looking after the
lawn spTinkling and placing meters on large
consumers. / think the time has about
rived when all persons owning property will
ask for meters to be placed in their houses.
This will reduce our pumping and then per-
haps filter all the water used. An
other very important question Is. can we have
filtered water and pump direct frcm the river
in case of fire? ! say nc, this must be in
some way changed. In some places, l
told. they manage to have a steam engine
attached to hydrant and get the required
pressure. In the city Of Quincy they have
plenty of water in the reservoir, all filtered,
and steam engines.
We have a sand washer which pur
chased last fall, and il is a perfect success
and the most essential part of fitratOn is pure
clean sand.
WaterwOrks.
We have spent considerable money in
building and refining the large well at the
pumping station. also in repairing the intake
pipe. / think, however, we have been re-
warded by having purer water, strictly free
from sewerage and seepage from surroundings
at the pumping station. We have had very
little typhoid fever this winter which has
been quite a serious question prior to our
repairs. l speak in regard to the coagulent.
/ spent a part of my time while on a trip to
Quincy, ILL.,, to investigate what they used
there and they told me iron and lime. 1 then
invited the Council to see the water plant,
which is as good plant as there is to be
found any place in the state, If not the very
best today using the same coagu-
lent with very good success.
Parks.
Our two small parks, Spencer and Garnsey,
are the pride of city and every stranger
who comes here says they are kept up better
than any place they have ever seen, so that
the money spent in this direction is credit
to the city. Reservoir Park is a very pretty
place, but it will take time and money to
improve 1t. Longview Park think is one of
the most beautiful places to go to and to
look over and view the city, also the great
Mississippi river and far over into Daven-
port Iowa. This park should be improved
rapidly finances can be had. / am glad
to see the citizens taking hold of the matter
and lending their assistance financially in or
der TO make a place for the laboring classes
and their families to have place of comfort
and recreation free of all expense and where
person can step on the grass without being
ordered off. We all ought TO lend helping
hand our financial condition will permit
to complete this pleasant park.
streets.
We have goodly number of miles of paved
streets, but confronted with very
serious problem in regard to repaving some
of our streets, which, perhaps, will have to
be done this year; and who is to pay for the
paving is the most important question. L
have been told by good authority, that the
city of Bloomington, ILL.,, had some poor worn
out brick paving and that they placed COW
ering of asphalt on these streets at a very
reasonable expense and that very good work
was done. In regard to cleaning streets, we
have used our road grader to good advan-
tage the last year in gathering up the mud
on our streets after heavy rains. One of our
great troubles in keeping the streets look
ing clean. is that the merchants do not try
to burn up or stack the paper and other
paekings, but throw 1t In the rear of stores
or in the alleys. then little gust of wind.
and II is all about the streets. A little as
sistance along these lines will help to keep
the streets clean.
Police.
Our police department is something we are
all Interested in as they are the guardians
of our property. We have not enough police
in our city. in my opinion. We must take
into consideration the great growth of our
city in the last three years, how we have
tended south and east. We ought to have
one day and one or two night men in citi-
zen's clothes, because you can see police
officer about two blocks off at night and
about four blocks away during the day time
which, CT course, gives offenders an oppor-
tunity TO evade the officers; thus you can
see that policeman in civilians clothes
could do mitch efficient work. We have been
very Fortunate during the past two years, in
regard to bprglaries or much petty thieving.
and the department deserves much credit for
their good and faithful work.
Fire Department.
This department cannot be excelied in eff