Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-12
People of South Rock Island Are Dl-
vided on Proposition for Open
ina Eighteenth Avenue.
COMMISSIONERS AT C0UEC1L
They Want to Go Ahead With a Part of
the improvements. But the
City Balks.


ing of Eighteenth avenue from Seven
teenth street east to the river. They
appeared to have become confused as
TO the status of the situation, and
we're seeking information, being anx-
Gus to proceed with the improvement.
". E. Bailey, spokesman for the com
missioners. said his understanding
vas that the city had agreed to bear
half the expense with the township OF
South Rock Island. 1t would cost sew
aral thousand dollars to open the
thoroughfare, and as the township
only had 5000 available for the pur
pose. he wanted to know if it would
lot be allowed legally to open from
Seventeenth to Twelfth, buying the
property and not resorting to cOndem-
nation. He said the so feet on the
South Rock Island side from Seven
teenth to Twelfth could be secured
for $500. and asked if the city would
pay a portion of that amount.
The aldermen were of the impress
sion that the city was only to see to
he opening of the north so feet City
Attorney Scott stated that the city
could not legally enter into any ar
'angement for opening any part of the
avenue, and if South Rock Island
Yarted to proceed from Seventeenth
20 Twelfth he advised that it do so on
is own responsibility. Two petitions
were received by the council relative
to the improvement. One asked for
The opening from Seventeenth to
Twelfth. This was afterward with
lrawn. and one presented covering
the whole strip west to the river.
People Are Divided.
Mr.. Bailey said there were two fac
tons in South Rock Island-one favor
ng and the other opposing the i'm
provement. The commissioners all
wanted to go ahead from Seventeenth
o Twelfth, as the highway was need
ed more between those points than
farther west. They had had legal ad-
vice, and had been told that they
could not be prevented buying prop
erty along the line of the proposed
highway. City Attorney Scott said
chat that was entirely the affair of
he commissioners, but the city could
not afford to have hand in it.
The mayor said it was evident that
there was tangle that should be I'M
raveled before any further action be
taken by the council, and accordingly
the whole question was referred back
% the street and alley committee.
To Condemn Unsafe Buildings.
The city attorney was instructed on
4 resolution offered by Aid. Eckhart to
draft an ordinance empowering the
city to condemn unsafe buildings, of
which he had found there were a num-
Der, and to designate some officer
whose duty it shall be to condemn
structures that in his Judgment are
dangerous.
ID. c. Strecler, J. Kroegel and 9th
ars were authorized to construct at
their own expense a private sewer of
l0-inch tile east and west in the alley
Of block 20, in Old Town, to connect
With the sewer now laid along Tenth
street, and empty into the same The
sewer, when completed, is to become
the property of the city
RusOl<is Don't Want Much.
John Rusokis petitioned for permits
sion to erect a modern shoeshining
stand at the southwest corner of Sec
ond avenue and Nineteenth street.
resting against the wall of the Har-
per house. He agreed to build a mar
bic floor. equip the stand with electric
lights and embellish ii with mirrors.
Several business men in the block
signed the petition, but it is hardly
likely it will be considered by the
council 1t was referred for investi-
cation to the aldermen of the ward
and the license committee. A stand
Of the character proposed would OBJ
struct one of the most prominent cor
ners in the business section.
New Bids for Spencer Square stand
II was ordered that new bids be adj
vertised for for the construction of a
new stand in Spencer square, con-
tractors to keep their figures within
the $4,000 appropriation recently made
by the council. The bids will be made
according to the plans prepared by
Architect F. Borgolte.
The city and county have clashed
again over the back taxes collected by
the Ierrets. The council was notified
a few weeks ago that the city's share
was Sl3,3S2.21, but it has been learned
| 'nat thls does not include the penalties
imposed and collected on omitted
property. Aid. A. G. Anderson. chair
man OF the finance committee. offered
| a resolution, which was passed. in
structing the city treasurer to make a
demand on the county for the city's
proportionate share of the penalties.
The county will resist payment, hold
ing that the penalties should go into
the general fund, and cites a recent
decision of the supreme court on
similar contention in Whiteside coun-
t. in justification of its position.
Plans for New Bridge Adopted.
Plans for the proposed new two-span
steel bridge over the north branch of
Rock river. drawn by City Engineer
Wallace Triechler, were approved
The bridge is to be BIG feet long and