Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-05
NOT TO FORK OVER
City Has Its Answer From County
Treasurer on Back Tax
Proposition
DIVISION 1NADvIsABLE NOW
Backed by an Unsigned Legal Opin-
ion-More Waterworks
Pump Talk.

The city council has been informed
that its portion of the back taxes
collected by the ferrets who have been
working for months at the court
house is not available at present.
Last month the city fathers adopt
ed a resolution demanding an appor-
tiOnment of the collections and noti-
flying the county that a continuance
Of the work of the ferrets would be
without the consent of the city.
The reply of County Treasurer Da-
vid II. Lyons was read at the meeting
of the council held last evening. 1t
was in answer to a letter from X. T..
Anderson, the city treasurer. Mr..
Lyons says that, ON consultation with
a number of the leading members of
the county bar. he finds it inadviSable
to make an allotment of the moneys
on hand Just now. and inclosed an
unsigned legal opinion sustaining him
in his decision.
The opinion advises that there be
no division until the delinquent taxes
have been gathered. The communion
ton was received and referred to the
finance committee with the exception
of the legal opinion. which was tabled
on motion of AID. Robbins. The aid
ermen were curious to know who this
part of the letter was from. but no
one seemed able to enlighten them.
Finally Aid. Kennedy suggested it
might be the work of G. Washington
NcCaskrin.
New Pump is Needed.
Further data prepared by AID. Rob
bins, chairman of the waterworks
committee, tended to show that it
would be poor business policy to re-
pair the old pump at the city station.
He had two estimates. one from the
Moline Tool company. at S5,475. and
from the Davenport FuunCTY
d Machine company at $500. The
average daily consumption in the city
in 1901 was 3.554.4G5 gallons. I'm 1902
il was $500. $40. and i'm 1903 ii was B.
SOS, 6s7. In these three years there
has been laid 17.4Sj feet o. new water
mains. and the consumers increased
400. The Holly quadrupleN pump,
with capacity of 3.OOO,OOO gallons Il
81 va was AsiliNtl III 1907 " liilt tli'
was put in 10 years la
ter.
In communication to the council
tn the subject. +. +. Bancroft. the SUI
peTjntendent Of waterWorks, SAYS the
old pump can never bc made ecOnOmi-
cal to operate. He continues: To
day the consumption j. 50 great the
1uadrupleN could not hold up the sup
ply for very long period should the
GaSkill break down. The Gasllill be
ing the only pump we have with the
at present, it * very evident
we are carrying our eggs all in one
basket. This pump X of modern de-
sign, economical to operate, i'm every
respect. but it il like all machinery
it will wear and needs repairs at
times. We have had two break-dowuS
this wear. but | am pleased to state
the pump today i in fair condition.
We cannot. however. forcScc what the
next breakdown will be. and | think
it of the greatest Importance to pro
vide amply for the eVer-increasing de
mand for domestic and fire service"
The council will go in a body tomor-
row afternoon for an inspection of
the pumping plants at Davenport and
Moline. The trip Will be made in a
special car.
Asking for Factory Switch.
The Rock Island Buggy company
had Il petition for permission to con
Struct a switch track ON First avenue
between Sixteenth and Seventeenth
streets at the north side Of lis fac
tory to connect with the Burlington's
main track
The company has called for bids on'I