Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-12
HINTS AT THINGS
Recommendation for Purchase
of New Waterworks Pump
Defeated by Council.
TO HAVE BOARD COMMISSIONERS
Into Whose Hands Entire Business
of Water Plant is to be
Placed.

There have been too many fingers
in the pie at the Rock Island water
works. affairs having reached the
point where there have been intima-
tions Of graft. and the only solution
seems in the forming Of Il commits
sion To have full control Of the plant.
including the collection Of rentals and
the ordering IF improvements.
The waterwuTk> committee. through
/ its chairman. Ala. Robbins. reported
to the city council meeting last even
| ing authorizing the purchase of
new S.0OO.G0U gallon capacity pump to
replace the cider one of the two now
in use al the TwentY-frurth street
station. NJ Il previous meeting figures
were submitted to show that it would
he unWise 10 repair the cid pump. as
il would ueceS>itate an outlay of at
least 5000. and the Improvement
would Ice temporary only. Further
more. il was cCnten1ed. the pump was
below the city consumption. and in
the event of Il breakdown Of the
HoiIN-Ga-kiH. portion If the town
would have TO get along without
agree with All. Robbins. AID. Kennedy
and others Of the council. He had
been Investigating the pump propcsi-
ton on his own account. and claimed
that repairs could be made at Il figure
far below that represented by the
Fifth ward alderman.
II want you to understand that /
know what j. going On here" Ala.
Eckhart remarked a. he returned to|
his seat.
just what he meant could not be
learned. a. ne refused To explain him
self when called upon to do 50 by AID.
Kennedy. The latter felt that AID
Ecllhart had perhaps allowed himself
to 90 too far. but he could get no
satisfaction. the Second ward repre-
sentative simply saying that if the oc-
caSion ever arose when il was ncccs-
sary for him 10 bc more explicit he
would be prepared.
Nid. Eckhart thcrcupun offered Il |
substitute motion that the report of
the watcrv orl,S committee Ice tabled |
and that the Holly company be in
Vitcd to submit an estimate on the re |
pairing Of the old watcrwurkS pump. |
On disposal cf this motion, which was |
carried, resolution was offered by |
AID. kennedy. and adopted. instruct !
in" the city attorney 10 prepare an |
ordinance pruvidir" for board of /
WatcrNorIl commissioners. Such Il |
board would Ice non-partisan. serving |
without salary. and composed Of lead |
ing men of the city. to be appointed |
by the mayor.
Theatre Changes Adopted.
AID. Eckhart. from the FIRE and light |
committee. read report cmhcdyinT |
changes in the Illinois theatre build
ing. which was adopted. for additional
safeguards. The changes suggested |
by the report. which il i understood |
the owners If the building are willing |
to carry out. are: Fire alarm. connect
Ell with the Central fire station: Il
f0ur-iHCh water main. connected with
stand pipes. one on each side of the
stage. and furnished with valves and |
hose; >kyli"ht. with automatic con
ncctiuu~ in the roof of the stage. to
Hc uHC-tcuth Of the area of the stage;
a first grade asbestos curtain ON
stage: other openings to have iron
doors. Fire escape StairvaN~ are To
he erected ON the west side Of the
building from the balcony as well a.
the upper gallery. and in addition an
exit i To be made from the latter to
the roof of the Cross Country buffet:
and fire escape ladder from the
GTcSsin" rooms il to he placed on the
south wall. The additional exits like
those now in use. are 10 he marked in
plain letters. and red lights. and are
10 be open during shows. and separate
electric light mains connected from
the front of the building. with an
emergency circuit in the house and