Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-08
Bids for Furnishing Fuel and Feed
Rejected by the Coun-
Gil.
WILL DIVIDE UP ORDERS
Among Home Dealers-Ordinance to
Vacate West End
Streets.

ievening on recommendation OF the
! finance committee.
/ Chairman A. G.. Anderson stated
that the committee had gone pretty
thoroughly into both questions and
had ascertained that the city would be
the gamer through purchase in the
Iopen market at current prices. While
There was considerable variance in the
coal quotations. giving the impression
TO members of the committee that
there must be large profit TO the deal
/ r. il was learned the naming of such
low prices was made possible through
! the Ioophole of inferior quality.
/ For instance, if a certain firm were
awarded a contract to supply coal to
| the various departments of the munich
|pality for the winter. il would deliver
Its poorest grade, and there was no
recourse for the city unless an inspec-
tor were appointed, as suggested by
! Aid. J. p. Sexton. to pass upon each
| load of coal before it was dumped
into the bunkers.
City should See What It's Getting.
! Aid. c. c. Wilson did not agree wish
| the finance committee that there was
no virtue in competition through bids.
| II was manifest on the very face of
the proposals that the city would be
the beneficiary 10 the extent of a nice,
round sum if the contract for the coal
supply were given to the firm submit
ting the lowest bid. He did not ques-
Ition that an INSCRIPTIONS dealer might
| seek to take advantage by furnishing
an inferior grade of coal, but that was
! the city's lookout. and it would not be
difficult matter for the head OF each
/ department to look over each load be-
/ fore it was delivered with the same in
|terest as though it were coming to his
own home. Aid. Sexton believed the
better plan. as recommended by the
committee. was to distribute as near
as possible the business among the
dealers of the city. all of whom We're
taxpayers, instead of entering into
contract with some outside corporation
that had no interest in the city and
that would he mixing the coal with
rock and brick bats if not watched.
The local men would vie with one an
other in seeing who could furnish the
article that would best suit the city.
The first one to furnish a poor article
would be the first to be scratched from
the city books. Accordingly. the may
or and clerk were empowered TO buy
the city fuel supply in the open mar
ket. similar action being taken on the
feed proposition.
Desire Vacation of Streets.
Presumably to thwart NJ. e. Sween-
ey in his attempt TO force the removal
of the buildings of the Rock Island
Pillow company on Fifth and Sixth
streets. there was read an ordinance
declaring the parts of those thorough
fares occupied by the buildings in
question vacated by the city. The or
dinance was referred to the street and
aIley committee. For several years the
company has held the streets under a
lease given by the city at nominal
rental But Mr.. Sweeney. in the SUIT
that he filed recently, claimed that he
owned the fee in the streets mention
ed. and that the company had taken
possession thereof without his consent.
Meter Cuts Out NeighbSr
There has arisen on Tenth avenue,
between Nineteenth and Twentieth
streets, a peculiar situation regarding
the supplying of water by the city.
Mr.. Marvin and Mr.. WEIGH have been
neighbOrs for years. Mr.. Marvin's
house is located on what is called a
blind" lot Mr.. WEIGH had a pipe
running into his home from the city
main. Mr.. Marvin wanted water, but
there was only one way for him to
get it, and that was by connecting with
the pipe in Mr. Welch's yard. He OBJ
:ained consent from Mr. Welch to do
this. and for years enjoyed the same
privilege as did his neighbOr. But re-
Gently there was a meter placed in
Mr. Welch's home. neceSsitating cut
ting of the branch pipe supplying Mr.. |
AlaTyin's home in order 10 determine
the quantity of water Mr.. Marvin
should pay for under the prevailing
meter rates. Mr.. Maryin's plight was
brought TO the attention of the water
works committee. and last evening
there was a recommendation. which
was adopted. that the city lay a pipe
from Mr. Marvin's house TO connect
with the main running through the
alley. This will require 225 feet of
pipe. and with the attendant labor. a
total expense 10 the city of Sass; but
Aid. Robbins. chairman OF the commit |
tee. stated since the city had deprived |
Mr. Marvin of an accommodation that !
he had so long enjoyed it should pro- |
tect him, despite that the interest on |
the investment. as he was only small !
user. would fall considerably below |
the required rate Aids. Wilson and I
Eckhart knew of many cases that were
not dissimilar. and they feared TO sup !
port the report would be TO establish a |
precedent that would cost the city !
great amount OF money.
To Attend River Convention.
Mayor McConochie and Aids. O'Con- !,
nor and Sexton were appointed dele !,