Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-28
FUNDS FOR A YEAR
Council Makes Apportionment OF
Anticipated Revenues of
the Municipality.
STAND FOR SPENCER SQUARE
Aldermen Set Aside $1,000 for I'm
prOVemenf-HaVe Warm
Discussion.

The annual apPOrtionment of the
anticipated revenues OF the city was
made at an adjourned meeting of the
council last evening. The appropria-
ton ordinance. which includes the sal
aries of the several departments and
the special library tax. carries s91,-
CS2. %.
The sum available over and above
this viii be approximately $115.O53.S3,
and this was distributed in various
channels, the largest amount going to
the bridge fund. The south bridge at
Milan is nearing completion. II will
cost 10000 The north span is tot
tering and before the summer is over
the city expects TO take steps to re-
place it. There is constant danger of
an accident there. When these two
spans are paid for there will be moth
ing left in the bridge fund until it
is replenished a year hence.
The original estimate was $4,000
for the bridge fund. but the aldermen
voted to take $4,000 from il and set
it aside as q Spencer square pavilion
fund. The motion carried by vote
OF eight TO six. the councilmen from
the west end of the city continuing
their opposition TO the expenditure OF
such an amount for a new stand in
Spencer square when. as they con-
tended, the people Of their end of the
town were suffering for the want of
sidewalks of sufficient height to keep
them from wading knee deep in wet
weather.
Says Somethin:: VIII Drop.
There was an animated discussion
preceding and following the adoption
of the motion to create a Spencer
square pavilion fund. which was of
fered by Aid. Benson. Aid. Eckhart
declared that every member of the
council who went ON record as sup
porting an outlay of $4,000 of the tax
payers money for the building Of a
new stand in the square would hear
something drop later on. intimating
that they would all be defeated when
they came up for reelection. Aids.
Sexton and Benson replied that they
were content to let their case rest
with the people. Aid. O'ConnOr
thought Spencer square was of little
use To the people generally of the city
as il was conducted at present. He
stated that woman could not 90
there for an evening without being in
suited: that it was 4 place of rendeZ-
yous for the flippant youth of the city
He believed the moral as well as the
beauty question should be considered.
l., ,raT frrr.a fnl NO
licemen. one for night and one for day
stationed at this park, and then wom-
en- and children could so there and
enjoy the shade and breeze without
being in constant dread of some braZ-
en- follow Quitting" in on them. Aid.
Robbins said he had been passing up
through the square for years and he
had yet to see the first unbccoming
act on the part OF those who frequent
ed there.
Another Drag at Bridge Fund.
The aldermen INDUCED in another
prolonged discussion over the distri-
button of the street, alley and sidewalk
fund. One more drag was taken at
the bridge fund, from which $4,000
was withdrawn and added to the side
4 like sum was allowed for streets and
alleys. There had been disposition
among the aldermen To make some
provision for carrying forward the
plans outlined for the Improvement
of Longview park, and c. F. Gazetteer,
the commissioner. was on hand 10 tell
what was needed. But it was found.
after caring for other necessities that
there was not enough left with which
to make a showing there. and it was
decided to wait another year, when it
is hoped 10 build a combination obser-
vatory and tool house. lay out the
walks and further beautify the
grounds. MI Gazetteer said he would
house the tools on his own premises
this year. He did not want TO see the
council do anything cheap at Long
view. II would be ridiculous to place
there a pavilion such as would
10 in Spencer square. 1t should have
one that would seat at least two hun
dred people. and cost not less than
s. 600.