Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-11

leu IudI Tic Represented
which was assessed at $500, would
probably not object to the payment of
reasonable assessment for the drain
age system, though it will derive prac-
tically no benefit, having it's own drain
age and sewer system already. He
said he was almost certain, however,
that the company would seriously OBJ
ject to such an assessment as had been
made against its property.
On Land Values.
F. c. Denkmann, one of the mem
bers of the commission, spoke of the
land values in the No. 4 district He
gave instances to show that 5000 an
acre was a good price for the best
land in the district, and stated that
so acres in which he with others was
interested, lying south of the so acre
tract, was held at $50 an acre, and
could probably be secured at a lower
price. The purchase price when the
present owners secured the tract was
$1,000. and he regarded it as of little
higher value now. He held that the
drainage system will be of practicany
no value to the land west of Mill
street while the No. 4 district is as
sessed for the entire cost of the large
10-foot outlet required to accommo-
date the upper districts. He. with
others who spoke, considered this an
injustice, and held that a part of the
cost of this immense outlet should be
assessed to the other districts, Mr..
Denkmanr. pointed out that this part
of the city is the only direction for
the city to grow and develop, and that
this assessment will make any growth
even in this direction impossible.
On Legality of Roll.
Hugh E. Curtis addressed the coun-
Gil. and in addition TO explaining the
situation as shown by his affidavit, he
spoke of the land values. He said
that $4,000 would be sufficient, in his
opinion. to drain that land. Further,
he said, it would cost a factory no
more to fill pond than to fill into a
hole
Others State Views.
Others who spoke on the subject
were F. T. Myers, president of the
Rock Island Business Mems assOcia-
ton, and eX-officio member of the In
dustrial commission board of control;
Oscar Schmidt, representing the Peter
Fries estate; Nj. o. Morris, of Morris
& Lewis: ]. w. WEIGH and H. d. Mack
of the commission. and F. G. Young,
trustee of the land under considera-
ton.
Mr.. Young stated that the city's
chances for the future were at stake,
and rested on the disposition of this
50-acre tract. He explained the man.
ner in which he became trustee of the
land and the conditions. DR.. E. M.
Sala. Major c. w. Halves and H. D.
Mack also spoke on the subject. Mayer
Levi, secretary of the Industrial COM
mission, pointed to concrete results in
other cities from a movement for ad-
ditionai factories, citing Terre Haute
particularly. where in seven years %
factories had been located, represent
ing $3,000,000 in capital. He stated
the increase in the population of the
city which resulted from this factory
growth. He informed the council of
the prospects for Rock Island, and urg-
ed the county to regard the city gov
eminent as a third factor of the In
dustriaI commission, since the city is
interested as vitality as the members
of the commission.
City Attorney RambIes.
City Attorney Olsen was heard on
the subject, but in his remarks he took
occasion to cast personal reflections
on the members of the committee who
had spoken, and to question the mo-
tives of the people who had decided the
tract to the commission. He was
checked by Alderman Robbins, who
raised a point of order. and insisted
that Mr.. Olsen confine himself to the
question under consideration. Mr.. Oh
sen held that the courts, and not the
council room, was the place to express
the objections to the assessment. Mr..
Olsen explained how the assessment
had been virtually made by H. c. Hav-
erfield though Henry Grothe was the
under the appointment
of the board of local improvements.
Attorneys Remarks Resented.
F. G. Young was given the floor
again. and he took occasion to deny
the attorneys remarks in regard to-
members of the commission and the
donors of the land. He inquired the
reason for making panhandle of the
No. 4. district, and emitting the Kreis
addition and other property, and includ-
ing the Weyerhaeuser & Denkma1n
property. T. ]. Medill spoke further
in explanation of the problem, and
Mayor McCaskrin then explained his
position as mayor and chairman of
the board of local improvements.
Mayor is AstOnished.
The mayor said that he was amazed
at the state of affairs Indicated by the
affidavits presented. He assured the
committee that they would have his
support in the matter, and he would