Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-18
Ordinances for Three Special
Assessment Works Are ADOPT
ed by the Council.
FILTER PLANT SUGGESTED
Mayor Suggests Committee to lnvesti-
gate-SidewaIk Contractors
Must Give a Bond.

IntnJ matters pGlHClpdiiS, dIlOi5 otliSi
things considered being an improved
filtration system for the city water
works plant; a water main system fof
the Second ward; the opening of an
alley in block 81, Chicago or Lower
addition; the paving of Fifteenth street
between First and Second avenues,
and the laying of water mains on
Thirty-ninth and Fortieth streets be-
tween Fourteenth and Eighteenth av-
enues. and on Eighteenth avenue to
connect the two lines.
Ordinances for the opening of the
alley, the paving of Fifteenth strees,
and the extension of the water mains
on The hill in the southeastern part of
the city, were adopted. The city en-
gineer estimates the cost of the open
ing of the alley from Seventh street
to be S16O. the cost of the paving is
estimated at $2,542.50, and the water
main extension will cost $500. All
of the work is TO be done by special
assessment.
As to Filter Plant.
The filter system question was
brought before the meeting by Mayor
Schaffer. who read a communication
from the Pittsburg Filter Manufacture
ing company. The mayor. while i'll
the east last summer, took occasion to
investigate a number of mechanical
filter systems, and he is DESTROYS that
the council take the matter up, and
make an investigation. He suggests
that q committee be named to go 10
LGrain, Ohio, or some other city where
Il mechanical filter has been recently
installed, and make an examination Of
the system, and report to the council.
The mayors plan is for the installa
ton of a filter adjoining the water
works pumping station. to filter the
water as it is pumped from the river.
This filter would act as an auxiliary
filter and would replace the Jewell
filter placed there by Hon. Ben T. Ca
BILE which at some time in its history
disappeared.
For Water Main system.
The board of local Improvements
was instructed, by a resolution offered
by Alderman Utke, TO take steps at
once to build a water main system in
the Second ward, by special assess
ment.
Delegates Report.
The members of the examining board
of plumbers, Plumbing Inspector Yer
bury, Health Commissioner DR.. Ralph
Dart. and Colonel w T. Channon. who
were sent to Chicago to attend the
convention of The Society of Inspec-
tors and Sanitary Engineers, made a
report. The delegates mentioned sew
eral of the topics of discussion at the
convention which have special inter-
est here, including public comfort sta
tions, septic tank regulations. and con-
tinuous drinking fountains in the pub
lie school buildings, and made various
recommendations regarding the appli-
cation of the suggestions of authorities
at the convention. In concluding the
report states that it became evident
that Rock Island has reason to be
proud of its plumbing and sanitary
laws, as they are complete except as
TO few minor details which can cas-
lily be remedied.
Want the Ordinance.
A petition signed by "a taxpayers
was presented, asking for the adoption
of an electrical inspector ordinance
Alderman McNealy presented a new
ordinance creating the office of cleo
trical inspector, and this was referred
to the city attorney, and will be be
fore the aldermen at the next meeting
The ordinance offered by Alderman
McNealy is not greatly different from
that recently rejected by the council
except as to the police powers dele
gated to the inspector.
Must Furnish Bonds.
An ordinance was adopted to compe
sidewalk contractors to furnish a bon,
of $4,000 to the city 10 protect tn,
city against damages which may fol
low as a result of the construction o
walks. The bond required is similar t
that required of plumbing firms ant
other contractors who work on tn
streets and thereby create the posi-
bility of liability for damages in cas-
OF accident.
Will Meet Friday.
General Manager Brat of the UniOl
Electric Telephone e. Telegraph con
pany urged the council to again TAX
up the proposed amendment to tn
company's franchise ordinance. an
the aldermen voted to meet in con
mittee of the whole Friday evening t
consider this matter and the sugge'
tion of Mayor Schaffer relative to il
vestigating the filter system question
Mr.. Bratt suggested that the examiI
alton of the company's finances be LEI
to the finance committee of the coul
Gil, rather than that the compan
spread its books open to the worlC
and explained the reasons for the r,