Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-05


one of the possible improvements of
the construction season of 1907, but
when all the property owners waived
their objections, the way was cleared
for this desirable improvement, for
which the contract was accordingly
let and the Improvement completed at
a cost of approximately $4,000. The
amount charged against the city for
general benefits was about $4,000, and
this sum, with the unexpected costli-
ness of the No. 2 district sewer sys-
TEN, precluded the possibility of max
ing the improvement in the fire de-
partment referred to heretofore.
The building of the No. 2 sewer,
providing drainage for the territory
between Ninth and Eighteenth ave-
nues and Eleventh and Fifteenth
streets, was completed at the begin
ming of the present year at cost of
approximately $4,000, some $1,000
above the original estimate of the cost,
the extra expense being due to unex-
pectedly large amount of work which
had to be blasted in order to insure
proper fall, and which, according to
the contract, was charged to the city
and payable from the general fund.
Over 200 residents have already been
attached to this sewer system, which
affords immediate relief to the district
it was designed to serve, and also re-
lieves the drainage situation in the
west end of the city by diverting the
storm waters which heretofore have
taxed the Fifth avenue sewer beyond
its capacity with resulting complaints
OF the nuisances caused by the backing
of the contents of the drain into the
cellars and low lots in the western
section of the city and sending them
to the river via the ---eyenth street
lateral.
Aside from these improvements the
municipality during the past year, ex-
pended considerable sums in the grad
ing of Ninth avenue and Twenty fifth
street by the filling of the open ditch
which for years had been a menace
to traffic in that section and by the
laying of tile drain to carry off the
storm waters and to drain the city's
property on the hills. In addition the
city built drain along the north side
of Long View park and connected
ii with the new No. district sewer,
thus providing for the proper drainage
of the park and removing the just
grievance of the people of the vicin-
ity, whose cellars were frequently
flooded by the storm waters from the
park. Both improvements were made
by city labor. under the direction of
the street commissioner and plumbing
Inspector at considerable saving to
the city, the cost being several hun
dred dollars below the figures sub
mitted by contractors when bids were
called for
The work of extending the system
of permanent walks to all parts of the
city was prosecuted energetically dur
ing the past season. About $4,000
was spent for this form OF improve
ment in the Third and Seventh wards.
Many property owners in the Second
and Seventh wards are now building
walks and the walks in those wards
which are not provided for by private
contract will be included in sidewalk
ordinances which will be submitted to
your honorable body at an early date.
Another notable improvement ac-
complished during the past year was
the rebuilding of the bridge over the
Sears canal The structure having be-
jcome defective and the necessity of
rebuilding having become imperative,
Messrs. T. B. and S. S. Davis and
their associates generously agreed to
share in the cost of the structure
ample to meet the probably require
lments of future traffic, including in
lterurban railways. In accordance
I with the agreement entered into be-
tween the city and the gentlemen
mentioned a new 152 foot steel bridge
the city paid one-fourth. This com
lpletes the removal of the bridges al
the city's southern gateway, with the
exception of the narrow short spar
bridge north of the Hennepin cana
which must be rebuilt before it car
be used by interurban roads.
81 1t also affords me pleasure to
chronicle the practical completion o
the permanent improvement of Ions
! View park under the careful super
vision of the park commissioners ant
their superintendent, C. F. Gaetjer
! Some $4,000 has been expended IL
the building of drives, pavilions ant
) lakes. The work included the installa
tion of a magnificent fountain pre-
Stsented by the Misses Naomi and Cath
erine Davenport as a memorial t
their uncle, the late Mayor Bale.
Davenport of this city. Half Of tn
money required for permanent i'm
Improvement was appropriated by tn
. lefty council while the balance wa
Z lcontributed by public spirited cit
. lzens, in, every walk of life. The par
< twill be dedicated in June when tn
z lattention of our people will be direc
Sled to the opportunities for pleasur
< lmade possible by the generosity c
3 1.-THE donors of the tract, Frederic
Z lWeyerhaeuser, the T. J. Robinson e'
Sltate and the late Morris Rosenfiel
Z land the late Charles H. Deere.