Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-04

L nave always DelleVeu tnat the city is
in duty bound to keep its streets clean,
and the pavements repaired ana to-
ward this end the committee on streets
and alleys should make it special
effort to see that their part in the ad-
ministratiOn of affairs is carried out
The sidewalks of the city thai have
been built in the past Cow years are
uniform and in keeping with modern
progress and the greatest advancement
that can be made to new a EDITIONS is
by building uniform sidewalks 1t is
not fair to the property who have built
sidewalks for their neighbors to es-
cape the responsibility of providing
walks in front of their premises and
the city will never arrive at a degree .
of beauty and cleanliness that we all ,
expect until the sidewalk system in |
this city has been completed
Park System Extension.
THE parks of this city are credit !
and an accomplishment that bids fair
to excel cut sister cities in its advance
ment. Much of this has been Tue to
| the untiring efforts on the part of the
park board which was Great ri under
my preceding administration. and it
should not be forgotten that great
credit should be given this board as
well as the liberal donations Oh the
part of our citizens toward his pur-
lroSe. The city has always taken the
part of a helper in this movement and
now after the completion of beautiful
Long View park, the Seventh avenue
boulevard. two new parks are before
lus for development. A beautiful
square donated in the western part ur
the city by philanthropic citizens de-
serves great credit, and yet it remains
now for the city to beautify this tract
Iof ground. In the eastern part of the
city ready hands and willing hearts
have taken up the proposition of pur-
lchasing and developing % acre tract
Iof ground which. when developed, will
balance by reason of its natural top.;-
lgraphy the beauty of Long View park,
and | recommend to you that every
possible means be used to make this
new park what it should be-a lasting
monument of public spirited citizen
ship. standing there for generations to
lcome, preparation where the bows
and girls, rich and poor alike can
come in touch with nature and enjoy
the freedom and foresight of those
who have served their time and given
of their means and energy to future
generations.
Here let me say that the spirit of
giving TO our educational institutions
and parks that is the life and object of
good men and women possessed with
means is to me-iS to us allan eyi.
dence of good will toward this city
land should not be passed over lightly,
should be encouraged and | for one
extend to them and those who have
given so literally toward this purpose
good cheer and live in the hope that
others abiding in the city will lead on
and make this city pride 10 us in
civic beauty. a pleasure to those who
+ come among us.
Il shall present an ordinance for
j the establishment of an official re
i porter for this council during the ad
ministration.
MUST have PURE water.
; The water works department is an
other branch of city government thai
demands your earnest efforts to place
1t on basis where it should be. Pure
y clean water at a reasonable cost is the
l crying demand of every home in oul
midst, and by all means let this coun
Gil and this administration never give
up until we have furnished pure clear
water to the citizens.
Il believe in fact, have always be
llieved that a board of commission
should be created to take this depart
Il ment over and aid in it's DEVELOPMENT
5 1t is too big to be allowed to drift il
u any one channel, for it concerns tn,
l. lives of every man. woman and chic
Il in this city, every business institutio,
i is concerned, and united effort onl,
on the part of the business organiza
5 tons of the city acting in harmon,
5 with the whole people will bring abou
}, the results.
II The police department deserve
II consideration at your hands, and tn,
c learnestness that you devote towart
|
/ a success depends upon you
Urges Civil Service
Il wish to state as a measure tina
. will cover the several departments O
the city, the fire, the police. the waite
works, in fact every branch of the cit,
c government, is that establishing civi
I, service in each and every brancn
e. What you may think of this matte
Y, and of this recommendation am no
IL at present advised, but let me urg.
I, your Investigations of the same.
West End Track Problem.
Another measure that | must cal
. your attention. to again is that of trans
y portation facilities. The merchants O
this city are waiting patiently. waitin
for time when the city council an
\ its executives will take up the ques
. tion of adjusting this matter. We mus