Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-28
MR.. ALvORD HAS
A FINE RECORD
Engineer Who Advised on Local
Filter Contract Is Widely
Known.
ON IMPORTANT PUBLIC WoR
Will Not Return Here Again Unless
Officially Ordered to DO

In view OF the apparent attempt 70
discredit John w Alvora the hydradf
&c and sanitary engineeR in connec-
ton with his recommendation as to
I the awarding of -theSoontract for the
installation OF the proposed mechani-
cal filter. plant IN Reservoir park, the
public. might be interested to know
who this engineertfeally is, and in fact
q how foftunate the council has been in
: securing hisSserviees.
Engineer AKotds commenced his
work ass hydrauiics engineer in
<lsS6 !. In con STRUGGLING what is
now, 5parts- off the Chicago water
works Hyde Park pumping station, in
e1uding the tunnel under Lake Michi-
gan.
gineer of Lake View, district now
annexed To- the ~city of Chicago. and
during that time. had charge of de-
signing the construction of the drain
age-system, the sewerage. system AMI
the. auiarge-nent eof the water supply
and the protection o.. the lake shore
and other municipal Improvements.
Yearsan Europeap study.
fsIn 1858 he visited EArope. and Spent
"a yeah there studyingsthe subject Of
water filteratfon and river regulations.
From 1889 toyI89p he was engaged in
the general. practice of hydraulics and
designed -yater.works for cities in this
and adjoining, states.
From 1890 to- 1893 he had charge of
the department os constructing the
Z Worlds Columbian Exposition at Chi
.cago. having more particularly in his
charge the dredging Of. the lagoons
and docking and other water connec-
tons. from 1894 he has been in the
general practice as hydraulic and
sanitary engineer.
On Illinois, Canal.
Among other work he has been CON
suIting enginserzof the canal commits
sion of the statesof Illinois on matters
connected with water power and the
regulation of s the Desplaines river
channel. and in connection with this
work has studied ,the<FoS ,Desplaines
and illinois rivers. He has also been
colsulting engineer for the city Of Co
IuInbus, Ohio, and designed its sewer
system. He has lately been engaged
IN designing a plant of the water SUP
ply of Des Moines, iowa. ~
He recently completed gthe improy-
ing of the water supply of Grand
Rapids, Mich, from Lake Michigan,
and was consulting engineers of the
United States Steel corporation for the
construction of the city of Gary, Ind,
having more particularly under mis-
charge the water supply, tunnel and
drainage system of that city.
Called to various States.
In the practice of his profession Mr..
,Alvord has been called to do work in
various parts of the country, including
Maine, Connecticut, Georgia, Virginia,
Ohio Michigan. Missouri, Minnesota
and Washington. He is regarded by
men of his profession as in all proba-
bility the leading and best qualified
hydraulic and sanitary engineer in the
country today. His reputation is such
that he is constantly in demand for
consultation and as an expert in his
line of work.
Mr.. AIvord's stand.
Mr.. AIvord, who Is now at his home
in Chicago, announced today that he
would not return for the meeting Of
the local city council next Monday
evening unless he was officially Or
dered to do so. Therefore if it is the
purpose of the council to sidetrack
Mr. Alvord and thereby make the way
easy for another company that is seek
ing to land the contract at any cost
or hazard, 1t simply has to fail to no
tify him to be on hand next Monday.
The taxpayers, Of course, will expect