Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-27
START BIG new
SEWER IN SPRING
Ordinance for First Section of
Seventh Ward System Now.
s Before Court.
WILL COST ABOUT $4,000
Second Division Will Probably BE
Built Coming SHmner--Bluff
Association Meets.

1t is expected that construction Of
the west or first section of the pro-
jected Seventh ward sewer system will
be begun early the coming spring.
The ordinance, carrying an estimate
of Sos. 900, to be raised by special taxi
ton against the benefited property,
has been passed by the city council,
and now it goes before the county
court for final hearing and approval.
1t is not believed there will be any
serious objection from the owners Of
the assessed property. The need Of
the improvement is generally recog
nized in the ward, and it has long been
sought.
The Improvement was discussed at
meeting of the Bluff Improvement
association held last evening. Mayor
G. w. McCaslrin was present, as was
City Attorney ]. F. Witter. and they
explained the legal status of the pro
ceedings carrying the improvement.
"a CouneIr Passes Ordinance.
The ordinance for the first section
of. the. system provides for the drain-
ing of the territory between Thirtieth
and Thirty-eighth streets and Fifth %
Eighteenth avenues. The second sec
ton embraces the territory from Sew
enth to Eighteenth avenues and be-
tween Thirty-eighth and Forty-siXrh
streets. Approximately this portion os
the ward Improvement will cost S74,-
600. A former estimate resulted in
refusal to confirm the assessment roll
in the county court, owners of the af-
fected property maintaining that the
work could be done at a more reasona-
BILE cost. They want the sewer sys-
tenn, but they expect to get it at fair
figure. A new ordinance and a re-
vised estimate are to be prepared. 1t
is hoped to begin work on the second
section during next summer.
Rebate Money to Park FUND
The association at its meeting last
evening took action looking to the col
lection of paving rebate amounting
to about $500 from the Tri-City Rail-
way company as a result of its Occu-
pancy of Fourteenth avenue with n
new switch track. 1t is proposed -
apply the rebate money to the East
End park fund. .,.-+
Assessments Not EqualiEcd.
H. NJ. McCaskrin responded to an
invitation to address the association
on the subject of General Taxation"
He produced statistics showing that
property owners of this city were pay
ing a rate far in excess of that i'm
posed in other cities of similar popula-
ton He charged that the assessment
here was not equable; that many Of
those well able to pay in proportion o
their possessions were scaled, while
the less fortunate were made to shout
der the burden to supply the deficit
due to partially in the ratings fixed
by the assessors.
Getting Together on Grade.
1t was said at the meeting that the
property owners were about agreed on
grade for Thirty-eighth street. which
there have been efforts made to pave
for years. each move meeting with
defeat because of the differences IF
opinion as to what the grade, particu-
larly of the block between Seventh and
Eighth avenues. should be. Mayor
McCaskrin stated that. it was likely
that the board of local improvements
would report a new ordinance for the
paving of Thirty-eighth street at the
next meeting of the council.