Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-10
Care of Side Streets in Bust
ness Section Appears to
Be Up to Council.
COMPANY is RETIRING
Offers Horses and Equipment to
Rock Island and Moline-Cobb
House Condemned.

to keep a car in commission free of
charge along the streets and ave-
nues on which it operates, has de-
cided to quit business, and has Of
fered its equipment for sale to both
the cities of Rock Island and Mo-
line.
The Rock Island city council at a
meeting last evening heard the prop
osition of j. H. Stoddard, manager of
the Tri-City Sprinkling company.
THE equipment of his company con-
sists Of four wagons and seven
horses. His offer to the city is on
a basis of $500. Mr.. Stoddard
said that he would expect a definite
answer from the council here before
next Monday night, as at that time
the Moline council would be heard
from on a similar proposition from
his company.
Committee Fails to Agree.
A committee that was appointed
by the local council to investigate
the equipment of the sprinkler COM
pany and report a recommendation,
failed to agree, and suggested that
the whole matter be brought before
the council body for settlement. The
Tri-City Sprinkler company, Mr..
Stoddard stated, had never made
money here and was glad to retire
| from the business. He was frank |
to say he doubted whether the city, |
if it made charge for the service, |
providing it took over the equipment |
of his company, would find the en-
terprise profitable. But, as he saw |
it, there was a duty confronting the |
council with reference to the side
streets, inasmuch as it had taken
care of the thoroughfares traversed
by the Tri-Cdty Railway company
lines by an arrangement with the
latter company. 1t was explained
by the mayor that Rock Island was
differently situated than Davenport,
as there was law in Iowa that gave
power to municipalities to levy a
tax for sprinkling purposes. This
was done in Davenport. Illinois had
no such law. He suggested, how
ever, that the council here might
pass an ordinance fixing rates for
sprinkling, and collect against the
benefited property.
Believes City should Collect.
1t was decided to hold a commit |
tee of the whole meeting of the coun-
Gil Thursday evening, at which time
Mr.. Stoddard promised to have his
horses and wagons in front of the
city hall for inspection by the alder
men. At that meeting it is expected
the council will take final action by ]
either accepting or rejecting the Of ]
fer of the sprinkler company. In
discussing the charge for sprinkling
Mr rd NJ rnrhy
city should not collect for the work !
done by the Tri-City Railway COM
pany. Alderman LaVanway answer
ed that the sprinkling done by the /
railway company was for the bene- l
fit of the city as whole. Mr.. Stod-
dard disagreed with him. AS he I'M
derstood the situation, the railway
company had bargained with the coun-
Gil, and that the latter was to fur S
nish water free on condition the
sprinkler service would be without
cost. The property was benefited the 1
same as under the old arrangement
when charge was collected. He be-
lieved it legitimate source of rev.
enue to the city and ought to be 1
realized. Were this done, it would
be easier to collect for the service {
by wagon on the side streets. If :
the city began sprinkling free on the T
side streets in the business district G
citizens whose property lay in the I
residence section had a right to de-
mand the same accommodation from
the council. c
Old House Condemned. =
The council condemned and or &
dered RACED the old Cobb house. sit U
uated in the alley at the rear of the 2
postoffice on Sixteenth street. The Q
following ordinance was adopted:
Section 1. That, whereas a certain q
building known as the old Cobb house,
situated on the east part of lot 8, in
block II, in old town in the city OF
Rock Island, county of Rock Island
and state of Illinois, for some time
past has been the resort of disreputable
characters; is thoroughly impregnated p
With germs of contagious and infeS P
ious diseases; is centrally located in P
he business district of the said city II
md is so dilapidated by reason of its s
I'D age that in its present state of H
1t is liable to catch fire s.
nd start confagration is unfit for F
human habitation; is extremely detri- p
mental and dangerous to the health o
f the citizens and residents OF said p
ity; is a constant menace to all per- E
ons in the alley passing it; therefore, In
nd by reason of all which, the said
uilding is hereby declared a public
uisance and condemned to destruc- ST
ion as such, as hereinafter provided Sc
Section 2. That the superintendent
f streets, health commissioner and
h;af 80 fha 6ra dana rtu,onf shall foar
own or cause to be torn down said
uilding. They shall. moreover. who'll NJ
? destroy by fire all the debris i'm at
regnated with contagious disease ar
erms and not capable OF a thorough OF
nd successful disinfection. RI
Appropriation Ordinance Passed. Nj
The appropriation ordinance, appor- tn