Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-19
STRICT BUILDING
LAWS PROPOSED
May Be Necessary Hereafter to
File ALI Plans With the
Council.
AS is DONE ELSEWHERE
New Ordinance offered by Alderman
Frick-About Ready to Pur-
chase Fire Alarm System.

Compared to other cities of similar
size, Rock Island has been lax in its
fire district building regulations, and
a start has been made looking to the
passage Of an ordinance that will sup
plant the present obsolete law.
AT the meeting of the council last
evening Alderman H. J. Frick offered
rough draft of an ordinance that he
advocated for adoption. 1t provides
that no wooden structures shall be
erected in the fire district; that plans
Of all proposed buildings be fled with
the city council for inspection before
consideration is given a permit, and
that all plans be prepared by licensed
architects. The suggestions of Alder
man Frick were ordered referred to
the ordinance committee with instruc-
tons to have them put in form for
passage by the council.
Considering Fire Alarm Bids.
The fire and light and finance COM
mittees are considering the PROPOSE
tions from the GameweH and Signal
phone company for the installation of
new automatic fire alarm system in
favorable recommendation to offer at
the next meeting of the council. 1t is
stated that the financial arrangements
have practically been effected where
by the improvement can be secured
Immediately with small yearly pay
ments. Both of the bidding companies,
in their proposals to the council, Of
fered to divide the purchase price in
three annual installments, executing a
bill of sale at the end of the third
year upon payment of a nominal bal
ance, providing the apparatus had met
representations. The aldermen are
about unanimous in favor of Install
ing the needed system without further
delay.
Burned House Condemned.
Upon recommendation of George
Newberry chief of the fire department, !
a partially burned house at Third
street and Seventh avenue, owned by
Norris & Lewis, was condemned by |
the council and ordered removed. 1t |
is not only an eyesore, but is a men
ace to adjoining property, inasmuch /
as there appears a determination on
the part of unknown persons, sup
posed to be residents Of the neighbor-
hood, to destroy by fire what remains
of the building. The fire department
was called out three times in one
night to fight incendiary blazes in the
ruins.
Money Is Available.
With the exception of Alderman G.
L. Schmid, all members of the coun-
ell including the mayor and clerk, |
signed a resolution, prepared by the
banks, guaranteeing payment of a
$4,000 join loan advanced by the local
banks to meet current expenses. The
loan is to be repaid out of the annual
revenues. OF the $65,000 the State
bank advances $4,000, and the Rock
Island Savings, Rock Island National,
Peoples National and the Central Trust |
and Savings $4,000 each.
NeiEhbors stu Up I'm Arms.
Several persons whose homes are in |
the neighborhood Of the Taxman junk
yard on Fourth avenue between Fiji |
teenth and Sixteenth streets addressed |
the council in condemnation of the
continuance Of what they termed |
menace to the health and peace Of the |
locality. It was decided to take final |
action on the protesting petition at
the next meeting Of the council.
Dog Tax Collections.
1t was reported that dog tax to the
amount of $517 had been collected up |
to July 16.
On a resolution offered by Alder |
man Charles Borst, the Tri-City Rail- |
way company was ordered to reduce |
the number of poles it has on Seventh |
avenue between Forty-fift and Forty
sixth streets.
Payment OF s6,942.70 to the Pitts
burg Filter Manufacturing company,
representing the third installment OF
its contract, was authorized.