Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-08
MAYOR FOR $500
SALOON LICENSE
Recommends That Council Add
S100 to Present Tax Paid
in This City.
Is URGING IMPROVEMENTS
Says Repaving of Business District
Should Be Carried Through
Without Delay.

Mayor G. w. McCaskrin presented
the following message at the meeting
Of the city council last evening:
Rock Island. Ill, Feb. ITO the
Honorable City Council, City of Rock
Island, In.-Gentlemen: 1 desire to
express my position upon number of
matters that are now before this city
and require your immediate attention.
: First, let me take up the matter of
revenues for the coming municipal
year.
This is the vital factor now to be
considered by the city to carry out the
proposed public improvements and sat
isfy the present expense of the city.
Inc order to increase the revenues Of
the city. believe after a careful can
vass, that there should be an amend
ment to the saloon license so that it
will be 5000 per annum instead of $500.
If this is done, it will give the city
$4,000 instead of $4,000. an increase
of $4,000. 1t would add greatly in de-
fraying current expenses for the en-
suing municipal year. This 1 would
recommend to you and will assist you
in perfecting the same.
Other Sources of Revenue.
Many other matters that are before
us suggested as revenue producers,
such as taxing telephones, wheel tax,
brewery tax, wholesalers of intoxicat-
IiOn0rC
cars, ETC., 1 am not as yet ready to
recommend until a more careful con-
sideration is given them.
Up to the present time we have ac-
complished much toward the proposed
public improvement for the next NUM-
cipal year. Among them we have set
tied the filter question and will be
ready to get to work by the first of
March
We have many water mains ready to
begin work upon, and others almost
completed for contract letting, such as
the Sixth ward water main, and the
Sixth ward sewer will be ready to be-
gin during the month Of March. A
number of pavements are ready as
soon as the season will permit the
work to begin, and we have some that
should be passed now
In the Seventh ward system, the
west half has passed the condemna-
ton period, all DIRECTORS having with
drawn their objections, and it is now
in the hands of commissioners for as
sessment and is rapidly reaching a con-
clusion
The east hall uf the Seventh ward
sewer system holds its public meeting
of property owners Feb. s, at 9 o'clock.
BUSINESS District Paving.
Particularly the Thirty-eighth street
pavement and the down town pavement
of the business districts should be car
ried to an immediate conclusion.
The uniform electric lighting of
streets, the oil inspectors ordinance.
etc, these all will be for the best in
terests of the city when completed.
Last, but not least, the extensions of
the Tri-City Railway company and the
possibility of securing a line that will
furnish interurban and steam railway
service to the factory district of the
city. The promptitude with which we
are able to handle these matters as
municipal UOuy, the LIOIS value VIC VIII
be to the city and more be able to have
this work proceed this year, for all of
these proposed improvements will have
to be laid cut by the different com
panies interested.
Telephone Situation.
The telephone question has not es
capped my attention, and we should by
all means get the telephone situation
Strengthened out in this city and give
the citizens first class service and es
tablish our relations as a city to these
companies upon business basis. AS
it is, we are helpless to do anything
but sit by and say nothing If ample
provisions are made by the company to
place these wires under ground by the
several electrical companies, it would
be a step in advance and give the peo-
pie much better service If the pave
ment proceeds in the down town dis
tricts. we can make the necessary ar
rangements to provide ample fire pro
lection by laying the water mains rec
commended by the Underwriters asso-
citation.
/ believe that these propositions
should be advanced with equal vigor,
and not delay one at the detriment of