Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-13
CALL ALvORD To
PASS ON FILTERS
Commissioners Decide on Two
Tests of New Plant Be-
fore Acceptance.
MUST PROVE PROMISES
City Attorney Witter Answers Rail-
way Query as to Who Are
Officials.

At an informal session at the COM
mission this morning he new filter
plant was discussed at considerable
length, and it was finally decided TO
submit it TO two thorough tests be-
fore accepting it from the builders.
Commission er NJ. T. Rudgren sug-
gested that a competent engineer be
employed TO inspect the plant and
make a report as to its physical con-
dition and structure before a final
settlement is made with the contrac-
tors. This is to be the first test ap-
piled TO the filter. The second will
ination of the output of the filter by a
bacteriologist- If it stands both tests
the plant will be accepted and bal
ance due paid over to the Pittsburg
Filter Manufacturing company.
TO REENGAGE ALVoRD.
II was the decision of the commits
sion that Engineer John w. Alvord of
Chicago be secured if possible to in
spect the filter plant. Mr.. Alvord is
thoroughly familiar with the plans and
specifications of the structure, as 1t
was he who passed upon the bids and
recommended that the proposition Of
the Pittsburg company be accepted
He is very busy, however, and some
doubt exists as to whether he can be
induced to make the test. In case he
does the commissioners feel assured
that they can rely absolutely upon his
finding.
DELAY TEST RUN.
The plan of the commission is to
delay the 30-day test run until after
the engineer has made his report If
possible the run will not be made IN
til in June, at which time the river
will be muddy and in the worst condi-
ton that it will be in at any time in
the year. If the test then shows that
the filter will turn out 100000 gal
Ions of pure water each day, there
will be no further doubt as to its full
filling the claims made for it by it's
builders. The commission considered
also this morning, the purchase of
two large meters, one to show the
output of the plant and another to
show what per cent of this has to be
used in washing out the filters after
liltg ClOS up II Was pOlnIcu Out ludl
such meters might be borrowed to
be used when the test run is being
made, but in the opinion of Commi>>
sioner RudgreR and the others as well,
the city ought to have them all the
time so as to be able to regulate the
output exactly and not permit it to
be guessed at or merely estimated.
DETERMINE CITY OFFICIALS.
The commission, in response to the
request of the Tri-City Railway COM
Dany, has practically determined who
are city officials and who are to be
accorded the privilege of passes upon
the street cars.
lnasmuch as the commission law is
strict on this point the railway COM
Dany decided to get within the statute |
at once, as failure to observe the law !
grounds for forfeiture of
City Attorney }. F.. Wit |
er gave as his opinion of who are city /
officials the following: The mayor and |
he four commissioners, city clerk, |
,ity treasurer, city attorney, police !
men and firemen in uniform, superin-
eudent of streets, health commission
er, health officer, police matron, DO
ice magistrate, plumbing inspector,
superintendent of waterworks, and
he city engineer.