Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-19
SEEKS WIDENING
OF ninth AVENUE
DR.. John Taylor Addresses
Council in Effort to Insti-
tute Movement.
WOULD Benefit OWNERS
Ordinance for Improvement of Sec
ond Avenue Is Adopted-To
Start Proceedings.

Seeking to start litigation which
will eventually result in the widening
of Ninth avenue between Seventeenth
and Twentieth streets, DR.. John Tay-
lor, one of the owners of extensive
holdings along that thoroughfare, ad-
dressed the city commission yesterday
afternoon, asking that condemnation
proceedings and benefit assessments
be instituted by the city. 1t Is the de-
sire of DR.. Taylor, as we'll as Of other
property owners along the street in
question, to widen the street between
the points mentioned to width of 60
feet, twice its width today. He said
that by so doing, property owners will
be benefited and the city will have
an avenue which will be the only
straight one between Twelfth and
Twenty-fifth streets, and north Of Sew
enth avenue. At present, owners OF
property east of Nineteenth street for
a half block have no sidewalks front
ing their property, a street which is
not wide enough, and oft times so
much mud and water that it is impossi-
BILE to cross. The only solution for
the Kidding of the difficulty is the wild
ening of the avenue, a measure which
has been advocated for many years.
PROCEDURE UNCONSTITUTIONAL
City Attorney Witter stated that 1t
would probably be impossible to start
condemnation proceedings and assess
benefits at the same time, as the stat
utes governing such measures have
been declared unconstitutional. To
condemn the property and then have
the city pay for it at so much per
front foot, would possibly be impracti
cable, unless the owners agree to rea
sonable compromise for the improve
ment. 1t is measure which will un
doubtedly benefit them and which will
give the city an avenue which will be
credit to it. Eventually, it is the
hope of the owners to secure paving
along the avenue. With one exception
an old barn-there are no buildings
on the property which would be con
demned, and no trees have been sci
north of the line. Very little difficulty
would be experienced in converting q
portion of the front yards into street
fronting their property with goot
sidewalk and enhancing by many pei
cent, the value of the property.
WILL HOLD A MEETING.
In order to bring the matter to ;
head, or to learn the sentiment of thu
property owners, DR.. Taylor was in
structed, on suggestion of Commission
er Hart to arrange for meeting to b.
held in the mayors Office at any tim
which would suit the convenience o
the. property owners. 1t Is the inten
ton of the city to secure the sentimen
of the people along the south line o
the avenue in regard to what propos
ton they are willing to make to tn
city, and then to invite the north sic
ers into the matter, for they, while re
linquishing no property rights, receiv
as much benefit as those whose proper
/, ty is condemned.
AN ORDINANCE FOR WIDENING.
An ordinance for the widening G
Second avenue between Twenty-thir
and Twenty-fourth streets was consiC
cred and adopted by the commission
The purpose of the ordinance is I
bring about court procedure for tn
condemnation of the strip Of land IL
volved and. to widen the avenue to II
> proper width. The property in que
ton is owned and occupied by Morri
& Lewis. The cost Of the condemns
ton proceedings will rest upon tn
Burlington road for whom a portion {
the avenue was given for trackage pu
poses. At present that portion of tn
: avenue is too narrow to allow the pa.
sage of teams. City Attorney White
, was instructed to begin court proc
I dure at once. The matter will prob
: bly, be taken up at the next term I
. court
ANOTHER STREET PROBLEM.
Another problem for street improv