Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-26
CITY ATTORNEY
INSTRUCTED TO
Get. JUDGMENT
Commission Takes Active Steps
Toward Improving the Side
walk Situation.
REDUCE THE WATER RATES
Ordinance Adopted Providing Mini.
mum Yearly Figure to be Low
cred From SIP to SO.

Dennlte action toward improving |
the sidewalk situation in Rock Island |
was taken at the weekly meeting of
the city commission yesterday after !
noon. City Attorney j. F. Witter was
authorized to go into county court and
secure Judgment against property own
ers for large number of contemplate
ed walks, for which ordinances have
been passed.
The commission is especially anxi-
Gus to have the conditions on the hill
between Twentieth and Thirtieth
streets and from Sixteenth to Eigh-
teenth avenues remedied. A big ordi-
nance covering this entire district was
favorably acted on some time ago,
along with a large number of small
jobs. In some cases the property own
ers urged that the city take no action,
as they expected to lay the walks
themselves, but in large majority of
instances this has not been done and
now the council is anxious to secure
the necessary judgment in county
can be made without further delay.
CUT METER RATES.
An ordinance providing for slight
| reduction in water meter rates was
considered and finally adopted. 1t was
offered by Commissioner NJ. T. Rud-
gren and is the same measure which
was under consideration some time
ago, except that it does not provide
| for churches, schools and other public
! institutions paying for water used.
Commissioner Rudgren took the posi-
ton that all users of water, especially
| schools, churches and institutions of
like character should pay for water
! service, but could not secure sufficient
support for the proposition and there
fore was forced to eliminate it. The
minimum yearly rate is cut from $12
to 50 and the water bills will hereaf-
| ter be made out in cubic feet instead
of gallons, in order to conform to the
readings of the meter. Previously the
readings have been taken in cubic
feet and reduced to gallons for the
consumers statement, ~necessitating
/ N.
plan, the bills will be made out in
cubic feet, thereby giving the patron
an opportunity to compare the meter
reading with the statement from the
city clerks Office The reduced rates
will be effective at once.
The city was authorized to purchase
. $500 feet of hose for the fire depart
I 10
partment, through a resolution offered
by Commissioner Archie Hart Provi
sion was also made for Chief George
, w. Newberry to attend the fire chiefs
/ national meeting in New York City the
latter part of the week, at the city's
= expense.
G. Alfoid appeared before the coun
Gil relative to having his salary paiC
during the time he has been indisposeC
as the result of an accident June 16
when employed by the waterworks de
partment. Under the provisions of thu
workmen's compensation act, the cit!
is forced to remunerate employees in
jured while in discharge of their du
ties. The matter was laid over unit
the next meeting.
ELECTION FUND.
The sum of 81 500 was ordered TAX
! en- from the contingent fund and plac
r ed in the election fund by resolution
Y offered by Commissioner Rudgrer
: which was adopted. This will provid
: for the expenses of the approaching
r bond vote on Sept II.
The appointment of Miss Ina F
Stone as second deputy city clerk wa
= confirmed by the council. She is a
e experienced stenographer. WilIiar
Wynn was awarded the contract TO
). the construction of a shed and hos
Z tower at the city barns on Sixth ave
nue. between Ninth and Tenth street!
!: PRESENTS CLAIM.
A resolution providing for the il
crease in salary of several employs
! of the waterworks department was il
troduced by Commissioner Jonas Beal
? but action was deferred S. J. Woodi
presented a claim for $75 against tn
city, claiming that sum due him b,
cause of sewer which he laid at b
property on the strength of what tn
city proposed TO do. Later the cit
changed its mind about installing tn
4 mains, making the improvement {
i Mr. Woodin dead loss to him. Tt
matter was taken under advisemen
Next Monday being Labor day, res
luton was passed providing for tn
weeks session to be held Tuesday a
ternoon at o'clock