Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-08
CITY'S FINANCIAL
CONDITION never
BETTER Than NOW
Will Owe Less, Proportionate-
ly, Than Neighbors, Even If
Bonds Garry.
SOME HAVE WRONG IDEA
Fiscal Affairs Well Administered and
Every Dollar Must Be Strictly
Accounted for.

Rock Island is not q bad town.
1t has been unfortunate in harboring
number of unusually active and in
credibly selfish people, who for politi-
cal or other reasons have gone over
the community with fine tooth comb
and raked up and kept in the public
view the hideous and nauseous things
which in an ordinary city are scrupu-
lous hidden beneath the surface.
This has hurt Rock Island abroad, 1t
must be confessed, and even here at
home, where we know, or should be
aware of the motives which have
prompted such morbid enterprises, it
has given many a veneer of cynicism
which they are not at sufficient pains
to conceal when Rock Island affairs
are under discussion.
/ In our innermost hearts, however,
we know Rock Island is one of the
| best towns on the map and its peo-
pie are, if no better, at least no worse
/ than those of other cities And If any
real peril in the form of an avowed
enemy from abroad should ever men
ace us we would stand shoulder to
shoulder and put up fight for our
| city and our homes that would com
mand the worlds cordial respect.
NOT IN FINANCIAL STRAITS.
Among other misinformation which
has been industriously peddled is the
statement that the city is in dire
financial straits. Perhaps this impress
sion has been retained by some since
the time a few years back when Rock
Island was up to its limit in bonded
Indebtedness. This has been the sit
uation a number of times in the city's
history, but it is not now. 1t has beer
found necessary at various times to is
sue bonds for improvements, but these
have matured and been paid off II
due time till now Rock Island has out
standing only $4,000 in bonds, will
$4,000 on deposit at Springfield t
take up paper to that amount which
will soon mature. The last of thest
Twill be retired in 1917, four year
hence, being paid out OF the regula
revenues.
To the city's Indebtedness should b.
added $4,000 in water certificate
which are being retired from the rev
enues of the water department an
will all be paid off by 1922. Prof.
erty is not taxed to meet these.
Adding together all the city's liz
bilities, floating and otherwise, W
are still approximately $4,000 belov
, the constitutional limit, which
fixed by law at a conservative PEI
centage OF the assessed valuation {
property. Should all the bond issue
| which the people will vote. upon carr
at the special election next Thursda
the city would remain 100000 belo'
/ the limit.
81 We would be considerably better o
S than Moline, which is bonded pract
/ cally to the limit, and Dayenpol
which owes, in round figures, one mi
lion dollars.
DOES NOT MEAN INCREASE.
Having a comparatively light il
debtedness Rock Island also has
:. lower tax rate than the majority
: cities of it's class in Illinois. Furthe
s more, the fact should not be lost sigi
n of that the voting of the bonds no
o before the people does not necessaril
a mean any increase in taxes, becaus
S payments have been so arranged thi
J. they can be conveniently met out
i the regular revenues.
Get it out of your head, if you haJ