Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-04
MAYOR IS URGING
MUNICIPAL BEACH
ON LARGE SCALE
Wants Congressman Tavenner
to Get Government Con-
sent to Use Sand Bar.
OPPOSES PLAN OF BEAR
Resolution Providing for $3.50 Expend-
iture for Dressing Room at
Seventh Street Carries.

The municipal bathing beach PROPOSE
ton came up again at the meeting OF
the city commission yesterday after
noon. and by vote of four to one.
Mayor H. NJ. Schriver alone opposing.
resolution passed providing that a
locker room, not to exceed $3.50 in cost,
be constructed at the foot of Seventh
street for the accommodation of the
bathers.
Mayor Schriver explained his posi-
ton by declaring that he thought the
city, if e beach was to be esta blished,
should select a more suitable site, and
suggested that the sand bar in the
Mississippi, just this side of the gov
eminent bridge, would be the ideal
location for the project.
Commissioner NJ. T. Rudgren faith
cred the beach idea at the council
meeting a week ago. He mentioned
the fact that considerable grading was
being done on Seventh street at the
present time. and the dirt could be
used in making a beach, such as the
city has long needed.
Bear for Beach.
The matter was referred to Commits
sioner Jonas Bear. who reported yes
terday afternoon that he saw no rea-
son why the beach should not be es-
tablished at the place suggested. He
stated he had visited Prospect park,
Moline, and found bathing there
to be a popular feature with the
public. He mentioned the fact that
some $4,000 to $4,000 had been spent
there on a concrete house for dressing
purposes, but stated that he did not
favor any such expenditure here. He
said considerable complaint was being
made now because the bathers walked
several blocks to and from the river
in abbreviated costumes.
81 recommend that a locker room
about a quarter Of a block long be
built, not to exceed from $500 to $500
in cost" he declared.
THE city will need am officer to
patrol the beach, if it is established"
declared Commissioner Hart.
IF this thing is merely to be fixed
10 favor few boys I'm opposed to it,"
announced the mayor. I'm not in
favor of simply building a small shed
for locker purposes. II the city is 60
ing 10 establish beach, why not do It
on a comprehensive scale. ! believe
that Congressman Tavenner from this
district can easily get the govern
ment's consens for the use of the
sand bar just west OF the government
bridge and OF the arsenal for beach
purposes. Water at any depth could
be secured. and the tri-cities could
share the expense OF founding a re-
sort that would attract attention from
all over this section of the country.
81 think some provision ought to De
made for the girls to use the beach as
we'll as the boys" argued Commits
siOner Hart. commissioner Bears
present plan contemplates the place
for the boys use alone. There should
not be this discrimination. danger
line ought to be established and a
guard placed there for the protection
OF the bathers. A big percentage of
those who use the river do not know
how to swim. BY establishing the
beach you invite the public to use #. !
If there is a drowning who will be
blamed. If the city does not have an
officer stationed there?"
Demands Some Action.
will the city be ally more liable |
after a dressing room has been erected |
than it is now?" inquired Commission
er Rudgren. THE city for years mas |
been talking about a bathing beach, |
yet wnen the time comes for action |
the officials invariably back away. / !
think It is time something was done. |
All ] am asking is that the kids be /
given A decent place in which to dress /
and undress. The boys will swim. !
whether a beach is established or not /
The question now is. will the city give /
the boys some suitable place in which
TO leave their clothes"
There is no question but what the
city ought TO place a guard, who is an
expert swimmer. at the beach for the
protection OF the public" insisted the
mayor. This plan to put up cheap
locker room looks like n foolish ex-
penditure to me, which will not benefit
the tax payers at large. ! think the
money could be more wisely spent for
an automobile for the waterworks de-
paTtment."
However. on Commissioner Bears
resolution for an expenditure OF $3.50
for the lockers, all OF the commission
ers voted for IT. except the mayor.