Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-31
Effective Work of Last Year Is
Reviewed by Commits
sioner Reynolds.
MAKES GOOD SUGGESTIONS
City Needs More Equipment, lnciud-
ing an Asphalt Repair Plant
and Sweepers.
BY ROBERT r. REYNOLDS.

iod during which the bulk OF the al
preparation for this department is eA
pended. The spring cleanup of alley
was heavier this year than usual be
cause of the general response b.
householders to the request to cleal
up premises. We have been able dur
ing the past summer TO keep thu
streets and alleys cleaner than DURING
any past year. but the necessity o
spending considerable amounts fol
patching up asphalt pavement anC
other work has prevented as thorough
and continuous work in the line o.
cleaning as could be desired.
Only $1,000 was appropriated this
year for grading. and as this amount
was wholly inadequate for even the
most pressing work in that line, much
work that could properly come under
that head was done with general
street funds.
Work Five Teams in Winter.
The work OF cleaning streets and al
leys until Nov. l is conducted with
hired teams and a large proportion OF
the street appropriation is expended
I in this manner. During the winter
five teams belonging to the city Will
be used in cleaning alleys. etc, the
/ funds now remaining Of the appropria-
: ton for the street department. being
! net more than sufficient to maintain
| these teams. hire teamsters and
very few additional men.
Relying upon favorable weather CON
ditions. | expect that the accumulation
of ashes and rubbish will be kept down
10 point where the next spring clean
ing will be lighter than ever before.
A systematic collection of cans. bot
ties. etc. where kept separate from
ashes. will be made all winter, but
the ashes will necessarily accumulate
faster than they can be handled with
the funds available, and heavy SHOWS
will. of course, reduce the amount of
work that can be put on hauling ashes /
and rubbish.
Credit Due Woman's Club.
I feel that the people of Rock Island /.
as a whole have taken more interest /
during the past year than formerly in
keeping streets and alleys clean and
that large portion of this interest is
due to the work of the Woman's club
in calling the attention of individuals
to their respective alleys
Most of this years appropriation
has been spent for labor and hire of
teams. but some equipment has been
bought. such as machines for weed
cutting and some minor purchases.
To properly clean the streets this
city should own an automatic sweep
Hr. or as there is some doubt as to
this device has reached
stage of absolute reliability as to
work and economy, an alternative
would be the purchase of an addition
II sweeper of the old style and another :
street flushing machine.
Several automatic sweepers are on
he market and the purchase of one
vas considered by the commission 7
turing the past year, and this is a 7
natter which should be thoroughly G
zone into during the coming season. :
Without question the city should pur 7
.hase an equipment for the repair of =
.sphalt pavement. as prompt attention
o small breaks would save expensive
epairs by private contractors and do
way with the delay in effecting such
epa;rs n
The needs of growing city call for
dditional equipment for the purpose
( cleaning streets. but the greatest
resent need OF the street department
D this city is a larger fund TO be ap-
lied TO grading
People Expect Too Much.
In some lines this city has done
lore work than should reasonably
= expected OF it, In the matter of
auling rubbish and refuse the city
as in the past as custom gone too
Ir and many people expect from the 8
" extraordinary services in this
ne. For Instance. many people can
ot understand why the city should Id
ot free of charge haul dirt eXcavated be
ON cellars. bricks from old build sd
Is and chimneys. tin roofs, and 9th tn
material left after repairs To prop IN
~. The continuing demand for this 10
nd OF work causes much friction and be
In some cities in W.
is state no hauling from alleys is It's
me at public expense.
On the other hand. the city should M
much work in the line of grading. IN
C. that has been in the past neg ap
cited by reason of lack OF funds. In
me- cases this grading may be TO
ought about by suit on bonds of co
rsons who have plated additions 10
ID failed 10 bring streets to grade. AS
ID the city attorney now has in hand Ma
veral such cases. In other cases, pa
r various reasons. the work will fall
The city AID must be done at pub
expense. col
by assessment OF pTi- OF
te property is OF course necessary Is
the growth and welfare OF any city is
d within proper limit is fair and III
INT. although in many cases a hard O
lp and IN some instances an injus-
c 10 individuals. Needed grading