Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-20
SEEK TO DELAY
REPAIR NEEDED
Owners of Property That is Under
Condemnation Proceedings
Ask Time.
VARIOUS EXCUSES ARE MADE
Ask That One Building That 10 Re-
ported Unsafe Be Left Stand
ing Few Years.
VARIOUS EXCUSES ARE MADE

upon request to explain what they
intend to do in the matter of max
ing the buildings safe.
The city some time ago appointed
a committee of representative con-
tractors to make Investigations.
This committee submitted report
on all buildings that are consid-
cred unsafe, and made various REG
concentrations as to what steps be
taken in each case. The report is
signed by c. J. Larkin and c. d.
McLane.
F. Woltmann appeared in the in
terest of the property situated at
1918 to 1920 First avenue, and stat
ed that he is willing to do anything
possible to make the building safe,
but does not wish to start any con-
struction work that will interfere
with government plans. He said
that work Will be started as soon
as affairs become more settled. He
was informed by the council that
something would have to be done
Immediately. He promised to take
action to repair the building. With
reference to this building the COM
mittee report states:
"191S-1920 First avenue, we con-
slider to be in dangerous condition,
as there are two tie rods holding
the south half Of the building to-
gether which is not properly placed,
and the east wall should have
proper braces put in at once, until
such time as the walls can be taken
down and rebuilt. The walls gen
orally are in bad shape"
Phil Mitchell, rperesenting the p.
L. Mitchell estate, appeared at the
commissioners meeting and stated
that the buildings situated at 1908
1910 First avenue and 1O1 Six
teenth street will be repaired as
soon as possible.
He said that he did not favor
taking action at this time, as build
ing materials are high and labor
is not easily obtained, and that he
also did not wish to interfere with
the government building plans by
taking material and labor that is
needed by the government. He was
informed by the commissioners that
the city building inspector would
| go over the buildings with him and
some decision could thus be made
as to Just what needs to be done.
In regard to these buildings the
committee report states:
"160S-1610 First avenue and 101
Sixteenth street: We find the walls,
west and north fronts, are in bad
shape, and should be taken down
and rebuilt; the joist and floor on
the interior are in good condition
and could be showed up in place,
while the walls are being rebuilt"
Harry Schriver appeared for Lee
Robinson in behalf of the proceed
ings brought against the building
situated at 1928 Second avenue.
Mr.. Schriver stated that the wall,
which was recommended to be torn
down and rebuilt, is partly on the
property of the John BengStOn es-
tate, and that the wall could not
be torn down without permission.
]. A. Bengston, administrator for
the Bengston estate, was called by
the commissioners and stated that
he was perfectly willing that the
wall he torn down Representation
was then made that an oil service
station having q lease to a portion
of the land would be put to some
trouble. The commissioners how
ever, stated that the building would
have to be repaired. With refer
ence to this building the committee
report states:
"162S Second avenue: We find
that the wall on the east side and on
the south end is in bad shape, and
should be taken down and rebuilt
and the chimney on the southwest
corner is leaning and should be
taken down and rebuilt"
Storm Drain Subject Up
Sam RyersOn appeared in the in
terest of the Elks, who own a build
ing situated at 209 Fifteenth street
Mr.. Ryerson stated that the build
ing is safe in his opinion and that
responsible and experienced per
sons had told him that the building
is safe He stated that the COM
mittee and also the city building
inspector might be mistaken in
their opinions. He asked that the
building be left standing for a few
years and that then a new building
will be erected. He was told that
the building might fall down and
kill some person. Mr.. RyersOn
stated that in that case it would be
up to property owners TO pay the
damages and not the city. Mr.. Ry-
erson ended by telling the commits
sioners that the incompleted storm
drain on Twelfth street is the cause
of flooded cellars in that neighbor-
hood in times of rainy weather
He was told that the city is doing
all possible in the storm drain mat
ter. In regard to the building, no
definite action was taken. The COM
mittee report on this building fol-
lows:
"No. 2O9 Fifteenth street is in bad
condition and should be torn down"
In regard to other buildings, no
definite action was taken. It was
decided, however, that the residence
at 2O4 Third avenue would be al
lowed to stand.
TIE commissioners were inform
ed that the sheds in the rear of the
H Tremann's Sons meat market
will be removed. Contract has al
ready been let for this work. Ruin
ed shacks at 319-321 Seventeenth
street 10 doubt will be removed.
A chimney on a building at the
corner of Seventeenth street and
Fourth avenue will be ordered
taken down,
on TWO SHIPS SUNK: SAFE.
Boston. Aug. 20.-Captain Evans
Of the British ship Penistone, who
was made n prisoner by submarine
rorornauder after sinking fine shin