Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-08

City Of Rock Island:
I hereby announce my candidacy
for the Office of commissioner fol
your consideration at the primaries
to be held March IL, 1919.
In coming before you at this time
I wish to make a few statements
regarding my stewardship of the de-
partment of public health and safe
ty for the past four years, giving
an outline of the work done and i'm
provements made in the various d.
visions of this department.
First consider the health depart
ment, which is a vital department
as it pertains directly to the health
and life of our city. This has been
conducted and improved to such an
extent that health authorities admi,
it is the best Of any city of our size
in the state, and of some even larger
cities. When entered my Office
four years ago, found the so-called
pest house" in a deplorable condi-
ton. Immediately the building was
improved by putting in two
furnaces, two bath rooms, hot
and cold water, provided six addi-
tional bedrooms, thus providing
separate quarters for men and
women. These improvements at an
expense of $500 made the place a
comfortable hospital for contagious
diseases, and one Of which we are
not ashamed. This department
throughout is conducted on an eco
nomical basis, but the best service
is rendered to the sick and unfor-
tunate, at a less expense to the tax
payer than ever before.
The garbage collection and dis
posal has been carried on in a most
sanitary manner When I took
charge of the department, the city
had two WORKOUT four-wheeled
wagons and two two-wheeled carts,
which had to be repaired in order
to render service for the season on
which we were just entering. The
following winter 1 had them thor
oughly overhauled, rebuilt and
painted at wagon shop at an ex-
pense of $675. Since that time we
have purchased new equipment, so
that today we have ready for ser
vice, six double wagons, one single
wagon and two carts for garbage
collection. The same deficiency
existed as to horses. The horses we
then had for use were mostly re-
tired fire horses, but today we have
seven good teams in the service of
this department. Three years ago a
garbage incinerator was built at an
expense of s20,250, which is one Of
the city's best assets. During the
period of it's operation, we have de-
stroyed approximately 5,577 tons of
garbage and 1,186 tons of rubbish,
thus keeping the alleys free of dis
ease breeding refuse, and the city
in a healthy condition. All these
improvements have been made and
paid for out of the regular allotted
taxes and no bonds have been is
sued for payment of same.
The fire department is deserving
of special consideration. Many i'm
provements have been made, both in
the efficiency of the men we are able
to employ and the motorization of
the equipment. During the past
four years we have built and equip
ped a fire station in the newly an
nexed territory at an expense OF ap-
proximately $4,000; a new station
known as No. at Thirty-first street
and Seventh avenues has ben erect
ed at a cost of $4,000, replacing an
old frame shack unfit for habita-
ton and this property has been en-
larged in the rear by the purchas-
ing of a tract of land 80 by 60 feet
in size, thus providing this station
with a driveway in the rear; we
have also purchased one 1000 gal
Ion per minute pump and hose cart
at a cost of $4,000; one combina-
ton hose and chemical machine at
$500; also 1000 feet of fire hose,
and paid for the 1000 feet of hose
ordered by the last administration,
and a number of large current bills
which were willed to us by the
previous administration, and which
were paid for out of our regular ap-
Our fire department is
we'll equipped and efficient to high
degree and it is my desire to be able
to open again the No. station,
closed on account of lack of funds,
in order to provide better service to
the bluff district. All of these i'm
have been made and
paid for without the issuance of
bonds, as I am not a believer in
the city any more than
0ne's private home. l believe in i'm
and economy, but /
ion't believe in going into debt.
The police department, which is
generally the target of the public |
of whether it has done or |
has not done its duty, has done un-
Usually good work during the past |
our years, considering the larger |
population under it's surveillance. |
lue to the war, economical and |
abor conditions, without any SER
GUS disturbance. This department !
has apprehended and brought to |
rial Charles Schoessel murderers |
which still fingers in the minds of |
our citizens; also the murderers of |
Sheriff Wigers, in which case we |
ire sure of conviction; and the |
murderer of Peter Jelvik, whose |
for the crime we so well |
'emember. Our records show that |
his had been one of the busiest per-
DDS in the history of this depart
nent- Seven thousand two hundred
.ity cases and 5000 state cases have |
leen tried, and many other minor
,ases have been investigated, too
numerous to mention, of which no
.aanrd has haor Lanf We haua -,