Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-01

~ TIC VI NAC StAS
herewith announce myself a
candidate for the Office of commits
sioner Of streets and public improve
ments of the city of Rock Island,
which position 1 now hold. And in
this connection I wish to state a
few things which have been accom-
plished in my department during
the past four years.
When took Office four years ago
the downtown or loop district was
flooded after every heavy rain and
1t took eight or ten days to clean
the streets of all kinds of rubbish.
After investigating this situation, I
found the mouth of the Twenty
fourth street storm drain was COM
pletely closed, so that the water
from the bluff district could not
drain into it, and had to run over
the streets down into the city.
at once opened this drain at cost
Of 5000, and since that time we
have had no trouble with floods in
the business district.
l also found the sewers in bad
condition. 1 bought a sewer clean
ing machine at a cost of $500, built
manholes wherever necessary to
get an opening into the sewers so
the machine could be used, and
practically every sewer in the city
has been given a thorough clean
ing. Since the acquisition of this
machine we have had little Difficult
ty in keeping the sewers clean and
open.
More grading has been done dur
ing the past four years than during
any other previous administration.
Since the annexation of the Sears
town territory, many unimproved
streets have been brought into the
city which have had to be taken care
of without an increase in appro-
priatiOn. l have succeeded in bring
ing many of these streets to grade
besides keeping the unimproved
streets in the old town in passable
condition. The bluff district has
not been neglected, and streets
which were for years practically
impossible have been graded and
drained. During the past year alone
s9,203.11 has been spent in grad
ing.
Alley cleaning has been contin-
ued all the year round, the result
of which is easily seen. This con-
tinuous work has given employ
ment to 25 families all through the
winter at good wages.
l have placed street signs at all
1 have kept the old equipment of
the department in good condition
and bought new equipment to ia
cilitate the work of he>department.
During this administration we
have erected a much needed city
barn, which is a credit to the city.
l have personally inspected all
public improvements and was in
in securing our stand
ard paving and sewer specifications
which, under my personal direc-
ton, have been closely followed
A great many improvements
should be done during the next
year. The storm drains in the east
were started last year should be
competed; the storm drain system
in the newly annexed territory now
under consideration should be
started; Eleventh street should be
opened to the full width all the
way to Searstown; extensions
should be made to thu sewer sys-
tenn on the bluff; and if chosen by
the people to fill this responsible
position, I shall endeavor to COM
plete these improvements.
If, after investigating my record
as commissioner, you find l have
performed my duties well, and you
think 1 am the right man for the
office, I ask your support at the
polls. NICOLAI f. JUHL,
Commissioner of Streets and Pub
lie improvements.