davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
WRITES RESUME
OF PROTECTING
AGENCIES WORK
Commissioner Fitzsimmons Com.
mendS Heads of Police, Fire
and Health Departments.

The department of public health
and safety includes the police, fire
and health departments, each hav-
ing their own separate and diversi-
fed duties and in reviewing activi-
ties of the year, William FTtzsim-
mons, commissioner, says: Our
police department under the control
Of Chief Thomas CcS, has had a
comparatively quiet year consider
ing past years. We have at the
present time II men in service, in
Guiding the station men, plain
clothes officers and traffic men. In
April the new patrol, costing $780,
was put in service and has given
splendid satisfaction. The old one
was sold for $3.50. All city cars
are kept in first class shape by
our mechanician, who has charge
of the city garage at the station.
THE fire department, guided by
Chief August Schmidt, has been
fortunate this year in that there
were no large fires aside from 4
coal bin blaze. The fire apparatus
is all in good order. a mechanician
of the American LaFrance Fire Eli
CINE company having but recently
inspected it and pronounced all en-
gines tit. When a ladder pipe and
life net which have been ordered
are received the department will
be complete and modern TO the
slightest need and detail.
Under the recent state law, a
double platoon must be started Jan.
/, 1922. Contrary to common be-
lief, all fire stations will be KEEP.
open. AS yet the hours of the men
have not been determined. but will
be worked out satisfactorily to the
men.
Cooperation of the public in all
health measures and in the regu-
lationS of the garbage system have
been very gratifying, and have
made the work of my assistants and
myself in that department effective
and efficient 1t is all very much
appreciated and l trust we will be
able to maintain the same stand
ard of service for you all during
the coming year.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
FIREL0SSFOR
1921 IS Lower
Department Answers 260 Alarms
and Aggregate Loss Is Down
10 $63,67I.

The Rock Island fire loss dur
ing 1921 fell considerably below
that of 1920, the report of Fire
Chief August Schmidt shows
The fremen answered go alarms
in 1873 less than the year pre-
ceding-and the total loss was $685.
GIL. The loss for 1920 was s74,-
271.
There were no big confagrations
during the last year. The largest
fire was that of a coal pocket" at
the Rock Island Lumber & Manu-
featuring company. 2701 Fifth ave
nue., where the damage was about
$4,000. The next largest fire was
that of a large barn and several
head of live stock on Twenty-first
street, between Third and Fourth
avenues, where the loss was about
$4,000. The barn was owned by
Charles Oswald and used by the
Voss Bros. Express company. Sew
eral of the company's horses were
burned to death.
Members of the fire department
worked 40 hours at fires during the
year and their efficiency saved thou
sands of dollars worth of prop
erty from destruction. The depart
ment is completely motorized and
no city of the size of Rock Island
in Illinois has better equipment.
The value of real estate involved
in fires was placed at $3.50, 595
and the value of personal property
was s3.224,3S0, totaling $5,S64,975.
Insurance on real estate amounted
to $1.3SS.7O0 and on personal prop
erty $2,142,315, totaling 1881 OILS.
Loss on real estate was S3S,419
and on personal property SIS, 252,
totaling sea, GIL Other notations rel
alive to the work of the depart
ment follow:
]tAGii Llo --oO
Gallons chemicals used ..... IT'S
Feet ladders raised ..... 1929
Feet of hose laid 81 $50
Hours worked at fires $50. 40
Miles trucks were driven -. 5,679
Gallons gasoline used ...... 1872
Gallons lubricating oil ..... rs
Organization to comply with the
double platoon system is scheduled
to be the chief development of the
forthcoming year.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
WATER PUMPACE
PASSED BILLION
Department Figures Show Average
Daily Use of 3,524.OO0 GAL
Ions Through Year.

The city of Rock Island consum-
ed 1,2S6,443,OOO gallons of water
during the year 1921, an average of
S.524,0Oo gallons per day, accord
ing to the report of Commissioner
John A. Murrin.
The entire water works depart
ment was kent up TO the highest
standard of efficiency" Mr.. Murrin
says, and the year was marked by
entirely successful operation.
In that period 200 feet of IS
inch sewer pipe were laid from
Eighteenth avenue north and the
unsightly pond just north of Eigh-
teenth avenue along Twenty-fourth
street for about 200 feet was filled,
requiring 1880 cubic yards of dirt.
All buildings were painted as was
the fence around the reservoir. The
old double stage Gould electric
pump was replaced by q single
stage pump which requires less
power and saves us demand
charge of $31 a month.
Other extensions included 1927
feet OF 6-lnch waterpipe, laid by spe-
NAeaA oSoSSS4ACA1C ana Z,CtU lSSI
6-inch pipe and 200 feet of S-inch
pipe laid by the water department
tout of its own funds. There were
700 water meters placed and the
city is now about one-half supplied
with meters
The following indicates pumpage
and other work entaiIed in fur
nishing the city with its water sup
ply:
Raw water pumped during year,
1.2S6.443,000 gallons.
Raw water pumped daily (ayer-
agel. S,524,000 gallons.
Filtered water pumped to elevated
tanks during year 340,S1I. 900 gal
Ions.
Filtered water pumped TO elevat-
ed tanks daily (average), $50, 800
gallons.
Water furnished from reservoir
by gravity. 920.55S, 900 gallons.
Water furnished from reservoir
by gravity daily (average) 2,522.-
600 gallons
Filtered water used washing fill
tiers. 25,107. 900 gallons.
Filtered water used washing fill
tiers daily taverage). $1,000 gallons.
Filters washed, 1,495.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
HAVE INCREASE
OF 1872 PUPILS
in HIGH SCHOOL
Lack OF Employment Given as One
Cause Parent-T eacher Unit
Formed.

Lack of employment has been a
factor in the increased attendance
of 1872 pupils in the Rock Island
high school this year. The increase,
however, is noticeable each year
and shows thai secondary educa-
ton is being considered more and
more as a necessary part of both
general and special training, &C
cording to faculty leaders.
The total enrolment for 1920
1921 was zoos and the enrolment
at the beginning of this year only
Sc less than the total for last year.
With a new class entering at the
first of the year the total is ex-
pected to exceed HOO
Following is comparison of the
enrolment of previous years given
by the figures at the beginning of
the term and a the close:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31

Filters washed daily (ayerage)
four.
Eiectric power used for pump
ing and washing filters, 32s,54o
kilowatt hours.
Electric power used for pumping
and washing filters daily (average)
300 kilowatt hours.
Sulphate Of alumina used during
year. $4,000 pounds.
Sulphate of alumina used daily
(average), 1926 pounds.
Liquid chlorine used during year,
1858 pounds.
Liquid chlorine used daily (aver-
age), 20h pounds.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
HLTTERACY CENSUS.

St. Louis.-Approxim three
in each 100 inhabitants here are
unable to read and write, accord
ing to the 1920 illiteracy census. OF
the $50 .165 persons 10 years old and
over in st. Louis there were IL
634 illiterates or % per cent OF
the population.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
ELECTRIC WORK
HITS TOBOCGAN
Inspectors Report Shows $4,000
Drop From Predicts
1922 Boom Year.

The amount of electrical work
completed in 1921 was $4,000 be-
low that of 1920. The 1920 record
was an exceptionally good one. and
gave a record excelled only by 1919,
which was the highest record of
all.
The 1921 slump was a big one
Where work estimated to cost STD
600 was done in 1920 only 100000
worth of electrical work was fin
ished in 1921.
William McNealy, city electrical
inspector, says the electrical bust
ness tobogganed with all other con-
Struction, but he believes the low
point has been passed. In fact, the
inspector says there are exception
ally bright prospects for 1922, and
that a number Of years will go by
before there is another slump in
electrical work as great as that
experienced during the past year.
In 1921 only Sos permits on
electrical work were given by the
inspector, as against 1853 permits
in 1920. Only 79 new residences
were wired during the year as
against 101 in 1920. The ratio was
about the same in wiring of old
houses, the count being only 254 in
for 1921 amounted to S7S9.05 as
against S1.051 in 1920.
Detailed report Of his office fol-
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
SIDEWALK AND
Sewer TOTALS
keep STANDARD
Records for Years Smashed by Walk
Construction: Many Sewer
Contracts.

More sidewalks were laid I'm
Rock Island during the year 1921
than for years past There were
| 1O3,S71 square feet Of sidewalk laid
during the year. IN 1920 93,539
square feet of walks were lail
The cost of such construction ia
1921 was s23.S15.99. The cost for
sidewalk construction - 1920 was
$50 40, being S2,S56.59 less thau
last years record.
Cost of laying 1884 square feet
of cement walks under city con
tract was SO 920.59. Cost of lay
ing GAIT square feet of walks I'M
der private contract was $l2,S95.4u-
Walks laid under city contract were
put down on Sixth avenue and
Thirty-first street. Fifteenth street
from First TO Eighteenth avenue
Twentieth avenue, from Fifth to
Ninth street; walks in Weisman &
Brady's addition; west side OF
Twelfth street, Eighteenth TO For
Twentieth to Twenty-fi avenue
i ,
to Twenty-fifth avenue.
More Sewer Connections.
There were more sewer COnneC-
tons last year than in 1899. The
total cost of sewer work was moi
so high. In 1920 the Sixteenth ave
nue. storm drain, started in 1916.
was completed and SS10lT-SS of
this cost appeared onto the total
of that year Outside of this. how
ever, there were only S.6O7 feet OF
service pipe laid, as against 1874
feet in 1921. The cost for S-iucl
and 10-inch sewers laid in 1920 was
only S13 1860, while the 1921 cost
was $25, 252.56. Sewers were Iaii
on Seventeenth street south OF
TWenty-ninth avenue. Seventh
street, Fifteenth TO Nineteenth ave
nue.; Fifth-and-a-halfa avenue, Thir-
tenth to Fourteenth street: Ninth
street, Nineteenth to Twenty-thirl
avenue; short stretches at Fifth
street. on Fourteenth avenue and
avenue and Ninth
street; Nineteenth To Twenty-seC-
ond avenue; Ninth avenue. RITA
to Seventh street; Twentieth ave.
nue., Thirtieth to Thirty-secOnl.
street; short stretches at Twelfth
avenue and Thirty-seventh street
and at Twenty-secOnd avenue and
Twenty-fouFth-a street.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31

Pupils are pointed out the fact
that it requires little intelligence
to earn money, but to save it well
requires self>COntrol and intelli-
gence. This saving that is taught
in the schools is to form the habit
of systematic saving and promote
the idea that will be followed in
the later days.
Money once deposited can only
be withdrawn with the consent and
upon the written signature of the
parent. All accounts remaining
three months or more receive in
terest as regular deposits.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
Every Room Used.

The increase in enrolment ne
cessitated using of every room in
both high and manual arts build
| ings every period in the day. This
| includes a new room in the manual
arts, added by dividing the draw
! ing rooms. With the entrance of
the mid-year class in January, the
only provision for accommodation
+ lies in lengthaning the school day.
The further growth of the school
is indicated in the increase in
the number of teachers. In the last
three years, 10 teachers have been
added. In 1915 there were 26, in
1918, 20, and this year there are SO.
The classes which called for the
largest increase in teachers were
the English and science sections.
The classification OF students and
adjusting the work so they may
make progress according to their
ability has proved a great success
in elimination of failures. Expert
ments this year and last, by or
ganizing the freshmen English and
algebra classes on a basis of learn
ing, warrant the continuation of
the plan. The percentage of fail
ures when students were not clas-
sifed was 1874 per cent and the
amount when they were classified
was 8.27 per cent, reduction of
38.2S per cent.
The crowded condition does not
permit work in music during the
regular school hours and the in
struction is given after school.
8 i, -
and boys glee clubs and the Or
chestra. have appeared at differ
ent times on programs of local or
CARNATIONS.
Form Debate Class.
One of the most important addi-
tons to the course of study is
class in debating in which the in
terest is growing rapidly. Aft
er the victories of last spring the
demand for the regular work was
sufficient to warrant the establish
ment of a class. In addition to the
Big Eight debates with Moline AMI
Davenport this year, the Rock Is
land high school will entertain the
Oklahoma City high school debaters
in April
The public speaking department
with receipts from the first of 4
series of plays, Tedecorated the
auditorium stage. 1t is the pur-
pose of the department to study
and present other plays and put
into practical effect their knowl-
edge Of stagecraft in further i'm
proving the stage
The earlier opening hour result
ed last year in more hardness than
the previous school year, but com
pairing the first three months of this
year and last year, a reduction Of
So cases, or 30 per cent, is evil
dent. The average attendance
shows a Sigh improvement of
about one per cent, thus far, over
last year.
Last year a high school Parent
Teacher association was organized
Two meetings have been held this
fall and regular sessions are plan
ned for the year. Not enough par
ents visit school, teachers claim, !
and it is the aim of the organiza-
ton to promote this factor so that
more constructive cooperation VIII
result The presence of parents at
high school functions is one thing
that is being accomplished and this !
has long been desired by the school /
who are glad to have !
an organization responsible for
providing parent chaperones.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
STUDENT BODY
SAVINGS $4,000
Deposits Smaller During Year;
Cash Balance in Banks Now
$36,I64.93.

Children of the public schools of
Rock Island saved $S,382.05 in the
last year through the school saw
ings plan, which has been in OPP
Grafton since 1911. The balance I'M
til Dec Is, 1921, was $36,164.93.
Last year the balance was $37,-
5O290.
The decrease in the savings this
year is attributed to the lack of
employment of parents, which
makes it impossible for them 10
give the children as large an al
lowance. In 1920 the pupils saw
ed more than $4,000.
The amount OF savings until Sept
1, 1921, was S36 ,235,0 27, which rep
resented 1900 depositors, averaging
more than $l9 to each pupil partict-
pating in the saving plan.
The figures for 1920 and 1921
are:
Balance, Dec. IS, 1920. s37,742.s4
COLLECTIONS to lee. Is, 81 S,3S2.95
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31

ton already at hand shows that
the spriny season is to open up
much better than for several years.
His detailed report follows:
Plumbing installed old houses. 235
Plumbing installed, new houses 81
water tests sos
Complaints attended to .... SO
Sewer connections made 49,. pa
Plumbing jobs condemned. -. IL
Journeymen licenses renewed. 25
Master licenses renewed 49,. Is
Fixtures installed ............1,172
Inspection fees collected. =. 81 .63S
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
PROMISED 1921
BUILDING BOOM
NOT REALIZED
Long Strike Ruined Early Pros
poets for Record Breaking
Work-TOtals 1896, sol.


land in 1921 was little short of
paraIyzing, stagnation following the
building trades strike in the spring.
The men remained out weeks to en-
force continuance of the scale of
wages. The final result was that
cuts were made and work resumed,
hut not before many builders aban
doned plans or postponed them for
the year.
Cost Of work begun in 1921 was
estimated at s396,601, an astound-
ingly low figure when at the close
~of 1920 figures were given out by
prospective builders that totaled
s s6,074 900, as the cost OF work for
which plans were ready to have
performed in 1921. These prom
Used a big boom for 1921 should all
other conditions be equal.
The 1920 building record was
s66S, 1880, $272,1S0.50 more than
the work for 1921. There were only
a few buildings of any size erected
during the past year. There were
more residences, however, but most
work was of a. miscellaneous char
acter Much of it was in repairs.
This is indicated, too, in the fact
that 721 permits were issued in
1921, 1853 more than in 1920, but the
total cost of work was far below
that of 1920. Permits for rs new
dwellings were issued as against
only so for 1920. He only was
there a favorable contrast with the
situation of the previous year
Hopes Frightening.
There is, however, strong hopes
that the general building industry
situation is going to work itself out
in such way as to make 1922 the
boom building year that had been
promised for the year just passed
John A Lindros, city building
inspector, says that there are am
pie grounds on which to predict an
exceptionally busy season during
the coming year.
He says perfection in the build
ing code along many lines has been
an encouraging feature of the year
An entirely new improvement came
as the result of agitation on the
part of Fire Chief August Schmidt.
which caused the city commission
ers to heed the call for an amend
,ment to the building code prohibit
ling the use of wooden shingles.
There was also a general tendency
to obey the requirements of he
city building regulations.
August was the boom month Of
the year when work was started
estimated to cost SS2,S14. January
was the month having the lowest
record, being $10,727. Permit fees
amounted to $1,005S3 as against
1896 in 1920. Water rent on
construction work amounted to
$314.74.
Detailed Report.
The report of Inspector Lindros
follows in detail:
New dwellings .......... 10
Addition to dwellings ..... p
Remodel dwellings, .. a
Repair dwellings ., 81
Reshingie dwellings ........ A
dwellings, RACED .......... 10
IorcneS ....-......... So
CnuTcneS ..............
Remodeling churches ........ /
otoieS -.--..-..---- A
Stores remodeled -... 81
Fire escapes NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ,
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31

Balance Dec. Is. 1921. $50, 164.93
The practice in the schools is to
emphasize thrift so that it will be-
come a fixed habit, and TO make It
eHectlVe it must be done with regu-
larlty. This financial training is
looked upon as important as the in
tellectual and physical training.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
half FUNDS GO
on ALLEY WORK
Laxiiy in Obedience TO City Rcgu-
Iations Expensive; So 600
Spent for Labor.

Although appropriation for the
department Of street and public i'm
provements was $4,000 less than
the 1920 budget, the department is
maintaining necessary work upon
! a curtaiIed program and conduct
ing its activities with view OF
aiding the Unemployment situation
A shift system instituted "a To-"
months ago when a general cam
paign was undertaken 70 relieve
the work conditions placed 500 meu
on pay rolls. Frank WITCH is tho
commissioner in charge OF the de
partment. Reviewing the year, he
says:
From Dec. 1. 1920. TO Dec. I,
1921. $I6,S54 was spent cleaning
the alleys The cuire appropTla-
ton for the department is $4,000.
and when over half OF IL is lace5-
sary to clean alleys. it is evident
there is still a great laXity In obey
ing the rules of the department AMI
the city ordinances.
"ApproximateIy $2s27-fO was
spent in cleaning streets This in
cludes the wages OF the daily crew
in the business district
Grading cost g. G395), and con-
trac ell grading was as Follows.
Twentieth avenue. Fifth 70 Ninth
street. $3.50; Forty seventh ave
nue. at Fourteenth street. $3.50;
Twentieth avenue. Ninth to EleV-
enth street, 1925. was paid out or
the department funds. making a to-
tai Of SG.054 80. In addition 10 this
item. s1.735-90 was expended for
filing low spots in alleys and
streets.
work amounting TO s2.2si.2j
was done cleaning sewers. Just re-
Gently the TWeuty-seCond street
drain caved in between Thirteenth
and Sixtepn h avenues and il was
found necessary to provide new
drain. which caused an expenditure
Of $1,51l.95
Tree trimming and cutting
amounted to SAB. and trimming
weeds on boUk syards and city
streets caused a autlay Of s6sa
Repairs 10 e amounted 10
$1.050.Z5. Part .is work was
done by city en- nd part was
awarded by &C
by an ar with tho
South Rock 'htD off
GERS. the stq TEcHf1--
fourth stree wash
Ell out va con-
crete piers $3.50
Of the co the
other hal
The ~
ficers q
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31

of committing assault and battery
upon children
Warrants tor two men on charges
Of contributing to delinquency OF
girl.
Warrants for four men on charges
of assault upon girls.
Llr-ic..nr,r,r--. L--r...
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31

Keeper gaming house .......
Assault to do bodily harm. -.
Assault and battery ...-......;3 g
Violating health ordinance 80.
Careless driving ..----I l.
Having liquor in possession. - Il
Attempting to defraud landlord
Statutory rape .............
Rape .........
No building permit .......-.-
Violating parking ordinance.
No taxicab license ...-.. :
Keeping dangerous dog ...-.-
Libel ..-.-.-.-.----.
Passing fraudulent check 49,.
Keeper disorderly house .....
Bookkeeping Il
Gambling IL
NO QlmmerS l.
Selling narcotics ...--..- ]
Assault to rob ........
Pandering .............
No express license ......-
Violating slaughterhouse law
oOUOuy
Attempt at burglary ......--..
Perjury
Peace warrants ... /
No rear auto lights ... l
Violating cut out ordinance .. e
Malicious mischief ..... ]
Indecent exposure .... ]
Crime against nature .- ]
NuisanceS j
Resisting an officer ... !
COncealing mortgaged property. /
Driving auto while intoxicated. ]
No paddlers license ......
Miscellaneous -........ =
Miscellaneous report shows
wagon calls, 1853; dodgers, 675;
cases dismissed. state, IS, city, 81
women tried. state, IA, city 80;
meals furnished, S44; cost of meals
$295.05; number street lights out,
800; total hours street lights out,
1850.
Taking the police report from
Dec. /, 1920, to Dec. 1, 1921, the
arrests and fines by months fol
low
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-31
Title Local Starin Match
CRIDIRON CONTESTS HOLD
INTEREST OF THOUSANDS

popularity con-
unexpected what give the
O
Football this section attracts thou
Saturday chesrook bated
"fedie"
soldiers Fitzpatrick
Ashtbns take
of a Philadelphia
Saturdays but
Ashton
with High School
has been
football work
a College,
old rivals OF the Delaware
Institutions could have been made Sat-
practically the entire scrub team
the second and quarters.
The greatly
under obstacles confronted him
he outse 10
world which proved
before the
OF Kentucky the defeat the
for the Crimson eleven The little Cones indeed
their victory The Unversnsbac
$50 victory
Pennsylvania Franklin Field before record
$4,000 Tech with
state defeated the southerners esq.,