The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-30
CITY ElIPl0Yt
COOPERATE FL
ITS PROTECTION
Achievements Of Health and g.
Department Enumerated b
". n. FitzslmmonS


diversified in the administers.
including, as il does, the police =
and health departments. each 2.
which has its own set of acti,it,..
ana officers. In addition.
Fitzsimmons has assumed. ,i..s
the suspension of Thomas a,
Sept. Is by the board of police a.
lire commissioners, the duties 3
chief Of police. In reviewing \.
activities of the year, the commI..
sioner says:
I'm all three departments A..
enjoyed the finest kind of cooper,.
ton by the men with the nro,r,
OF work l had prepared, and i via
20 make the keynote of this animal
statement. commentator of NV -
workers for their untiring acti,,
ties IN furthering the public beaIth
and safety of Rock Island
Handicapped by having on,x
$4,000 with which to run The ~
department this year. whereas ths
salaries alone amount to $500 :.
have found it necessary to econo
mize IN every way. possible. Ont Of
this. $4,000 for incidentals, how.
ever, coal for the winters nae in
all six fire houses was pJkchasea
all of the equipment has been kent
IN serviceable condition, and
roadster has been purchased for
Chief August Schmidt for $3.50 to
replace the car he formerly used
The aerial truck has beer
equipped with ladder pipe and
life net, and in the use of them a.
OF the other equipment the men
were trained in two-hour daily
periods of schooling at the central
station last summer. have in
sisted upon neatness and cleanli.
ness of all the department property.
and some of the fire houses have
been developed to high point Of
artistic beauty through personal
pride of the men themselves. | be-
lieve We have given good service
this year, as there is no case on
record of more than two or three
minutes having been consumed by
Companies in getting to the scene
of fire after an alarm has been
turned in. This is partly due to
the improved box report recording
system installed at large expense,
Whereby recording devices made
BY the Harrington Seaburger com.
pany of Moline replaced the old
fashioned mineral receivers form
erly in use for some years.
New Milk Law.
vigilance on the milk supply Of
ROCK Island has been one of the
chief works of the health depart
ment during the year, as is shown
by the reports of H. H. Harris,
health officer, and L. X. Eihl, IN
spector. In addition a new and
more rigid set of requirements for
milk producers and dealers was in
corporated into new milk ordin-
ance this fall, and within a short
time practically the entire supply
of milk here will be properly pas
teurized. The department is some
what proud of it's improvement Of
the grounds about the detentinn
hospital on the river bank at the
west end of the city. A park site
has been made there by the re-
moval of squatters' shantyboats
which was long menace to the
peace of the city. There has been
also a great deal of sanitary
plumbing in year, especially aimed
at doing away with the insanitafy
outdoor vaults. and in this Plumb
ing Inspector Frank l.. ferbury
has taken an active hand with the
health department.
Garbage hauling was unusually
heavy last summer, as can be seen
by the department report. The
Transfers and incinerator crews
worked overtime. The city inciner-
ator plant has given wonderfYl ser
vice, and now during the SLACK
season when only two wagons ar
maintained in the downtown dis.
trict, the plant is being put in good
shape for the coming season. TINS
department also saw to the improv'
ing of the city barn during the
summer, until that place is modei
of cleanliness and comfort iof
housing of horses.
: Through strenuous times such
as were never before seen. the po-
lice department has been kept N
good shape throughout. especiall!
this winter. The equipment of the
department. from the two light au-
tomobiles and patrol. the four mo-
torcycles used by the traffic ON
GERS during warm months. to items
such as graphing hooks ioe
drowning cases. etc, has been pun
in condition for instant use, Tne
departments greatest need is :
automobile wlth
which to combat crooks and rogues
who employ such vehicles.
Abolish Saloons.
During the year the entire IN
terror of the police station was re-
decorated, the garage was repalnt.
ed within and the Jail cells weN
kept sanitary by frequent fumiga-
ton or disinfection and other care.
l feel that l entered the active con.
troll of the department at a dilns
cult thine, but L enjoyed the worA
from the start. My ideal has DeeS
to do array with the saloons which
masquerade as soft drink parlors.
as / realize that a very few car
exist If not permitted to SCI.
liquor. Every week sees this ides
nearer fulfillment as saloon attel
saloon finds it necessary to suss
pend business. The officers OF ths
have been more IKE
than employees to me, anu
their obedience and spirit has been