Year: 1873

MILAN, Ill, March Il. 1873


EDITOR OF The Rock ISLAND ARGUS.
Dear Sir: The waters having subsidized,
we are again enabled to lay aside our
rubber boots, house our boats. and come
forth to attend to our business without the
fear OF meeting watery grave. On Fri
day morning the ice concluded to leave,
and did 50 very suddenly and with great
rush. 1t became gorged from a point on
the south side of Vandruff-s Island across
TO the north end of Johnston's dam. thus
throwing all the ice and great deal of
the water into the south branch on the
Milan side; which being much too narrow
to accomodate the food caused the ice to
form dam across the channel below the
town. The water rose very rapidly and
before our people could realize the fact,
the whole town was flooded. the water
ranging in depth from one to three feet.
doing good deal of damage to streets.
sidewalks, etc. Not very much damage
was done to private property. The south
bridge suffered more than any of the
bridges although the others were dam
aged somewhat The dam from the watch
factory to the paper mill is nearly all gone
and will probably have to be all rebuilt
The watch factory fume is also damaged
a good deal 4 portion of the top of the
dam running from Hakes Island to the
Big Island was washed away, but will be
easily repaired The water has washed
| the earth from around the abutments of
the bridges, and has also removed good
deal of earth from the east end Of Big
! Island above the railroad.


The excitement over the ice departure.
Z f,r Ia. a.ltgtlal a
the election and its attendant results.


But when it became known, on Saturday
morning, that the retiring Council design
ed giving an oyster supper and that the
president-elect would then and there de-
liver his inaugural address, we, with one
accord, forgot our watery troubles in the
pleasant anticipations of the evening At
clock the old council met at the Town


Hall, and, after disp0sing of some busi.


ness, proceeded to install the president


and council-elect. The officers were sworn


in by Police Magistrate John Dickson


President Hefin then Strengthened up t.
his usual height of six feet and two inche,
and proceeded to deliver his inaugural ad


dress, which was done in an artistic anC
oratorical style The only objection ",


heard to the address was its breyity.


The Council then adjourned, accompa


MED by about forty Of the citizens, to Mr.
{ VIM. McFarland's, 5, where had been pre-
! pared a most bountiful repast, as only Nc


can do it, he being one of the best caterer


to the human appetite we know of Ate
supper numerous speeches and toasts, from
the old Council and new, as well a. from
many Of the citizens were delivered thu
r giving them all a chance to air and repea


the speeches they had been practicinc 81


for half Of the day in their back yards an,


inout-of- the-way places After an hour @
two thus pleasantly spent we all thought
|, fully retired TO our homes each cogitatin
how best TO operate on the feelings Of tn
new Council to induce them to fix the stree
in front of his own property.


! This morning the town has assumed it
! usual business aspect and the excitemen
of food and election are among the thing
that were G.