628.1 
 
 
 R591m 
 
 ROCK ISLAND, ILL. 
 
 
 WATER WORKS COMMITTEE 
 
 
 MUKICIPAL WATERWORKS, 
 
 
 SIXTY- FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 
 
 
 1871-1936 
 
I 
 
Digitized by tlie Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 witli funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/municipalwaterwoOOrock 
 
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SIXTY FIFTH 
 ANNIVERSARY 
 1871 -:- 1936 
 
 Mu 
 
 NICIPAL 
 WATERWORKS 
 
 ROCK ISLAND 
 ILLINOIS 
 

 U./L //--/- 3^riy. 
 
 f^ ntroouction 
 
 V>/N AUGUST 14th, 1871, steps were taken to organize the 
 first Water Works in the City of Rock Island. In 1882 
 through the generosity of the Hon. P. L. Cable, the pumping 
 station was built on the present site. We have just completed 
 remodeling the pumping station and added two new filters at 
 a cost of over $100,000.00, and it was decided at a meeting of 
 the Water Work Committee to hold a public inspection of the 
 Pumping Station and Filter Plant to enable the people to see 
 just what has been done and also to get them interested in 
 their Water Works System. It was also decided to have 
 a Souvenir booklet printed showing the history of the Water 
 Works, to acquaint you with the plant and its operations. 
 
 It was through the assistance rendered by the Rock Island 
 Argus, in furnishing data from their files and others, which 
 enabled us to be in a position to get the necessary information 
 contained in this booklet. As we have no **set-up" provided 
 to take care of printing this booklet, we solicited ads from the 
 firms whose names you will find printed herein. 
 
 We wish especially to express our most sincere gratitude and 
 best wishes to all who helped to furnish the necessary data 
 and to our advertisers, who are bearing all the expense of 
 printing this booklet. We hope our work has not been in vain, 
 and that the information contained herein will be of value to 
 you all. 
 
 Alderman HENRY LECOT, 
 
 Chairman, Water Works Committee. 
 
 Alderman LAWRENCE 0. SWANSON, 
 Committee on Publication. 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY 
 
 AT UR3ANA-CHAA.PAIGN 
 
WATER WORK SYSTEM 
 
 OF 
 
 Rock Island, Illinois 
 
 
 
 NE of the most vital things neces- 
 sary in our lives is pure drinking 
 water. Perhaps few people when they 
 turn on the faucet to draw water ever 
 stop to consider all the work and in- 
 tricate machinery and safe-guards 
 that are employed to assure the ci- 
 tizens of Rock Island an adequate 
 supply of pure water. The source of 
 our water supply is the Mississippi 
 River, and our intake pipes extend to 
 the main channel of the river. The 
 completion of the Government dam, 
 however, created a large pool or lake 
 above the dam, which holds an abun- 
 dant water supply, and the mouth of 
 the two large intake pipes, one being 
 20" which is increased to 30" about 
 300 feet from the mouth to take care 
 of any increase needed in the future, 
 and the other 30", are located north 
 of the locks and east of the first dam 
 and extend from this point a distance 
 of approximately 2110 feet to connect 
 to our pumping plant located at the 
 foot of Twenty-fourth Street. The 
 water flows through these pipes into 
 three deep wells by gravity and is 
 pumped through a 24" and 16" pipe 
 to the Filtering Plant, located on the 
 Bluff at 22nd Street and 16th Avenue, 
 which has a Reservoir and settling 
 basin, with a capacity of 16,000,000 
 gallons. The raw water enters into 
 the settling basins where it comes in 
 contact with the alum solution being- 
 fed from the filteration plant. When 
 the alum is mixed with the water, it 
 forms flakes which collect the mud 
 and suspended matter and settles to 
 the bottom of the basins which are 
 25 feet deep and have a coagulation 
 period from four to twelve hours 
 when the plant is operated at full 
 
 capacity. After the water has passed 
 through the settling basins, it is con- 
 ducted to the filters by a 30 inch con- 
 duit where the chlorine is applied 
 twenty-five feet from the filters. 
 There are eight filter units, each of 
 which is 24x17 feet, a filtering area 
 of 408 square feet or a capacity of 
 one million gallons per 24 hours per 
 filter. The filters are constructed of 
 sand and gravel with strainers im- 
 bedded in concrete and the flow is 
 regulated by rate controllers and hy- 
 draulically operated valves. After 
 the water passes through the me- 
 chanical filters, with a capacity of 
 8,000,000 gallons daily, it gets an- 
 other light dose of chlorine and goes 
 into the clear lake and is ready for 
 use. 
 
 Daily tests are made at the plant 
 and once a month samples are sent 
 to the State Health Department at 
 Springfield, and reports from tests 
 made there and also at the plant show 
 the water to be in good condition and 
 to conform with the U. S. Public 
 Health Service Standard. 
 
 The water is distributed to the re- 
 gions below the hill by gravity, and 
 the Hill District is supplied from two 
 large tanks, one located on the Re- 
 servoir grounds and the other at 14th 
 Street and 42nd Avenue, to which the 
 water is pumped. This arrangement 
 assures a good pressure throughout 
 the City and enables the City to fur- 
 nish water at the lowest minimum 
 rate in the state for cities of our 
 size. The City has almost two million 
 dollars invested in the Water Works 
 System. 
 
 -ROCK ISLAND- 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Pumping Plant 
 
 T 
 
 HE first steps taken to install a 
 Water Works System in Rock Island 
 was on August 14th, 1871, when the 
 City Council passed an ordinance 
 authorizing the building of a pumping 
 station and the installation of water 
 mains. A $75,000.00 bond issue for 
 that purpose was authorized, and a 
 Commission of seven members, com- 
 posed of the Mayor, three Aldermen 
 and three citizens, to carry out the 
 intent and purpose of the ordinance, 
 was appointed. 
 
 The first pumping station was lo- 
 cated at the north end of Sixth Street 
 on the bank of the Mississippi River. 
 One winter while located at this point, 
 an epidemic of what was then termed 
 ''Winter Cholera" broke out, and 
 whether correct or not, it was at- 
 tributed to the city water, as the in- 
 take pipe was not extended very far 
 into the river, and it was contended 
 that when the river froze over it nar- 
 rowed the river channel and the sew- 
 erage from the City flowed near the 
 mouth of the intake pipe and polluted 
 the water. It was then deemed ad- 
 visable to remove the pumping sta- 
 tion above the sewerage of the City, 
 but there were no funds available with 
 which to do this. However, Mr. P. L. 
 Cable, who was known for his philan- 
 thropical acts, came to the rescue 
 of the City with a donation of 
 $25,000.00 for the purpose of building 
 a new Pumping Station and installing 
 a 20 inch intake pipe into the main 
 channel of the river. This Station 
 erected at the east end of Second 
 Avenue and the north end of Twenty- 
 fourth Street and the laying of the 
 new intake pipe, were completed in 
 the year 1882. The pump at the old 
 station being inadequate to supply 
 the increasing consumption of water, 
 a new pump with a capacity of 
 3,000,000 gallons was purchased and 
 
 installed in the new station. At that 
 time there were two crews of en- 
 gineers and firemen working twelve 
 hours per day, every day in the year, 
 but in the year 1890 another crew 
 was added to the force and thus the 
 eight-hour shift was put into effect. 
 
 During the year 1891, the Hon. Ben 
 T. Cable, in order to supplement the 
 giit of his father, P. L. Cable, and 
 to insure a supply of clear water, don- 
 ated to the City a filter of the Jewel 
 type, with a capacity of 2,000,000 
 gallons. Owing to its construction, 
 and having no reserve for clear water, 
 the filter was greatly handicapped, 
 as at times during the day the con- 
 sumption of water was at the rate of 
 3,000,000 gallons while the filter had 
 a capacity only of 2,000,000 gallons. 
 During this year the consumption of 
 water during the day rose at times 
 to over 3,000,000 gallons which was 
 the capacity of the pumps and of 
 course there was no reserve left for 
 fire protection. This same year the 
 City Council purchased a 5,000,000 
 gallon capacity, high duty pump from 
 the Holly Manulacturing Company, 
 which was installed and accepted 
 August 31, 1891. 
 
 During the year 1894 it was dis- 
 covered that the 20 inch intake pipe 
 was too small as it would not deliver 
 to the pumps the amount of water 
 required at the peak demand. A new 
 30 inch, cast iron intake pipe was laid 
 from the pumping station to the main 
 channel of the river, a distance of 
 2110 feet. This pipe was laid with 
 the bottom four feet below the low 
 water mark. This pipe extended out 
 into the river from the foot of 
 Twenty-fourth Street. 
 
 The increased consumption of water 
 compelled the city in 1906 to increase 
 the pumping capacity and a new Snow 
 Pump with a capacity of 8,000,000 
 gallons per 24 hours was purchased 
 
 -WATER WORKS- 
 
and installed, and in 1915 in order to 
 have more pumping capacity in re- 
 serve, there was purchased and in- 
 stalled a Kerr's Steam turbine centri- 
 fugal pump with a 6,000,000 gallon 
 capacity. This gave the pumping 
 plant a pumping capacity of 18,000,- 
 000 gallons per twenty-four hours. 
 
 In 1895 the water mains were ex- 
 tended to the Bluff District of the 
 City and a standpipe was erected on 
 Thirtieth Street near Tenth Avenue. 
 A booster pump was placed in the 
 then Huber Brewery (now the R. I. 
 Brewery) on Thirtieth Street and 
 
 Seventh Avenue to supply the stand- 
 pipe reservoir and through it to the 
 Bluff District of the City. The City 
 was rapidly growing and of co/.rse 
 there were greater demands for 
 water. Considerable thought and 
 time was spent on the problems con- 
 fronting the Water Works Depart- 
 ment, and it was finally decided that 
 a reservoir should be constructed 
 somewhere on the Bluff Region with 
 a capacity sufficient to supply the 
 district below the Bluff with water by 
 gravity from the reservoir instead of 
 pumping it all by direct pressure. 
 
 FILTERATION AND RESERVOIR SYSTEM 
 
 The City during the year 1897 pur- 
 chased twenty-six acres on the bluff 
 between Thirteenth and Eighteenth 
 Avenues and Twenty-second and 
 Twenty-fourth Streets, paying $1,000 
 per acre for the same. We might 
 mention in connection with this pur- 
 chase the same public-spirited and 
 generous citizens who were owners of 
 this tract donated to the City, free of 
 charge, the large tract of land that 
 now comprises Long View Park. 
 
 The City constructed on this re- 
 servoir site, two settling basins, three 
 slow sand filters and a reservoir. The 
 settling basin and the sand filters 
 were completed in 1899, and the main 
 reservoir of 10,000,000 gallons capa- 
 city was completed in the year 1900. 
 
 The slow sand filters never gave 
 satisfaction as they were expensive 
 to clean and the ice in winter made 
 cleaning the basins very difficult. To 
 overcome this handicap the City 
 Council in the year 1909 decided to 
 adopt the rapid sand mechanical 
 filters and executed a contract with 
 the Pittsburgh Filter Company for a 
 filter having a capacity of 6,000,000 
 gallons per 24 hours. This filter was 
 erected and was put into operation 
 March 28, 1911, and has always given 
 entire satisfaction. Two slow basins 
 are now used for storage of clear 
 water and the third was converted 
 into a building for the mechanical 
 filters. 
 
 There is a standpipe on the Reser- 
 voir Park site with a capacity of 
 500,000 gallons to supply the Bluff 
 District. When the town of Sears 
 was annexed to the City of Rock 
 
 Island in 1914 it was part of the city 
 ordinance that water service be ex- 
 tended to this territory. Water mains 
 were laid in this territory and a stand- 
 pipe to supply this high service was 
 erected on Fourteenth Street and 
 Forty-second Avenue. This standpipe 
 has a capacity of 100,000 gallons and 
 it is supplied with water from the 
 pumps at the Main Reservoir Plant. 
 There are two electric centrifugal 
 pumps in the filter house each having 
 a capacity of 3,000,000 gallons with 
 which to furnish the necessary power 
 to supply the Bluff District. With 
 this increased capacity the old stand- 
 pipe on Thirtieth Street, which was of 
 no further use, was dismantled. How- 
 ever, with the rapidly growing section 
 in the South East section of the City, 
 steps will have to be taken in the 
 near future to add a third standpipe 
 to take care of the Bluff District 
 water supply. 
 
 The citizens of Rock Island may 
 well be proud of their Water Works 
 System, which is easily the most valu- 
 able asset that the City possesses. It 
 is entirely self-supporting, owes no 
 debt except the obligations incurred 
 by laying mains by special assess- 
 ment. The amounts of all special as- 
 sessments paid by property owners 
 for water main construction are cre- 
 dited on the water rent of the owner 
 as they accrue. The city pays no 
 water rent to the Water Works De- 
 partment for water supplied to other 
 departments, such as amount furnish- 
 ed for fire protection, flushing of 
 sewers, flushing streets, water used 
 at all City buildings and our City 
 Parks and Recreation Play Grounds. 
 
 -ROCK ISLAND- 
 
It is estimated the amount of water Filteration and Reservoir 
 
 furnished gratis to other departments Property $ 405,373.31 
 
 is easily worth $50,000.00 for which _ . ^^ ^. icnonn/?- 
 
 the Water Works Department receives Pumping Station 150,399.6o 
 
 no credit. Water Mains laid by 
 
 A very conservative appraisal of 
 
 City 725,871.48 
 
 the value of the city's Water Works Water Mains laid by spe- 
 
 System is given in the following table, cial assessment 577,872.07 
 
 showing description of the property m t -s 82 993 38 
 
 and its valuations which will give the 
 
 citizens an idea of the immense bus- 
 
 iness being done in this department. $1,942,509.89 
 
 OPERATING STATEMENT OF THE ROCK ISLAND 
 CITY WATER WORKS 
 
 Year ending Year ending 
 March 31, 1935 March 31, 1936 
 Total Water Rents Extended: 
 
 Flat Rates 16,228.49 16,313.81 
 
 Meter Rates 114,159.14 114,814.49 
 
 Miscellaneous - 1.20 18.62 
 
 Total Extended 130,388.83 131,146.92 
 
 Less Cash Rebates Allowed: 275.46 122.20 
 
 Cash Discounts Allowed 4,067.60 4,464.34 
 
 Total Deductions 4,343.06 4,586.54 
 
 Net Water Rent Sales 126,045.77 126,560.38 
 
 Meter Repairs and Shut-Off Fees 266.45 306.85 
 
 Miscellaneous Material Sales and Service 477.81 1,154.91 
 
 Gross Income 126,790.03 128,022.14 
 
 Water Works Exp. less Cap. Items and Exp. Refd 38,592.02 43,273.46 
 
 Reservoir Exp. less Cap. Items and Exp. Refd 25,555.93 33,733.87 
 
 Water Work Const 535.18 8,853.40 
 
 Water Works Emergency Reserve 2,731.30 
 
 Total Expense 64,683.13 88,592.03 
 
 Operating Profit 62,106.90 39,430.11 
 
 Plus: 
 
 Interest and Miscellaneous Earnings 1,054.85 3,019.67 
 
 Total Earnings for Year 63,161.75 42,449.78 
 
 Less: 
 
 Depreciation and Inventory Adjustment 4,177.30 389.32 
 
 Net Profit 58,984.45 42,060.46 
 
 Some of the larger items of expense and supplies for the year ending 
 March 31st, 1936 are as follows: 
 
 Fuel $ 4,282.30 
 
 Electric Power at Pumping Station 6,856.28 
 
 Electric Power at Filter Plant 4,477.00 
 
 Pipes, Valves, Hydrants, Meters, etc 5,285.65 
 
 Purification Supplies 13,033.67 
 
 *State Sales Tax 1,667.40 
 
 *This Sales Tax was assumed by the City and not passed on to the Consumer. 
 Operating expense for this period was $88,592.03 with $24,565.01 expended 
 for Capital items. 
 
 W ATER WORK S 
 
FUNDS TRANSFERRED FROM WATER WORKS 
 TO THE CITY GENERAL FUND 
 
 transferred in 1935, none 
 
 was trans- 
 
 feiTed in 1936. 
 
 
 Total amount transfer! 
 
 ■ed: 
 
 Year ending 3-31-29 
 
 $ 22.195.08 
 
 3-31-30 
 
 40,000.00 
 
 3-31-31 
 
 28,000.00 
 
 3-31-32 
 
 49,000.00 
 
 3-31. 33 
 
 44,500.00 
 
 3-31-34 
 
 46,363.81 
 
 3-31-35 
 
 37,911.67 
 
 3-31-36 
 
 17,707.77 
 
 
 $285,678.33 
 
 On June 11th, 1928 the then City 
 Council authorized the transferring 
 of the Surplus Funds of the Water 
 Works into the City General Fund. 
 This has no doubt been of great help 
 to the City to meet its obligations. 
 However, it was a question as to the 
 advisability of doing this, as some of 
 the Aldermen were of the opinion, 
 this surplus should be used for major 
 improvements of the Water Works 
 System first. The present administra- 
 tion agreed, and while $17,707.77 was 
 
 The following men have served as Superintendent of the Water Works 
 Department: 
 
 Fred Cramer was the first Superintendent and served from its first establish- 
 ment until May 1883. 
 
 Joseph Kerr May 1883 to May 1885 
 
 M. T. Stafford May 1885 to Feb. 1889 
 
 John A. Murrin Feb. 1889 to May 1895 
 
 Ezra Wilcher May 1895 to May 1897 
 
 John A. Murrin May 1897 to May 1899 
 
 Chas. Witherell May 1899 to May 1901 
 
 P. J. Bancroft May 1901 to Sep. 1905 
 
 J. W. Cavanaugh Sep. 1905 to May 1909 
 
 0. C. Kelley May 1909 to May 1911 
 
 Chas. Wilson May 1911 to Nov. 1911 
 
 R. W. Sharp Nov. 1911 to Jan. 1916 
 
 John A. Murrin Jan. 1916 to Nov. 1934 
 
 N. J. Hoeltzner Nov. 1934 
 
 Immediately upon assuming the 
 office of Superintendent of the Water 
 Works System, Mr. Hoeltzner recom- 
 mended to the council that certain 
 repairs and improvements should be 
 made at once instead of diverting the 
 Surplus to the General Fund of the 
 City. This was agreed upon by the 
 Water Works Committee and finally 
 passed by the City Council. A com- 
 plete survey was made to determine 
 whether to continue to operate our 
 pumping plant by steam or to electri- 
 fy the same. A competent Engineer- 
 ing firm was engaged to do this work 
 and upon their recommendation the 
 Plant was electrified. Two electrical 
 operated pumps of 10,000,000 gallons 
 each were completely installed on 
 July 21st, 1935. The total cost of 
 electrical installation and pumps 
 amounted to $21,312.50. After this 
 
 work was completed the City Council 
 passed resolutions to improve the 
 Pumping and Filtering Plants by add- 
 ing 2 new filters and to apply for a 
 PWA Grant. Mr. Benj. A. Horn was 
 engaged as the architect to draw 
 plans to remodel the Pumping and 
 Filtering Plants. A Building Com- 
 mittee composed of Aldermen Henry 
 Lecot, Chairman, John White, George 
 W. Stauduhar, John M. Kaiser, C. C. 
 Wilson and Lawrence 0. Swanson 
 was appointed by Mayor John 
 Bengston to confer with Mr. Horn. 
 Many meetings were held by this 
 Committee and the City Council; 
 plans were adopted and a PWA Grant 
 applied for. Upon approval of the 
 Grant, which was 30% of the estim- 
 ated cost, contracts were awarded and 
 work started. The total cost was as 
 follows: 
 
 -ROCK ISLAND- 
 
PUMPING STATION 
 
 General Contract (Greenleaf Const. Co.) 42,846.50 
 
 Other Expense, Fees, Ins., etc 3,123.86 
 
 45,970.36 
 
 FILTER PLANT 
 
 General Contract (O. M. Randall Const. Co.) 17,774.00 
 
 Filter Contract (E. W. Bacharad & Company) 9,500.00 
 
 Other Expenses, Fees, etc 1,670.95 
 
 Total 
 
 28,944.95 
 74,915.31 
 
 To pay for this improvement the 
 City Council transferred from the 
 Water Works Surplus Fund, to the 
 Building Fund, the amount of $57,- 
 800.00 to which is added the PWA 
 Grant of $19,200.00 making a total of 
 $77,000.00. 
 
 During the past two years 3839 
 feet of 6 inch pipe have been laid 
 
 making a total of 109 miles of water 
 mains. Eight fire hydrants have been 
 installed in this same period making 
 a total of 1020 compared to 100 which 
 were in use in 1882. There is at 
 present about 7800 meter accounts 
 and 1500 flat rate accounts. How- 
 ever, all flat rate accounts are to be 
 cancelled as quickly as possible and 
 replaced with meters. 
 
 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW 
 
 PUBLIC FIRE HYDRANTS 
 
 No person or persons other than members of the Fire Department shall 
 open same except those having a written permit from the Superintendent 
 of the Water Works. 
 
 OBSTRUCTING STOP COCKS 
 
 No person shall in any manner obstruct access to any public hydrant or 
 stop cocks connected with any water pipe. 
 
 SERVICE 
 
 All persons taking water shall keep their service pipes, stop boxes, cocks 
 and all attachments and apparatus in good repair and protected from frost 
 at their own expense and shall prevent all unnecessary waste of water. 
 
 All officers and employees shall have free access at proper hours to all 
 parts of every building where water is consumed. 
 
 For a violation of any rule or regulation, the Superintendent shall have 
 the right to stop the supply of water without any previous notice thereof; 
 nor will it be restored except upon payment of $1.00 to cover the expense. 
 
 All water consumers shall be responsible for all damages done to a meter 
 on their premises and wherever repairs are to be made on parts furnished 
 by the City the same shall be collected with the Water Rent. 
 
 -WATER WORKS- 
 
JOHN A. BENGSTON 
 Mayor 
 
 of Rock Island, 111. 
 
 NICHOLAS J. HOELTZNER 
 
 Superintendent 
 
 Has many years of service in the 
 Water Department, is well versed in 
 all branches, and through his efficient 
 and economical management, the City 
 of Rock Island is provided with pure 
 water at rates cheaper than any city 
 the size of Rock Island in the State. 
 He was first appointed Engineer in 
 1907 and served to 1916, promoted to 
 Chief Engineer in 1916 and served in 
 that capacity until 1934 when he was 
 promoted to the office of Superin- 
 tendent. 
 
 He also has a capable staff of as- 
 sistants who have had many years of 
 experience: 
 
 George C. Ethel, Analyst at Filter Plant, 25 years service 
 
 Emil J. Klein, Head Meter Man, 4 years service 
 
 Louis Sersig, Outside Foreman and Pipeman, 14 years service 
 
FILTER PLANT 
 OUTSIDE VIEW 
 
 FILTER PLANT 
 
 INTERIOR 
 
 BENJ. A. HORN, Architect 
 
 IMiotos b\- John Eckniau 
 
MARTIN T. 
 RUDGREN 
 
 City Clerk 
 
 BOARD OF ALDERMEN 
 
 HENRY A. 
 LECOT 
 
 HERBERT E. 
 COOK 
 
 c c. 
 
 WILSON 
 
 H. EDWARD 
 WENDELL 
 
 C E 
 JOHNSON 
 
 E. WILSON 
 ROBINSON 
 
 Photos by John Eckman 
 
^f 
 
 ^ 
 
 HF . 
 
 JOHN M. 
 KAISER 
 
 HERMAN 
 SCHNELL 
 
 JOHN M. 
 
 ^^^If^r-'^'^ WHITE 
 
 GEORGE W. 
 STAUDUHAR 
 
 JOHN C. 
 KAISER 
 
 RUSSELL H, 
 MAHIN • 
 
 VERNON R. 
 HENDREN 
 
 LAWRENCE 0. 
 
 SWANSON 
 
 Photos by John Eckman 
 
PUMPING STATION— OLD BUILDING 
 
 SOUTH VIEW 
 
 
 !!*-^,-»^«;^~. 
 
 T^^ i^-f 
 
 ^-^^"l^fll^ 
 
 •5^*^ 
 
 REMODELED PUMPING STATION 
 
 SOUTH VIEW 
 
 w^-s-^^-s %:Xrsi*-¥„-^j^^3 
 
 ^ ^ 1 1 1: 1 
 
 I 2 
 
 1 ! 
 
 '*^. 
 
 F 1 i ^ f ; 
 
 BENJ. A. HORN, Architect 
 
 I'hoto.s by John Eckman 
 
REMODELED PUMPING STATION 
 
 FRONT VIEW 
 
 BENJ. A. HORN, Architect 
 
 Photo by John Eckman 
 
 INTERIOR PUMPING STATION 
 
 Two 10,000,000 Gallon Pumps, H. P. 500, R. P. M. 1180, 
 Gallons P. M. 6950, Driven by 
 
 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC MOTORS 
 
We wish to Congratulate 
 
 His Honor Mayor JOHN BENGSTON 
 
 The Board of Aldermen 
 
 The Water Works Building Committee 
 
 The Water Works Committee 
 
 and 
 
 N. J. HOELTZNER, Supt. of Water Works 
 
 for their efforts in obtaining- for the 
 
 City of Rock Island 
 
 A NEW WATER WORKS BUILDING 
 AND TWO NEW FILTERS 
 
 ROCK ISLAND 
 SAND & GRAVEL CO- 
 
COMPLIMENTS 
 of 
 
 ' American Cyanamid and 
 Chemical Corporation 
 
 20 N. Wacker Drive 
 CHICAGO ILLINOIS 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES 
 
 Dimock, Gould & Co. 
 
 Lumber — Coal — Building Materials — Burner Oils 
 
 PHONE R. I. 80 ROCK ISLAND, ILL. 
 
 Channon & Dufva Company 
 
 HEATING and PLUMBING 
 
 Brownell Stokers — Air Conditioning & Engineering Supplies 
 
 DAVIS BLOCK PHONE R. I. 148 
 
 112-114 W. 17th Street Rock Island, Illinois 
 
 Congratulations from 
 
 Rensselaer Valve Company 
 
 Sole Manufactures Of 
 
 GENUINE COREY HYDRANTS RENSSELAER VALVES 
 
 Main Office and Works, Troy, New York 
 
 MONADONCK BLOCK CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 
 
 GIERKE - ROBINSON CO. 
 
 Construction and Industrial Equipment 
 
 328-32 West Fourth St., Opposite Court House Davenport, Iowa 
 
WALTER KOLLOFF 
 
 Bank, Office Equipment and Supplies 
 
 1533 lOth Avenue 
 PHONE R. I. 686 ROCK ISLAND, ILL. 
 
 COMPLIMENTS 
 
 of 
 
 W, A, EHLEB & SON 
 
 Hardware, Glass, Paints, Oils and Roofing 
 
 1610 3rd Avenue PHONE R. I. 1976 Rock Island, 111. 
 
 CONSULT US ON 
 
 Side Walk Frames and Covers — Man Hole Rings and Covers 
 Catch Basin Frames and Grates 
 
 and 
 
 Other Castings for Street, Sewer and Building Work 
 
 DAVENPORT MACHINE & FOUNDRY CO 
 
 DAVENPORT, IOWA 
 
 Waterous Dependable Fire Hydrants 
 
 Fifty years of experience are built into Waterous Hydrant. 
 Simplicity, rugged construction, proven design, patented all- 
 bronze drain are found in this dependable hydrant. 
 
 Waterous Company 
 
 ST. PAUL MINNESOTA 
 
 Established 1886 
 
 FINKELSTEIN BROS. COAL CO. 
 
 Mine Representatives 
 
 HIGH GRADE FUEL 
 
 2500 4th Avenue PHONE R. I. 1198 Rock Island, 111. 
 
EQUATOR 
 COAL COMPANY, Inc 
 
 Business stays were it is invited 
 and stays were it well treated 
 
 COAL— WOOD 
 
 IRON FIREMAN STOKERS 
 
 SPECIAL STOKER COAL 
 
 PHONES R. I. 75— R. I. 4101 
 114 13th Street Rock Island, 111. 
 
 NATIONAL METERS 
 
 have faithfully served Rock Island since 1900 
 
 National Meter Company 
 
 1455 W. Congress Street 
 CHICAGO ILLINOIS 
 
PREMIER 
 PAINT 
 
 • 
 
 COUNTY FAIR 
 PAINT 
 
 TORPEDO 
 
 GASOLINE 
 
 • 
 
 WELCH 
 MOTOR OILS 
 
 Hersey Manufacturing 
 Company 
 
 844 Rush Street Chicago, IlL 
 
 • 
 
 A Large Percentage of Meters in 
 Rock Island Are HERSEY'S 
 
 GREENLEAF 
 CONSTRUCTION CO. 
 
 517 12th Street 
 ROCK ISLAND ILLINOIS 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 to the 
 
 • 
 
 WATERWORKS 
 DEPARTMENT 
 
 • 
 
 from 
 
 ■ 
 
 General Contractor 
 
 on 
 
 Improved Pumping Plant 
 
 ■ 
 
 A FRIEND 
 
 Estimates Cheerfully Given 
 
 Telephone 
 R. I. 6200 
 
 PLUMBING 
 HEATING 
 VENTILATING 
 POWER PIPING 
 
 MELVIN McKAY 226 mh street 
 
 PLUMBERS 
 
 (Incorporated) 
 
 AUBURN STOKERS 
 
 Rock Island, 111. 
 
 ENGINEERING 
 
 SPRINKLER EQUIPMENT 
 WATER MAINS 
 MUNICIPAL SEWERS 
 
COMPLIMENTS 
 
 of 
 
 The A. p. SMITH Mfg. Company 
 
 EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY 
 
 Manufacturers of 
 
 Valves, Hydrants, Water Meters and 
 Water Work Supplies 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 ROCK ISLAND MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS 
 
 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER CO. 
 
 Motor Truck Sales 
 
 PHOENIX WATER METERS 
 
 1. Measure Water Accurately, 
 
 2. Give Years Longer Service, 
 
 3. At Lowest Maintenance Cost. 
 
 4. Patented Spiral Gears. 
 
 Phoenix Meter Corporation 
 
 Prince Bay — Staten Island 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 Littig's Plumbing Shop On Wheels 
 
 W. H. LITTIG, Proprietor 
 
 1504 SECOND AVENUE ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS 
 
 Inspect the Boiler We Installed at the Filter Plant 
 
LEITHNER & WEISHAR 
 
 Electrical Contractors 
 and Dealers 
 
 ROCK ISLAND 
 
 1816 3rd Ave. 
 
 Phone R. I. 1590 
 
 MOLINE 
 
 418 16th Street 
 Phone MOL. 1510 
 
 Tom Welch 
 
 Painting and Paper Hanging 
 
 2535 30th Street 
 ROCK ISLAND ILLINOIS 
 
 Central Oil S^ Grease Co. 
 
 Wholesale and Retail Dealers 
 IN HIGH GRADE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS 
 
 Benzite No-Nox Gasoline 
 
 Top Notch 100% Pennsylvania Oil 
 
 Office and Warehouse: 2424 3rd Ave., Rock Island 
 
 STATIONS LOCATED AT 
 
 301 24th Street, Rock Island 1636 15th Street Place, Moline 
 
 1502 7th Avenue, Rock Island 125 19th Avenue, Moline 
 
 2041 Bridge Ave., Davenport 
 
 THERE IS A STATION NEAR YOU! 
 
 O. M. RANDALL Construction Co. 
 
 GENERAL CONTRACTORS 
 
 1025 6th AVENUE ROCK ISLAND, ILL. 
 
 Builders of the Improved Filter Plant 
 
 ESTIMATES CHEERFULLY GIVEN 
 
 Blackhawk Electric Company 
 
 902 3rd AVENUE ROCK ISLAND, ILL. 
 
 Contractor of Wiring on Pumping Station 
 
 ESTIMATES CHEERFULLY GIVEN 
 
CONGRATULATIONS 
 and BEST WISHES 
 
 I HE PEOPLES POWER COMPANY, as a citizen 
 of this community, joins with other loyal citizens in 
 taking pleasure and pride in the opening of the 
 rebuilt waterworks. 
 
 This company has every interest in the welfare 
 of the community that the individual citizen may 
 have. The company pays taxes here — has millions 
 invested here in pole lines, gas mains, and Other 
 fixed properties — is made up of men and women 
 who live and maintain families here — and depends 
 for its existence upon the sale of its services to the 
 people and to the industries situated here. 
 
 On the occasion of the opening of the rebuilt city 
 waterworks system, this company wishes to offer 
 its congratulations and best wishes to the Rock 
 Island Waterworks. The gratitude of every citizen 
 and every institution in the city is due to the loyal 
 citizens, city officials and employees whose plan- 
 ning and public-spirited interest in the welfare of 
 the community has accomplished so great an im- 
 provement in the city's pure and adequate water 
 service. 
 
 Peoples Power Company 
 
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 628.1R591M C001 
 
 MUNICIPAL WATERWORKS, SIXTY-FIFTH ANNIVE 
 
 3 0112 025314227