STEWART, Robert W.

STEWART, Robert W. (Dubuque, IA, July 6, 1855--Dubuque, IA, Sept. 15, 1905). MAYOR. Stewart served as mayor of Dubuque for two terms, from 1889 to 1891. Although elected to the office for a third term, he refused to continue his service and returned to his law practice. Stewart was also a director of the DUBUQUE TELEPHONE COMPANY and a general counsel to the Anamosa and Northwestern Railroad.

In 1890 with the cooperation of Sheriff Phillips all "tramps will be decorated with that heavy jewelry commonly called 'ball and chain' and put to work on the rock pile." The Dubuque Daily Herald commented that with the "hot weather and the new order of things, Dubuque will be somewhat sultry for the tramp fraternity." (1) On July 1st a new tramp law went into effect

         providing that anyone sixteen years of age and over, going 
         about without a business or calling to maintain himself, 
         shall be deemed a tramp. He is to have five days of solitary
         confinement or ten days of hard labor. And it shall be unlawful
         for any sheriff or keeper of any jail to permit anyone convicted
         under this act to have or possess any tobacco, newspaper, cards
         or any other article of amusement or pastime, or to permit such
         person to be kept or fed otherwise than stated in the commitment;
         any sheriff or jailer who violates the provisions shall be
         submit to a fine of not exceeding $100 or less than $25. (2)
         

The city council debated the need for and finally the location of a new DUBUQUE COUNTY COURTHOUSE during Stewart's administration. Despite consideration for using them, both WASHINGTON PARK and JACKSON PARK were maintained for their original use.

The city modernized its public lighting and transportation systems beginning with the work of the DUBUQUE ELECTRIC RAILWAY, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY.

Initial reports of the census of 1890 proved suspect when a population of only 30,000 was found. On June 20, 1890 an announcement was made that fifty men were needed for a recount of the population. (3)

Faced with a tie vote on whether to allow the DUBUQUE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY the right to construct a parallel streetcar line along Couler Avenue in competition with the one operated by Allen & Swiney, Stewart voted against the new construction. (4) Allen & Swiney were granted an extension of their time to install tracks on Dodge and Windsor until the city had reduced the grade. (5)

Experimenting with road surfaces faced the city council. Jasperite installation proved a problem which the seller, a Colonel Drake of Minneapolis, blamed on the contractor. Drake promised a bond in any amount to install one to ten blocks of streets with the material as cheap as brick and guarantee them for five years. The council responded by awarding a contract to Charles Steuck to install brick on Iowa Street between Second and Third at a price of $1.55 per square yard. Galesburg brick were laid on their sides, while Dubuque brick were laid flat. (6) Cedar blocks were laid in front of the Fifth Ward firehouse. (7)

In 1890 the council first considered the purchase of patent ballot boxes first exhibited during the last election. (8)

Taxation during his administration was reduced $22,000. (9)

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Source:

1. "The Chain Gang to Boom," Dubuque Daily Herald, May 24, 1890, p. 4

2. "No More Soft Snaps," Dubuque Daily Herald, June 28, 1890, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18900628&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

3. "Relative to the Census," Dubuque Daily Herald, June 20, 1890 p. 4

4. "Getting Rid of Gas," Dubuque Daily Herald, August 2, 1890, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18900805&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

5. "Street Pavement," Dubuque Daily Herald, October 21, 1890, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18901021&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

6. "News in Brief," Dubuque Daily Herald, December 3, 1890, p. 4

7. "Cedar Pavement," Dubuque Daily Herald, November 29, 1890, p.4

8. "News in Brief," Dubuque Daily Herald, November 18, 1890, p. 4

9. "Timely Tips for Taxpayers," Dubuque Daily Herald, March 21, 1891, p. 4