The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-29
MANUFACTURES.
Some Organised Action Demanded.

The Gazette calls attention to the i'm
portance Of organized, united and harmon
ious effort among business men and prop
erty-holders to establish industrial enter
prizes. 1t is only a few years since
every Rock Islander was wide awake to
the importance of this subject yet at this |
day it seems to have lost much of its inter- |
est But it has not lost one jot Of its inn
portance to the true interests Of the city
and its property holders, however little it
may have ceased to excite further enter
prise and iberality. Not long since every
intelligent man here acknowledged the i'm
portance of manufactures to the growth
and healthy vitality Of young city-that
one new manufacturing establishment,
working say hundred hands, might be
really better for Rock Island than new
railroad-that this city possesses advan-
tages for certain manufacturing branches
which only need to be properly presented
abroad to secure visits from capitalists
and skilled artizans, and their practical
citizenship with US if on investigation the
facts prove to be such as we really believe
1 them-that enterprise and energy in max
ing known the advantages Of which we
honestly boast, and liberallty in aiding
those who come here to avail themselves
of the field. each in his own. specially,
could alone secure these important acces-
: : series.
At that time it looked as if Rock Island
were about emerging from her partial
stagnation, into life of rapid growth and
I prosperity. The people of Davenport were
first astonished by the suddenly awakened
, spirit in Rock Island, promising such
!. healthy results, aud then they aroused
themselves to some competitive enter
i prise as matter of self protection if moth
: ing better. They formed Citizens Asso,
citation of business men, and systematic
q ally went to work. Among their other
. efforts, they issued pamphlet, stating
d all the advantages of that city for manu-
features, and telling just what kind were
n needed and could be made profitable
K And the Gazette says that in consequence
q of that pamphlet (which was largely dis
tributed, and placed in the right hands
e hundreds of letters Of inquiry are being
s. received, as we'll as personal visits of CAPT
: talsts, artizans, etc.
= Now what is being done in Rock Island
If there has been failure or two in tn
prospects and promises of the late manu-
, featuring excitement, this is no reaso
= why all efforts should cease to secure oh
3 jects 80 directly Unidentified with our pros
s. perity as a corporation and as individuals
J. This side of the river possesses vastl
y greater advantages for manufacturing tina
the other side. We have all the waite
power, all the coal, vastly superior advan
tages for freight, and cheaper land, fo
shops, mills and houses To stimulate er
at terprises which bring capital, population
70 and give employment to men we shout
have Citizens Association, composed {
the best minds of the town. the largeE
property owners and most enterprisin
y and intelligent business men. 1t shout
be composed of men who names alou
would give it character and prove that
re meant something more than mere shoy
IL on paper. Suppose we had society con
70 posed of and managed by such men ;
Ben Harper. Fred Weyerhauser, Isa'
ok Negus, Bailey Davenport, P. L. Cabl
is George Wagner, 7. j. Robinson, P.
Mitchell. G. Lynde. R. R. Gable, Edwal
. -, Burial Jr. Jos. Rosenfeld, J. H. Wilso
. John w. Spencer. d. T. Robinson,
ut Tegeler, B. D. Buford, i. M. Bufor
ng Henry Hull, I. Huber, P. Fries, j.
al Kahlke and few others. No one CT
NJ doubt that society composed of the
ch men. working harmoniously together f
I've the development of Rock Island, would a
&c complish great results. And they are Il
d. men more directly interested than al
other equal number of men in town.
, course they are working for the interes
ne of the town now-but their influence
Up an organized form for given purpo
Id, would be thousand per cent greater thu
nd by scattered effort. Let such societ
Is composed of such men, (if they would tai
ng hold and lead it, concentrate its pow
me upon any enterprise or scheme for Il
'u benefit of Rock Island or this side of Il
nd river and its influence would b. immense
lty greater than all could accomplish worki
ne separately and unorganized.
he