The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-10
Rapids City Letter.
To the Rditor OF the Argus,
RAPIDS Cry Inlv 10Th

To the Rditor OF the Argus,
RAPIDS CITY, July 10th, ~.
Holman, OF Harrison & Holman, drug
glsts at Davenport, was in town Saturday
We have doctor here something new
to the place. His Eale is Parker. and he
halls from Davenport. AT present be is
waiting for some one to get sick.
Rapids City has over 1900 inhabitants, a
population sufficient to make it city in
law as we'll as in name.
+. Williams, p esident of our Baseball
club, wishes US to say that the Golfers,
first nine, will play game for fifty dollars
with the Cleveland first, or old nine, on
the grounds of the club at Rapids City on
| Saturday, July 2lst. This will be a fine
game. and will be well worth seeing, and
we extend cordial invitation to any clGb
to come and see the game, and if they
think they can beat them, put up their
money and name the day. This, of course,
does not extend to the high-toned profes.
SIGNALS, though am sure their club could
beat that Chicago Nine and not get thor,
oughly awake.
Work at the coal banks here is Stacking
lup considerably and there is not much
prospect of very busy times until after
| harvest.
j. Cracraft is building 20x22 addition
to his house. He intends to keep hotel.
Corn is beginning to look better and
there are good prospects of crop yet.
| We need some one, or a corporation, OF
company of manufacturers to come here
and improve and take advantage of this
vast water power lying here waiting fol-
some one to use it. With a large factory,
or enterprise of some kind here, Rapids
City would be a fine little town. The
streets are nice end broad, and with GOOD
sidewalks, and with plenty of shade trees
would be fine avenues, The Bluffs are
just tar enough back to form a nice back.
ground, and with the incoming of elias.
who would build better houses, care more
about improving, because they would be
permanent residents, our little CITY would
be model place. We have it is true {
mill here-four, &c.-but it confne.
itself to what comes, and does not seek {
large business. We need factory. W.
have also a small wagon manufactory and
blacksmith shop, but like the mill, it does
not seek trade. We say this with all due
regard and kindness, bpt. nevertheless, we
mean it, and think it is true,
Another thing, our wealthy citizens
and those who own most of the land here
have laid it out into village lots, and then
| placed the price of those lots above even
well-to-do mans purse, and the eonse
quence is that when parties buy or builC
they build back and away from the centra
portion of the town, and scatter the popu
lation over large space OF ground. Lot:
in or near the centre of the village are
held at from 1928 to 5000. most pre-
posterous and unreasonable price. They
are merely lots, 60xl20. Parties have
come here wishing to purchase lots anc
build but on getting the prices they woult
have to pay, have gone elsewhere to buy
and build. Why Is it? Because thu
owners think coal will be found here tt
last IS or 20 years. Suppose it does. vii
it raise the price of lots or property? no
at all, property is now at its full value
and those who sell now will be the fortunat,
ones, for there is certain value on proper
ty in a village of this kind, and when il
gets above that value, it must come down
sooner or later, to it's level We do not
mean to say but what property here vii
always command fair value, because i
will as long as the coal trade hold
out, but that prices will stay where the,
are now, and that holders will realize q
the figures they now ask, is not tenable
Il They can ask what they choose, and keel
the land. If some of our lot holders her
h do not believe this let them try it and sci
Ito actual settlers. and see If they DON