The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-08
ROCK ISLANDS BOOM.
The Signs of the Times are Propitions
if Our Citizens but Take Hold.
Manufactures Contemplated New
Business Enterprises Projected
--Grand Opportunities.

Is Rock Island to have boom? Are
we to grow up TO be city that was
prophesied away back in the fifties when
emigration was pouring in. real estate
double what it now is, and some of the
finest business buildings now standing
were erected? Or are we to settle down
into the condition of greatly overgrown
village, and rest content on simply loan
ing ont what money we have and living
on the interest in half fossilized condi-
ton? Now appears to be the time for
answering these questions. Rock Island
never before possessed so much real wealth
as now; so much active cash capital We
control as much money as any city in the
state, outside of Chicago We are loan
ingmoney in every country, and borrowers
pass through rival cities and come here
for their loans. In fact we are over
crowded with capital, and it is reaching
out for investment in Dakota lands and
Kansas farms, Colorado mines and Texas
ranches, New York stocks and Chicago
grain.
Let US for moment withdraw onr eyes
from these distant views and look about
US nearer home, under our very feet, aud
see whether or not there are not opportu-
mites for investment which viii pay
dividend and add to the advancement and
general prosperity of our city Nature
has done much for rs in our geography.
Rock Island is indeed favored, with its
river front and unobstracted access to the
water; and its high, well drained, sloping
northern expanse appealing through its
beauty and heartfulness for people to
come And appealing through its loca-
ton, railroad facilities, fuel supplies and
navigable water, to the manufacturer to
invest his capital here. If the people and
the business men could unite and do one
half as much for the city as Nature and
circumstances have done, our prosperity
would be assured
That Rock Island is growing rapidly
there is no question; and its growth is of
the most healthful nature, for it is becom-
ing a city of homes, as is evinced by the
large number of dwellings erected by their
occupants during the last few years. and
others now IN completion Though no
large part of our people are dwelling
beneath their own roof, vet there are no
empty tenements. As our population
increases new avenues for a livelihood
must be opened, and new interests estah-
lishea which will call and draw to us
money, muscle and mind But this may
be done by increasing the number of
manufactures, and manufacturing facili-
ties. With the new line of railroad com
pieted, asccond river bridge, a canal CON
Meeting with the lakes aud with the
manufacturing projects now maturing, in
contemplation and suggested, there is
work enough to be done right under the
shadow of our own homes, and places
enough to invest our capital where a
reasonable profit is promised. And now
is the time Gf there ever was a time) to
do the work, and invest the money, and
give Rock Island not mere boom. but
permanent growth and advancement
which will insure us the leadership of
many of the cities in the state. The signs
and the times are propitious. Shall we
lay hold of the opportunity?