The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-08-17
entire region that one of these sites will
impress the commission favorably.


the building. The governor to
appoint seven commissioners without
pay to select u suitable site. These com
missioners are to visit the various towns
where application has been made for the
location of the home, and choose from
among them the one most suitable for the
purpose The bill also provides for the
and maintenance of the
home.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
Francis Bryant is a prominent banker
at BemeEt, Pratt county.
Frederick 0. White, ESQ.,, is lumber
merchant at Aurora, Kane county, and is
mayor of the city.
Col Henry T. Noble, of Dixon, Lee
county. is manufacturer-is president
of the Grand de Tour pillow works. He is
a democrat and staunch one.
Capt. II. M. Hall is secretary of the
commission. His home is at Olney,
Richland county. His occupation is that
of chief engineer of the Ohio & Missis-
sippi railroad. He is republican in
politics, and is a grand army veteran.
Gen. W. r. NJ. Wallace is resident of
Chicago. is lawyer, and is cons
nected with the law department Of the
western metropolis He won fame and
glory during the war He is the Gen.
Wallace of Shiloh fame.
Col. William Berry, of Adams county, is
chairman of the commission. He is a law
yer at Quincy. He Is republican in
politics He served calamity during the
war, and is at present commander of the
G. A. K. Department of Illinois. He
takes a great deal of interest in anything
concerning the old soldiers, and told
Commander Bowman. of Buford Post,
yesterday that he had intended making a
special visit to Rock this fall for the pur-
pose of seeing the veterans of the war.
Judge Manuel Crawford is from Union
county He served in the civil strife and
came out with the title of colonel. He is
widely known throughout the state both
as politician and lawyer. He presided
at the state democratic convention at
Peoria last year and made an excellent
presiding officer He is known to the
legal fraternity ms well MS to the people OF
the state generally, through his fearless
ness, while on the circuit bench in 1874
in putting stop To the series of murders
in Williams county. lie hung one mar
and sent twenty to the penitentiary iii n
short length of time.
WAITS AND sTRAYs.
Commissioner Francis Bryant and wifi,
attended morning services at Broadway
church Yesterday with the family of Gil
pin Moore.
Capt. Harrington, of Geneseo, was il
the city yesterday, arranging with thu
commission for the official visit to tina
city.
F. o. White, Esq. of Aurora, who
spent Sunday at home, arrived this morn
ing and took the east bound train on tn
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific road II
| Join the other commissioners ut Geneseo
In conversation with an ARGUS reporte
last night. one of the commissioner
stated that the commission had deter
mined to get through with the trip AS 500
as possible, aud that the foundation o
the home would be laid this fall an
completed in year after it is started.
Phocion Howard, of Danville, is tn
clerk of the board. Howard is journal
list of no ordinary merit. He has bee
connected with the Chicago Inter Oced
as travelling correspondent for humble
of years, and his ability in the newsapahe
field has given him a wide acquaintance
IN the northwest
Harry J. Mortimer, manager of tn
Mortimer Il Weaver dramatic company
and Mr.. Harper's private secretary, Nj
WilleIton, hav invited the commission
ers to attend the play at Harper's theatr
tonight, and two boxes have been fitte
up for the use of the distinguished vi:
itors.
The soldiers home project originate
in the state encampment of the G. A. /
at Peoria last February, when the nece!
sity of having home In the state for W,
worn heroes was discussed, and resoll
ton adopted asking the Legislature to al
propriate certain sum for such purpos
The legislature looked upon the matte
favorably and the outcome is well know
The commissioners have a regula
scheduleiwhich they abide by strictly whe
on an official visit to locality, and in
they are guided by location, sewerage
elevation, access TO building materia
fuel, etc These points are all taken ini
consideration and per cented, 100 bein
: the maximum and 80 the minimum. Tt
per cents are averaged, and if the averag
per cent falls below 80, the town is throw
out of the list of places for consideration
) The board holds meeting at 9 o'clot
each evening for the purpose of attendir
. to this business.
No more genial, jolly and intelligent
set of men could have been gotten Il