Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-03-14
ROCK ISLANDS PROSPECTS,
Encouraging signs of the Times
New Industries----A Promising

Encouraging signs of the Tines
New Endustries----A Promising
] Year.
Every day almost, rumors meet the
ear Of the ANGUS reporters concerning
some merchant or manufacturer from
the outside world who is thinking at least,
of coming to Rock Island TO locate, and
to share the alright prospects of its fu-
ture. 1t is not few eyes that are on
Rock Island as the coming metropolis of
the upper Mississippi valley. This re-
calls the fact that in the past few years a
great number of new firms have located
here, both ia the way of manufacture
and trade. In fact some OF the best and
most hourshing business enterprises IN
Rock Island today are run by people
who have come in recent years, aud
those of our old merchants, who have
shaken off the coils of old fogism and
have accepted the new things and new
methods as they present themselves, have
gone ahead. The Peoria JoHrRai, CONS
menting on this same subject of progress
ia business, truthfully says
"The man or merchant who will
change his business US the times changes
is sure to forge ahead with the procession.
But if he sits down and says, i have
done business in this line before and
will stay and continue in the same old
rat, he will look around by and by and
utppIar tuh a. La ,,n,t,lu all Inv -
Then the Journai complains of the
same failing in Peoria that the ARGUS
observed in Rock Island year ago The
failure on the part Of the people to know
and TO realize their own advantages
Rock Island Is getting over this cOndi> |
ton somewhat and stronger feeling of |
confidence is being manifested And
the J0arhW advances some more |
substantial truths which would as well |
apply to Rock Island 1t says:
"And while VIC go along and prosper and |
the outside world points at us as an exN
ample of thriving, go ahead place,
there are some people in Peoria yet
who growl and groan, say things are dull
and wish they could close out and go
somewhere else that they might do bet
ter. If they were to put in the same
time studying their business and trying
to add new features to it, and thus at
tract the eye of the public, they would
have no desire to go to any other city.
We have an example of what can be done
in other places in more cases than one.
of Peorians who pulled out and left
us to make fortunes. But those who did
not come back worse off than they went
are few and far between. Although
this ls the dulest season of the whole
year. there are fewer idle men about than
ever before. There is hardly day that
parties are not ia complaining of the
scarcity of female help about the house.
Many claim that it is impossible to get a
good girl for kitchen or general house,
work"
There is every prospect of Rock Island s
eaching a population of 90, 600 this sea-
ION. and the outlook for building i'm {
was never brighter than the t
Aresent day. All that is needed IS a
manifestation of confidence on the part f
If our people-an appreciation of the t
hings about them. If the people of &
Rock Island will make the same use of
heir advantages that other people
would if they had them, the city would
lOom in the RIGHT kind of waY.