Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-06-01
FAIR PROSPECTS.
Will Rock Island County Have q
New Exposition?
The sylvan Island Plan and How IL ID
Rec etyed.-.The Prospectus .-sOme-
thing Worth Looking After.

The ARGUS has already fully described
the efforts. plans and purposes OF
the cities of Rock Island and Moline
to, bv Joint endeavor. revive the Rock
Island county fair and locate it in posi-
ton 90 ually accessible and convenient to
both cities as well as to the public at
large throughout the county. The site
selected as is known, is Sylvan Island
and this being year of progress in Rock
Island 1t is desirable that no movement OF
any kind in the line of advancement
should not be lost sight of. The COM
mittees of the Rock Island Citizens I'm
prove ent association and of the Moline
Busin ess Mems association composed of
E. II. Guyer, II. J. Lowrey and T. j..
Medill. Jr.. of this city, and John W.
Good 8. s. Davis and John 81. Porter,
of Moline. have been working quietly on
the M after and are meeting with consid-
cradle encouragement.
Tho prospectus which the committee is
circulating and which the ARGUS has
heretofore outlined, gives the whole
scheme in nutshell and is therefore in
terestng. 1t is as follows:
For a number of years Rock Island
county has been without a fair so situated
as to be within the convenient reach of
the largest portion of its population. In
Coe township there has been. and is, a
successful organization, dependent, main
ly, upon its immediate neighborhood; but
the location is distant from the center Of
population, and inaccessible because of
lack Of transportation facilities for per-
sons and goods.
1t is now proposed to organize the
Rock Island County FAIR. and a license
from The secretary of state has already
been secured authorizing subscriptions to
its capital stock. This movement is the
outgrOwth of several conferences between
committees appointed by the Business
Associations of Moline and Rock Island,
and is now in the hands of joint COM
mittee for perfection.
This ground chosen is Sylvan Island,
contai ming forty acres, located midway
between the cities of Rock Island and Mo
line, and admirably adapted for the pur-
pose. ten years lease eau be secured,
at a n ntal less than the taxes amount to.
A star dsrd half mile track will be graded;
the necessary buildings erected, and other
improvements made. Everything will be
done in a substantial and attractive way.
and adapted to thoroughly meet the
needs of the fair.
The capital stock has been placed at
10000. in shares of $40 each. Exclu
sive OF incidental expenses and advertise
ing. it is estimated that S13 200 will be
required 10 make the permanent improve
ments needed the first year. This would
leave "a, 600 to $5 900 as a working cap
ital, which could be used to guarantee
premiums in case of unfavorable weather,
and for other purposes.
OF the capital stock, $40. 900 is to be
raised in Rock Island and the lower end
Of the county, and the other $1,000 in
Moline and the upper portion OF the
county. The shares have been placed at
low denomination to insure the general
and universal distribution with which it
is hoped they will meet.
Side tracks from the main lines of the
c., r. l. g. P. the c., B. & Q. and the
c., M. s. ST. p. will be laid to the grounds
and live stock and other exhibits, un>
loaded within few feet of the sheds and
exhibition halls. Steam cars will bring
passen gers within two blocks of the
grounds from Davenport, Rock Island,
Moline and all portions of the county
north and south; while lines of street
| cars run direct TO the grounds from Dav-
| export. Milan. Rock Island, South Mo
line and Moline. Within a radius Of
three miles there is a population of co.
| 600, and there is no other attraction of
this nature within fifteen.
For Its financial success, the fair asso-
citation, with so central location. does
| not depend entirely upon the fair. In
| addition to this, there would be held sew
eral trotting and running meetings each
year; grounds would be rented as base
ball park; for regattas, as Sylvan water
| is one of the best rowing courses in the
west; for toboggan slide and skating
rink for society picnics, which pay $50
\ to S75 per day, and there are number OF
these each year, and for many other pur
poses, one OF which would be the use of
its track to private parties for breaking,
speeding, training. etc. Its situation
make all these possible, and insures the
enterprise financially. In other words. 1t
could be run during the entire year for
some purpose, and could be made to pay
a most satisfactory dividend.
On the need of first class. well man.
aged institution of this kind, and its ad
vantas es. there is no necessity to enlarge
| Its n1ency would be to the improve
ment Of all appertaining to our agricul-
tural interests, to which it could be made
of immense benefit; and. in proportion
to the advantages offered in this direc-
ton, would be the benefits to be derived
by the stakeholder. 1t is matter Of in
terest to everyone, and the committee
wish to give all an opportunity to coop
crate.