Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-02
NEXT YEARS CARNIVAL.
Will Rock Island and Davenport
Join in 1t?
Secretary Denison OF the Davenport
the Idea.


with much pleasure your flsttering com
ments upon the carnival. and also your
timely suggestions favoring Rock Island
joining hands with Davenport next year.
There has been a strong feeling shown
the past week in favor of forming a car
nival association, so as to secure better
work in the future under thorough or
ganizatIon. This is grand opportunity
to bring about united action on the part
of all three cities in at least one direc-
ton, which would insure us such a mag
nifcent carnival for 1891 that it would
be the event of the year. 1t would adver-
tise the tri-cities from one end of the
union to another, and shonld be mutually
advantageous. AS to the best method of
bringing about this result | cannot say.
but | think it can be done il we go about
it earnestly. There are many in Daven
port who would favor it, and knowing
the broad views you entertain regarding
the tri'citY unity of action and senti-
ment, feel warranted in urging you to
follow up your valuable suggestions.
Yours very truly,
HENRY T. DENIsoN.
The writer of the above is secretary of
the Davenport Business Mems association,
and the sentiments voiced by him are
heartily concurred in by many others of
Davenport's representative citizens. On
the Hennepin canal excursion Tuesday
afternoon the same proposition was dis
cussed among citizens of the two cities
and the prevailing feeling was that Rock
Island should join with Davenport in the
carnival festivities next year. There are
two particular reasons why the two cities
should be equally interested in the sue.
attraction. In the first place the carnival
is yet in its infancy. Until this year it
was an experiment, but the brilliant dis
play of ten DAYS ago shows to what gor-
geous extent it can be carried when more
money is expended, and each side of
the river instead Of one was illuminated.
In the second place Rock Island enjoys
the beauty of the scene as much as Dav-
export does indeed it is doubtful ques-
ton if Rock Island did not have a much
more advantageous view of the last car
nIval than the city which managed and
paid for it. Rock Island also gained in
point of business. Our hotels and mer-
chants proited by Davenport's enter
prise. 1t is but proper therefore that
Rock Island should share in the expense
another year. The two cities should
unite in their public spirit and enthus-
iasm over the glowing prospects for
| their future. Each has advs ntages
which the other does not possess and each
should enjoy and psrtske of the others
advantages. Rock Island taught Dsven
port the lesson of paving. 1t was the first
of the two cities to adopt uniform system
of substantial, permanent street improve.
ment. Davenport has led the way in pub
lie buildings and in its municipal orgsuie
zation. its fire department. police service.
etc. being a quarter of a century in sd
vance OF Us. So it is that one city may
profit by The others progress. 1t is riv-
airy that makes cities; friendly but no
less Jealous and earnest disposition to ex>
eel that forces ahead all cities so aiming
Rock Island and Davenport may unite
| their enterprise, their public spirit and
| their contributions for a river carnival,
but the same week while Davenport is
having its fair and exposition Rock Island
may have something else and vie with
| Davenport in its individual enterprise
But let us join in the carnival at any
rate, if Davenport is wi ling to have us come
in. Letus build an arch of fire from the
foot of Eighteenth street here to the foot
of Brady in Davenport next year. Let us
set the river on fire in honor of the Hem
nepin canal, and let it go from one end of
creation to the other that these two cities
propose to do it. And above all let us
begin our Preparations at once.