Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-05-31
PROGRESSIVE TINES.
Thoughts That Arise in Viewing
Our Advancement.
Rock Isl and is Making Great strike,
bat I'm Order TO Keep Up the Pace
Some Things Must be Done.-.sag.
gesttOns

In this day of progressive enthusiasm
and stead Y advancement in Rock Island,
there are mahy projects constantly arts.
ing looking to the general upbuilding of
the city. They are not all of them prop
esitions on which the sanction OF law
making odies is essential; many of them
are such as a cordial and hearty and a
well dire cted public sentiment such as
stimulates pride and awakens individual
effort may obtain. For the most part,
however. the effort in the line of progress
must be attended by legislative endorse
ment. In growing city such as Rock
Island tb may generally be secured with
out a great deal of trouble, especially
where the municipal body is as progress
sive in It's tendencies as is the present
council OF Rock Island.
The suggestions, however, are conse>
quently being made for the legal appro-
baton OF public enterprises. over some
of which the council has no control
Take for instance the government island
of Rock Island, where is located the
greatest and most important national ar
mory and arsenal in the world. The
spirit of advancement which has taken
possession of Rock Island has aroused
interest il this great national enterprise,
and the great journals of Chicsgo-the
| Tribune, The Inter Ocean and the Neps,
have in recent issues spoken of it In a
manner very complimentary to it and
highly appreciated by this community
where it is a subject of the highest pride.
The metropolitan press, realizes that
the national arsenal on Rock Island is
not receiving the attention it should at
the hands of congress, and this is largely
it claims. due to the lack of interest on
the part of Illinois congressman in it,
| But as the cities of Rock Island and Mo-
line grow and become more prominent
attention is more particularly directed to
the great arsenal which is located here
aud the government must realize the
duty it owes an institution of its mag
nitude and Importance.
| There are other things constantly de-
veloping that give Rock Island the most
hopeful prospects. The practical assur>
snce that the Hennepin canal is to be
built, the almost certainty of the
location of government building
here and the fact that several important
industries are to be established here this
season. the introducing Of a new street
Car motive power. all show to what ex-
tent the city is growing and what may be
expected. The local council has done all
possible within it's power to further all
projects. The granting of the switch for
the r. l. d P. to the lower end OF town
was a very wise move ana if that road re,
| fuses to put it in the council will of
course grant similar right to the c.. B.
& O., as hat territory must In the face
of impending circumstances BE- developed
and given every railroad facility possible.
| just now, however, when the city is so
rapidly advancing. one question arises
and il is an old one-wbat shall we do
with the slough? The good people in
ditian, es specially as between Twelfth and
Thirteenth streets and Fifth ard Sew.
enth avenues. They claim that at
the present time there is an un-
pleasant stencil arising from the slough
and loot to the council to apply a
remedy for the evil. The council can
do. and Hill two birds with one stone by
following out the mayors idea. which is
to take the ground of Franklin square
and use it for filling the slough-and i,
will go long way toward doing it-and
then put the down town park in such
condition that grass and flowers will
grow there. This is matter that should
lcommand the attention of the council al
an early day
That Rock Island is growing now il
IfullY eVHlce0 Dy the demand LOT idDorlnS
men. A man of steady and industrious
habits will find plenty to do here, and on
of this assertion grows another idea, and
THAT ia homes for these laboring mer
that may come to Rock Island. Their,
still is great scarcity of houses such a
bring from $40 to $50 per mon tn. ant
some effort should be made to provide
this nece ssity.
The street and park and railway facili
ity improvements Rock Island has mad
within year, have given the city rep
utation all over the west. Let us do al
lin our power to continue TO merit tn
popularity we are getting as a city,