Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-12-31
LOOKING BACKWARD.
Which Brig htens the Hope as we
Look Ahead.
A Proftshie season FOR Reek s.,..s-
substantial Improvements or v.r,.
ous Kinds.

/
ae year Which takes its departure q,
IL o1ciock ton ght has witnessed more
probably for I:ock Island than snv one
season that tia city has ever known. Al
CITY we have reason 70 look back upon
1851 With the most kindly and gratifying
rememorances Not only has Rock ISL
ana made substantial gains within its
own walls as to building and commerce
out great prof sets of national import .uce
nave brought advantages OF an inc.lcu-
iaoie nature tt our door. No Doubt the
greatest gain Of the year has been the
nennepin csnal. the great national
waterway Improvement for which we
nave struggled and laborcd all these years.
ana the struction of which was yir.
tuslly formally entered upon in 1900.
Inc determine ton by the national gov
eminent to est ablish S75 900 federal
building here. and the practical assur-
ance of a SS5. 900 viaduct over the rail>
road tracks at the foot OF Twenty-fourth
street. are emu merated as chief among the
great advantages that have come to Rock
Island from " ithout. Within, Rock Isl,
aud has made sure and steady progress.
Fully half million dollars have been
expended in building improvements, in,
Guiding the &C mpletion of the new First
III. Z church at an expense of 49,. 200.
while the $50. 300 Y. NJ. c. A. building
aud the new Mitchell & Lynde business
block have gotten so far under way that
the early his of the coming season
viii witness their completion. These are
only the most extensive of the improve
mcnts that have characterized our growth
during the year. The remodeliug of
Trinity church. the overhauling that has
been done at the Harper and Rock Island
houses and Harper's theatre, all come
under the head of notable improvements.
There have been other building enter
prises in the way of business blocks and
residences all over the city, which will
bring the total expended in this manner
up to fully s5OO.OOO.
Rock Island has moved on apsce In
the way of street improvements. though
the advancem emit has not been of a ma.
ture that had )een hoped for or that the
city had conte mplated. The paving con-
tract on TIVE ntieth street and on lower
Second avenue, has not been fulfilled
though a most earnest effort has been
made by the contractors in the face of
many obstacles and misfortunes to carry
out the provisions of the contract. Three
blocks have been land and the opening
or the pprosching season will witness
not only the entire completion of these
undertakings. but further extensions of
the same character in accordance with
plans the council now has 10 contempla.
ton.
One of the most notable improvements
Is the identifying of Spencer square. for
which the city at much expense laid the
foundation by grading year ago and
further evineed its public spirit last
spring BY putting in walks. Our pro,
gressive minded citizens headed BY Hon.
B. T. Cable with the gift of the beautiful
fou ntain, responded heartily
Anc hberal.y, and our present lovely park,
which Is the pride of the city and the com.
tort and JOY o. all its people. is the result.
In the comTlishment of these great ends
much should be said in praise of the tire
less energies. and the good judgement Of
Park Commissioner VIM. jackson, whose
labor OF love mas been productive of so
much to Rock Island. Following the
example thus set, improvements of q |
similar natur, have already been CON-
nenced at Garnsley Square and the open.
ing OF spring will witness the carrying
forward of Systematic plan for identifying |
The park in the lower end of the city.
Not the least of the gains made by the
city In the past year. is the adoption Of |
electricity as "a motive power on all our |
leading street railway lines, which win |
give to tie city means OF transportation |
not only to al localities within its limits
put to adjoining cities that is uuexcelled |
anywhere in The country. to say nothing |
IT the great advantage Rock Island has
achieved in securing the immense power |
plant of the tri-city system of the Chicago |
syndicate
In the Roci ford construction company's |
brick plant Rock Island has secured an |
industry which will prove OF great ad-
vantage to the city and its people. while |
the prospects are bright for still further
Industries Of like beneficial nature.
The new system of street lighting. and
the uniform plan of sidewalk construction |
are both cha, acteristic of advancement.
Altogether Rock Island has reason to
welcome 189 in most hopeful manner,
basing such a feeling on the accomplish |
ments of the departing year and to believe |
that through the co-operative efforts of a |
municipal body and our Citi> |
zens' Improvement association. Q year |
hence may q nd US even still further along |
IS q city full of enterprise, life and |
pluck, than We are this New Years eve. |
Waft b Meeting Tonight.
The reviv,l meeting last night, was |
well attended, and full OF I'M NJ
night there viii be watch meetings.
regular old fashioned watch meeting.