Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-18
LOOKS TEMPTING.
The Rockford Construction Compa
ny's Proposition.
An unusuaiiv Low bid for the Con-
tempiated Paving Improvements.
ana Declared Desire 90 Locate n
Factory In Rock Island

AS will be seen by reference to the off,
ciai record of the council proceedings, the
Rockford Contraction company made an
extraordinary proposition in connection
with he submission of bids for the paw.
Ing extension on Second avenue and the
impro vement of similar nature on
twentieth street. The Rockford compa-
ny In the first place offered to undertake
the paving improvements under the spec,
incat ons of the council with Rock Island
brick for the remarkably low figure of
Sl'oe per square yard, and in the same
connection offered sort of explanatory
communication. setting forth that il the
rockford company should receive the
contract for the contemplated improve.
ments, II would establish in Rock Island
plant for the development and manufac-
ture of paving brick. investing $25 900
and employ fifty men at the outset The
interest of every member of the council
was centered in this proposition at once
and MIR. VIM. c. Butterworth, as repre-
sentative of the Rockford Construction
company, who was present. was called
uIon for further explanation of his com
pany's offer.
Mr.. Butterworth stated that on his
first visit here last fall he had made a
partial test of the Rock Island clay suit.
able for paving purposes, and it had
proven so entirely satisfactory that ten
days ago he had returned to Rock Island
In company with the company's engineer
aud general manager. MIR. Daniel w.
Mead. and had boxed quantities of this
Clay to disinterested brick factories ia
Ohio and at Albany Junction and to the
London factory for expert analysis, and
the result had been so highly gratifying
to the company, which had also made
thorough tests and spent much time and
money with clay tests in Illinois, Iowa.
Wisconsin and Minnesota, and with
which the Rock Island sample had been
compared, that last Friday the company
had authorized its superintendent, Mr. d.
W. Mead, to invest sea. 900 in a plant in
Rock Island. The Rock Island clay he
deemed fully equal to Galesburg-the
stludard-if not superior, and his compa.
ny was not only willing. but anxious
to develop it. Mr.. Butterworth spoke
also of the railroad advantages of Rock
Island, which he considered the best in
the state outside of Chicago. There were
advantages here that his company was
not disposed to let go by. The
company had appropriated S25. 900
for the establishment of plant here and
asked no bonus and no subscription to
sock. At the outset the factory would
have a capacity of 10000 brick per day
and give employment from the beginning
to fifty men. and would increase the ca
aclty and help as the demand for the
product justified. He showed some
rough samples of brick from clay found
in Rock Island. and said that better spec
linens were daily expected here. He had
no hesitancy in saying that the ompany
'elt safe in making guarantee that it
could manufacture from the clay discov-
cred here brick equal TO any in the
country.
Mr. Butterworth was asked what guar
antee he would give that his Rock Island
brick would be equal to Galesburg or
Bardolph, and he replied that he would
give guarantee equal to that of any
other contractor for his particular brick
His company was perfectly willing to
give bonds and fulfill all requirements for
the satisfactory fulfillment of its contract,
and as Atkinson & Oloff's contract com
pleted last summer only specified that the
brick to be used should be Galesburg or
other brick equally as good, il seems that
Mr.. Butterworth's proposition is surely
as reasonable as could be asked
Aid. Negus advised the council to act
without unnecessary delay in the matter
OF letting the contracts for pavement, as
he was satisfied that there was move
ment on foot in the city to kill the i'm
provements, and those who were leading
such attempts should be given no adyan-
tage whatever to carry out their aims.
In answer to further question as to
his ability to complete his contract by
Aug. 1, Mr.. Butterworth said it could be
done, and the company would give am
pie bond that 1t should be, and also
submit to provision in the contract that
the brick should be equal to Gales
burg or Bardolph on the strength
of comparative tests before the work was
accepted.
The business like manner with which
Mr.. -Butterworth addressed himself and
the clear and comprehensive way in
which he demonstrated the determination
of his company to come to Rock Island,
| il the city would show DISPOSE.
ton to act fairly with it. made
an impression upon the council. and while
an adjournment was taken to THURSDAY
night 1T was not because of a lack of con
fidence in his representations, but simply
and purely from desire to move eau
tiously and to learn the standing Of thu
company in the financial world befcr'
considering the advisability of enterinl