Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-18

what they bought it would unite the
people in common cause to help the
CITY without any loss to them. 1t would
not only enlist the energies of the pur-
chasers, but of every other citizen in the
community for the gain would be CO ex-
tensIve with the city.
The plan would offer an immediate
advantage; we would then be in .posi-
ton to offer inducements to msnufactur-
ers at oace. From the beginning we
could form fair estimate OF how much
land we could spare for factories. Hence
it would not require US to wait, we could
act Immediately.
No citizen could hesitate to enter into
an enterprise of this kind, for bis money
and interest is assured to him from the
start he can help the city and not be
obliged to give his money away; he will
surely get it back.
The only obstacle to the success of
this plan is the consen. of the owners to
sell at fair price In this we must
trust 10 their local pride and public spir>
it, If the purpose was to buy for spec
ulation, they probably would be slow TO
sell, but when the speculative profits go
to the whole people this cannot be urged
as an objection, anyhow nothing can be
lost by making a proper effort. The
sale and resale of these lands will make
this project more difficult if we let these
sales be made before we act. We can
make the effort now better than at any
time in the future; we ought to have
acted before. We can, however, act now q.
In his introductory remarks Mr.. Jack
son had stated it was time to cease re-
solving and to begin action with reference
to the subject he so fully and thoughts
fully outlined in his formal statement to
the association. This view of the case
was amply borne out in the discussion
which followed sustaining Mr.. Jsckson's
position, and in which L Simon, Phil
Mitchell, DR.. G. G. Craig. E. II. Guyer,
]. NJ. Buford, T. ]. Medil, Jr.. Henry
Carse, P. L. Mitchell. Mayor William
McConochie, W. B. Ferguson and H D.
Folsom took part. The drift of the gen
tlemens remarks was that Rock Island
had not advanced more rapidly long ago
in the matter of increasing its factories
for two reasons: First, because it had
so many years walled in, so to speak with
land sbundsntly suitable but which could
not be gotten upon the market. In the
second place the city had failed to res
fize or to appreciate its own advantages
over many other cities-its shipping fscil-
tiles by land and water, with three great
trunk lines to the east, west, southwest
and northwest, and short line to the
east. and the Mississippi river and the Hen
nepin canal at our door-and other cities
had gone ahead with less to aid them and
built themselves up. The time of action
has come. and it must be taken advsn-
tsge of in manner that would bring the
great end which means so much for Rock
Island.
At length motion unanimously pres
vailed that the president of the associa-
ton at his leisure appoint committee of
four to act with himself in bringing this
matter before the owners of suitable
land about the city for manufacturing
purposes, and with said land owners d..
wise method of getting plans in shape
that sufficient parcels may be offered graf
uitously as al inducement worthy manu-
featuring enterprises which msy locs te
here,
The movement is one, the Importance
of which, it is unnecessary to dwell upon
in words. Action, as was the spirit of
the sentiment of the meeting, is now the
order of the day. The step the associs-
ii n has taken cannot be too highly COM
nended. Rock Island is on the right
track, let it not deviate from it one hairs
length until the end and aim is reached
In much greater degree than one would
upon casual thought observe, does the
future Of Rock Island depend upon the
success of this undertaking, and THE
ARGUS in common with all interests cons
siderste of Rock Islands advancement,
feels that it cannot too strongly urge its
importance.
The association entered into q further
interesting discussion of matters of vital
Importance to the city, admitted John G
Huntoon, superintendent of the Rock
Island & Milan road, Steven O'Connor,
S. j. Collins and Thomas Nuttle to mem
bership by unanimous vote and adjourn. d
Advertised List No. rs
List Of letters uncalled for at the Postofice ii
Rock Island, Rock Island county. Illinois,
Sept. Is, 1891: