Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-18
BUSINESS.
Timely and Important Action of the
Improvement Association.
AVAILABLE LANDS FOR FACTORIES.
The DETERMINED Course to secure
Them at OnCe-Presidi MT Jack
sons Address-Remarks by
Other CitiZrns.--Rock
Islands Great Need.

Last nights special meeting OF the Rock
Island Citizens Improvement association
was one of the most important in results
to be sought in is history. There was
goodly attendance of repre- sentative citi-
zens aud much earnestness and determin>
cussed In calling the meeting to order
President Jackson called Vice President
Carse to the chair and taking the floor he
addressed the association briefly in in
PRODUCTION of the following which in his
executive capacity he presented in the
form of a message:
In conversation with many members of
the association | have been urged to pre-
sent for your consideration a project for
acquiring land for the location of any
manufacturing enterprise that we might
be able to secure for this city.
About one year ago at meeting of the
ASSOCIATION | then suggested that We take
some action to purchase the city land be
longing TO the Davenport estate, The
idea was favorably received, but it was not
acted upon for reasons that could be ex-
planned if it were prudent and necessary
TO explain.
Many cities of the northwest are putting
forth great efforts to secure the location of
factories for all kinds of business pur-
poses, and so persistent are these efforts
that The city that takes no action is apt
to be left behind. Many prominent cities
stand ready to lend material assistance to
manufacturing enterprises. and so we'll
known is this fact to men who desire to
engage in this kind of business that 1t has
become now almost absolutely necessary
that city desiring new factories must be
ready to offer some inducements. This
was not true 20 years ago, and if Rock
Island had been free and untrsmmeled
then and during the years subsequent we
might have secured many enterprises that
have passed US by and located at other
places.
Circumstanced as we are now, what
have We to offer? Our people have no
bonus to offer, nor have they any land.
We should, in my judgment dispense with
the bonus feature, but we ought to have
the land This appears to be good time
for our citizens to consider this question.
At no time within the past 25 years have
the citizens of Rock Island felt as much
confidence in the locality as they do now.
We have always been in better condition
than We imagined, yet not half as good as
we might have been. If we Try and help
ourselves now we certainly will gain by
it. Strangers and business men visiting
this locality must be drawn TO it more
readily if they can discover a spirit OF en-
terprise and desire for improvement
among the people
There is now, as perceive it, an OPP
portunity for US. tide in our affairs
The lands belonging to the Davenport es
tate within and adj AGENT to the limits of
the city are now in the hands of our OVID
citizens almost entirely. In the entirety
they cover large area, and if held by
separate owners it must be many years
before they are all disposed of interest,
taxes and assessments will largely in
crease their cost to the proprietors. The
demand for residence lots will be in pro
portion to the Increase of population;
increase of msnufac curing enterprises
must increase the population. No rta'-
enable hope can be INDUCED in for any
increase outside of this source.
If the lands of the Daven port estate
were in the hands of the people gener-
oiAf "Obio luc Wuolc pcOpiC III
the proper improvement and disposition
of them.
l assume the parties who own these
lands would be willing to make a fair
and reasonable sale of them. Especially
mus. this be true if the purpose is indi-
vidual speculation, but for the good of
the entire community. The people of
Rock Island have just claim for a share
| IN whatever benefits may result in the
| ownership of these premises. The i'm
| provements made by the people of Rock
| Island, rich and poor, on lands in this city
has made the Davenport land worth as
much as 1t is. This enterprise never was
reciprocated; these lands were q sponge
that absorbed every thing and did not
yield anything, SO that in just aud fair
sense these lands ought to be so used
that they will return to the people of this
city some portion of the value that the
| people have added to them.
1t has been said many times, and |
think truthfully. that MI. Dsver port was
fully conscious Of a debt or obligation
he owed to our people He knew his
land had increased in value because his
fellow citizens had improved ali around
| him, and IT has been said that he had in
mind to discharge this debt to our people,
but it never was done, and the question
now is, can anything be done now to
repair the neglect of the past?
1t cannot be intended that those who
have bought this estate shall yield all
their profits, but l think that if they
will CO operate with us we can make the
land as profitable to them as they would
desire.
This proposition has been discussed
that the citizens of Rock Island. or as
many as may choose to do so, unite and
purchase these lands from the present
owners. at such prices as may be consid ,
cred reasonable, the persons contributing
to the purchase fund TO receive in the
end their money back with lawful inter-
est, the lands to be surveyed, plated and
sold ss fast as they can be. A certain
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