Rock Island daily Argus., 1893-10-23
THE SNUG HARBOR.
Financial Matters Interrupting the Pro-
gress of the Enterprise.

gress of the Enterprise.
Several months ago the scheme for
the establishment of home for dis
abled or friendless steamboat men on
Oferman's island was being urged in
the three cities by Rev. B. Frank
land of the Western Seamen's Friend
society, but for some time nothing
has been heard of it. In the mean
time the option on the property has
expired. and matters have come
to a standstill. A communica-
ton from General uperintendent
Frankland has been addressed to the
Tri-City Business Mems associations
and others interested in the enterprise
here. setting forth the present status
OF the matter, and says:
Following the course recommended
hy the tri-city directors Of this move
ment. that an agency be established
Tor the dissemination of information
touching the W. 5. F. =. its Bethel
work generally, and the need of
snug harbor institution. Office room
Davenport; a large amount of read
ing matter pertaining to this subject
was printed and disseminated. not
only in the territory contiguous to
the proposed location of the institu-
ton. but in other western centerS
Visitation was also made to river
ports. and correspondence carried on
which enlisted much general svmpa-
thy, and brought forth tenders of
service from more than twenty prom
inent citizens engaged in river buSi-
ness. So far from meeting with dis
couragement or disposition to aban-
don the attempt in this direction. the
effect of this campaign of instruction
and consultation was to satisfy US
that ultimate success. and a COM
plete covering of the needs of men of
our waterways. demands a broaden
ing of the original purpose.
On Credit Island.
The thought having been fully i'm
pressed upon all that Credit island
had been fixed upon aS peculiarly
favorable location and site for large
/
grounds for recreative and horticul-
tural purposes, all suggestions so
far from other points have been in
the direction of the local annexes or
branches, and have covered one point
on the Ohio river. one on Lake Erie.
one of the Monongahela river. and
one on Lake Michigan.
Financially our first thought was
in the direction of the steamboat
license fund. to which the original
memorial to our society called atten-
ton. Inquiry at the United States
| treasury department at Washington.
elected the fact that while at the
| expiration of the time when these
| license fees were collected by the
government. there remained to the
credit of the fund more than $780,
UOo. the amount on hand had subse-
| queutly been covered into the gen
eral fund of the United States treas
ury. and the opinion universally pre-
| vailed that at this time of enforced
economy-from a rapidly decreasing
surplus op hand-a movement for
| special appropriation would hardly
meet with favor, and III any rate the
coming regular session of congress
would he the earliest period at which
1t would he advisable to make any eff
fort in this direction. Furthermore,
fixed site for the snug harbor, paid
for and in possession. would be a
first need-if money appropriation
were asked for.
The Financial Strtngency.
1t will be readily seen that the
principal cause of naturalization of
the hope to secure by private per-
sonal contributions the $50, 900 need