Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-07
ssss3tCitv Directors.


plete his canvass for the dew direc-
tory. The territory yet to be can
vassed is that portion from the river
south to Third avenue and Six
tenth street, east to Nineteenth.
As this. is the principal business
portion, it has been left until the
last in order to allow for the changes
which usually occur this time of
year. In the meantime a. record of
all vacant houses and buildings and
prospective changes have been kept.
which will be recanvassed. In addi-
ton solicitors are kept busy watch
ing removals and changes in bust
ness. A large number of compilers
are arranging the information, which
is piece Of architectural work and
can only be done by those who are
educated in it's many intricate de-
tails. A large number of people
think in order to publish directory
all that is necessary is togo round
and take the names and hand them
to the printer. Such, however, is
not correct. Every slip has to be
gone over and compared with its
duplicate. II there is any difference
solicitor is dispatched to get it
correct. Differences occur by the
different spelling of names. For in
stance, at the home the name IS
given Schmidt" and ..Smith" at the
place of business; at the place of
business the given-name is given
John" and at home William" 81"
or people who are not familiar with
the numbers make a mistake at
their place of business, and there are
divers other causes which make the
directory man lots of worry. After
all the work is compiled \ the same
has to be checked from the last book,
so if name which appeared in the
last book is not found search has to
be made to ascertain the cause. 1t
may be that they have left the city,
or they are dead or have moved from
some territory uncanvassed to some
already finished.
Mr.. Stone reports there are some
firms here who refuses to allow his
cahvassers to 20 through their places
to get the names of the help-the
only reason for not doing SO, it takes
their time. This is wrong. ANY
citizen who is interested in the well
fare of their city should willingly
lend his assistance in a matter of this
kind. Some people think that the
information can be secured at their
homes. There are a large number of
workingmen who room, and it is i'm
possible to find them at home; also
who board in boarding houses and
the hostess and the proprietors really
do not know their full names. Now,
unless the canvasser gets them where
they work they are liable to be
missed. Mr.. Stone reports that Mo-
line has done better this year than
heretofore. He has secured a larger
number of orders for books, as well
as advertising. Rock Island should
and doubtless will do its share.
Mr.. Stone has given US q beauti-
fully printed. as well as metropoli-
tan-like directory. and far more COM
plete and accurate than anything
that We have ever had in the past.
The compiling aud. Publishing of q
directory necessitates several months
of labor. besides a large outlay of
capital. 1t is no fake or scheme, but
il is one of the foremost necessities.
II our business men had no directory
they would find that in order to be
prompt in delivering their goods it
would require q large amount of
time in hunting the people. as we'll
as would necessitate increasing their
help in addition. The directory is
valuable in keeping the strangers
who are visiting our city daily, say
nothing Of aiding the telegraph COM
panies 20 make the delivery of impor-
tant messages that should come after
business men are gone to their homes,
say nothing of assisting the Postoffice
delivery. express companies, etc.
If We we're without a directory, then.
cry would go up, why don't we
have one? The opportunities to Sc
cure a good one are at hand.