Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-13
TOLD OF THE TOWN.
An Infant Bicycle Factory in
Rock Island.
THREE TURNED OUT ALREADY.

As Good rs the Best is the Guarantee and
Can be Probably Sold at ss5-A DeceP-
tive window-A City Omciai's Accident
Policy.
Did you know that Rock Island
had an infant bicycle factory?
Did't know that three wheels, the
maker of which guarantees them
to equal the best, had been turned
out in this city in the past few
months?
Well, it is SO, nevertheless. An in
genious and enterprising mechanic
has seen the application OF his in
ventive talent and industry attended
by successful results. During last
winter he put in his spare time de-
vising the machinery and appliances
for modelling and manufacturing
wheels, such as lathes. etc. This
spring he went into the business in
earnest. To obviate the danger OF
infringement he fashioned his own
model. Then he went to work and
built the machine. Everything that
went into it was the fruits of his
own handiwork. except the chain,
the tire rim and pneumatic tubes.
OF course, he bought the steel for the
spokes by quantity, but he cut the
rods to shape and put them in. He
designed and turned out three
wheels in all, two ladies' wheels and
one for men. All passed every test
successfully. They appear to be as
good as the bes', in appearance. in
practical use, and in all respects.
The enterprising mechanic found
that he could make one OF these
wheels and put it down for $s5. and
still have a neat profit. aud, encour-
aged by his success he has laid out
the work for IL more between now
and next spring.
Who knows that this is not the
budding OF great industry right
here in Rock Island?
The window Was deceptive.
One of our expert fancy window
dressers hit upon unique and some
what sensational device for catching
the public eye this week. BY a CON-
bination of effects he produced an
appearance, which for all the world
was that of badly smashed window
with splintered and shattered glass
encircling an immense hole. and. with.
in the frame was an immense rock, the
whole suggestive to the passer-bv OF
the fact that some vicious scamp had
hurled the missile through the plate
glass, which is one of largest sheet.
in town. To add to the Impression
thus formed a hastily written notice
was tackled up within. offering $l0(
reward for the apprehension of thu
guilty individual. The scheme was
a great success-and great hit.
Even a neighboring merchant was
Mortified at the thought, and con
suited with the proprietor over hi'
misfortune. assuring him that while
he would dislike to see him lose thu
800, he hoped sincerely that the
scoundrel who had made him thu
costly annoyance would be run t.
earth.
1t was not until this sympathizins
merchant stepped up close to exam
inc the break that he saw his own
break, and then he walked away will
an air of one who didn't care if hi
neighbor's place was reduced t.
ashes, so long as the flames did no
scorch his.
Down on the Accident Insurance.
There is a certain city official who's
opinion of accident policies ha
been somewhat altered since it be
came necessary for him to have
Judgment entered against a compa
nv before he could recover the amour
stipulated in the policy. when over
taken by mishap. in which he ha'
one Of his wings disfigured. Tn
official was one of the first upon tn
compaay's incipiency to have som
accident insurance written up. ant
for something like eight years he ha
contributed to the Golfers of the cor
poration without having occasion L
receive any benefits. until a fev
months ago. He was riding a bicy
Gle when a collision with an obstruc
tion landed him in such a manner a
to dislocate one of his wrists. HI
carried the injured member in
sling for about a moon and hall
and it cost him considerable for pro
fessional ministration. The fact o
his carrying an accident policy pro
vided financial relief. if nothin
more. In due time he made appli
cation for the amount stipulated t
be allowed for the injury of an arr
"A little over hall hundred. Th
manager responded in person. an
did not believe that the Off
cial actually expected any re
compense for such trivial mishaF
He was given to understand the pc
icy-holder was not carrying insur
ance simply to assist in sustaining
the company-he expected the pre-
vided benefits when occasion just
fed. 1t happened that the tw
were old acquaintance. and the man
ager apparently sought to convinc
this friend Of tho in n Stica of his dr.