Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-19
CLUB rs ASSURED.
Citizens Consider the New
Commercial Body.
PRELIMINARY STEPS ARE TAKEN


The preliminary meeting of citi-
zens at the Harper last evening re-
sponsive to the informal call for the
purpose Of considering the formation
of q new commercial and social club,
was attended by GO OF the representa-
tive business and professional men of
Rock Island. The nature of the re-
Spouse to the notice, wac, as was
we'll said during the meeting, highly
indicative of the disposition of the
citizens to form such a body as had
been proposed.
The meeting was held in the pa--
lors of the hotel. and was called to
order by Charles McHugb, at whose
invitation the gentlemen assem- bled.
Mr.. McHugh briefly outlined the OBJ
ject o: the melting and suggested
the election of chairman as the first
duty. F. w. Bshnsen was proposed
by A. c. Dart, and unanimously
elected. Charles Buford presented
the name of f. j. Burns for secre.
tary, and he was likewise chosen.
Remarks were then in order as to the
purpose Of the meeting, and the OBJ
ject of the organization it was pro-
posed to form. City Attorney L Haas
asked for an explanation from the
committee calling the meeting. and
A. c. Dart spoke of the need in Rock
Island now OF a club for commercial
and social purposes; Moline, Gin
ton, Muscatine, Des Moines, Peoria
and Quincy all b ID such clubs.
ten followed a general discussion
in which many of those present psr-
ticipated. b. ID. Connolly referred
to the generally liberal response to
the invitations as showing the dis
position here to favor such q plan,
ard also alluded to the success OF a
similar organization in Moline.
Mayor B. F. Knox expressed himself
in favor of the proposed organiza-
t on, and States Attorney c. j..
Searle dwelt on the desirability OF an
Organization combining the COM
mercial ard social features, and
cited instances of the advan-
tages of sach clubs TO other
cities. referring at some length TO q
magazine article recently published
treating on the same. He also al
luded 10 the park ADD bouleva d sys-
tenn which f. II. Guyer had set fort
in the columns of THE ARGOS. l..
Simon told of the desirab ility Of a
first class social club, and alluded 10
the advantages a club of this nature
had proven to Galesburg. which he
had frequently visited in a business
l bril h1l
ganization in the line proposed
would not only be advantageous to
Rock Island in promoting social in.
tercourse, but in contributing to the
efforts to induce new factories to
come here. A. M. Blakesley spoke in
particular of one factory which dur
ing the day had been considered, and
could probably be induced to come
by proper inducements. The pro.
motors were anxious to move to
kock Island. liked the city and re.
allied the diversified inducements it
offered. but it required the right
course of procedure on the part oil
those having the time to complete
the arrangements to bring these new
industries here.
Tho Parks and Boulevards.
f. H. Guyer referred to the park
and boulevard system now possible
in the state under the new law Sc
cured through the energy and enter
prise of Peoria, and in which city q
beautiful and practical system had
already been adopted, and vas being
enjoyed. The special legislative act
under which the improvements
are possible provides, he said,
for a separa.e municipality OF
two or more adjoining citie.
which is empowered to elect
trustees aud who in turn may levy g
mill tax for the Improvements sc
proposed. Mr.. Guyer favored EN-.
oracing the cities of Rock Island
Moline, South Rock Island and South
Moline in the scope Of territory in.
cluded in a special park municipal.
lty, and the requirement of the es
sential tracks TO complete it before il
is too late.
There were remarks also by +. j
and L. II. McNevin. and the meeting
finally expressed itself in the adop
ton of a resolution presented by A.
c. Dart, that 1t be its sense that q
6omwertisl and social club be
formed for the benefit Of Rock
Island and all it's citizens
This was followed by tie sc.
Iceptance of resolution offered by
MIR. Searle that q committee OF seven
be appointed by the chair to take
into consideration the objects out.
lined snd formulate and perfect q
plan for club, whose object shall be
the Advancement OF the commercial
and social inter course and the gen.
eral public interests OF the city.
The meeting then sdiourned subject
TO the call of the committee provided
for, and which was named today BY
Goa rman Bahnsen as follows: vii.
liam Jact SOD, W. II Marshall. F.. II.
Guyer, c. j. Searle, Charles McHugh,
Ed Depkmsun and Meyer Rosenfield,
Mr. Babnsen being = member as
chairman.