Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-19
OF PLEASURE.
Ideas as to the Best Places for
Parks.
~
QUINCY AND the RIVER.
Observations in a Citizens
Visit to This City.
A Tribute to the Spirit of the
Times Here.
QUINCY AND the RIVER.

Ed Parker, one Of tho public
spirited citizens Of Quincy. came to
Rock Island last month to attend
the Episcopal diocesan convention,
and since his return home he has
been interviewed BY Wing - to what
he saw while away. He is much in
terssted in public improvements and
this is what the Quincy paper says
about him:
..Mr. Parker states that Rock ISL
and has . public square similar to
Washington park, but unlike Wash
ington park, It 10 handsomely i'm
proved and beautifully cared for.
It has arched iron entrances 1t the
corners, and contains statuary and
large urns filed with flowers. Col
or is also added BY IN abundance Of
shrubbery, and In the place Of un-
slightly wooden benches. numerous
park seats are provided. The walks
are numerous and irregular. Such
. park 10 avoided by loafers and dis
reputable characters and the people
are free to enjoy it. Rock Island
has no other public park. but the
public-spiritsd citizens have been
giving the u. liter careful considera-
alton and are arranging to join
with Moline in organizing . park dis
trict after the plan adopted in Peo-
ria. A beautiful drive Of several
miles will be laid ont along the river
bluffs, with numerous parks along
the drive. While Rock Island 10 on
y one-half as large Is Quincy. her
enterprising people are insugurating
an undertaking far in advance Of
Quincy's combined park and boule-
ward system. Mr.. Parker observed
that when be made the statement that
the view from the new Indian Mound
park in Quincy was the finest along
the entire river. from New Orleans
to st. Paul, he had always made .
reservation in favor of the view from
the Watch Tower at Rock Island.
He had never visited the Tower un-
til now, but he had always under
stood that it afforded . grand out
look. Now. he can speak from per-
sonal knowledge. The Tower is
owned by the street railway com
pany and $40. 900 will be expended
for . new pavilion and other
Improvements this season. It
commands . view of two branches Of
Rock river. and while the landscape
is finer than that presented from In
dian Mound park, the water Wow
and grand sxpanse Of land and water
combined presented at Quincy's new
park far surpssses anything pre-
scented at Rock Island. The Tower
il famous the country over, and 10
visited by thousands Of travellers and
excursionists every summer. In In
dian Mound park Quincy has . much
greater prize. Mr.. Parker returns
homo more enthusiastic than ever
for . system Of public parks and
handsome drives for his homo city"
nlsssd Some Of II.
While Mr.. Parker's commendatory
utterances concerning Rock Island
parks are appreciated. he did not see
all here that was to be seen. He
overlooked the counterpart Of Spen-
Ger square-Garnsey square-but the
point that he makes in favor of the
Quincy park overlooking the river
10 superior advantage to any pos
sessed at the Watch Tower here IL
interesting. The scenery about
Black Hawk 10 unsurpassed in this
country, and equalled nowhere in the
west, but II to Mr.. Parker's mind
the close proximity of the Missis-
sippi 10 an element Of 20 great COM
| parative merit, the suggestion fur
nishes another argument in favor Of
Rock Island. while going ahead With
park and boulevard improvements, to
neglect not the great natural oppor-
tunities which other cities have-the
river front. Rock Island has both
the Rock river apd the Mississippi.
She has . gorgeous summer resort
and park overlooking the Rock.
Let MS fix up our approach to the
majestic stream which 10 in trent Of
us-the Mississippi. The levee ID
the need Of the hour.