Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-10-09


nal and Its business and Social Life.
In Pretty Rock Island; Busy and
Fluurishing, Citv on the Mississippi
River: Attractive Site Improved Upon
by Intelligent People; Splendid Com
merce and Social Life Established
There; Fine Golf Course Now All Ad-
dition To Arsenal Sport" is the head
ing on an illustrated page article in
the Sundays Chicago Chronicle. 1t
is the first of a series of writeups of
the three cities. The introduction
| reads:
The city of Rock Island in this
state will prove a happy surprise to
any one who knew the place in the
old days, then the business of the Mis-
sissippi valley was all done on the Mis-
sissippi river, when n fleet of steam
boats was in effect what the railroad
train now is-the whole thing, as re-
garded both by the freighter and the
traveller. Some there are, doubtless,
who will remembe Rock Island as 4
pretty rough river town, but this is a
memory that even hasty visit there
today would completely obliterate.
From being the rough river town
that it once most certainly was it has
now TO present to those who arrive
there from Chicago or New York, or
whatever metropolitan city. every
comfort and elegance that is COM
monty looked for by travellers of cN-
perience and refinement.
Most of the towns and cities on
the great river have in the past quar-
ter or third of Il century undergone
wonderful transformation. Few of
them have the same outward aspec-s
they once had rs respects their main
features. and the busy people one sees
on their streets ar pursuing similar
ends to those pursued by busy people
in all the trading and manufacturing
cities Of the country. Wealth has
accumulated in the more favOrably
located river cities as fast or faster
than il has in many other important
places, and liberal portions of this
wealth have been and are being eX-
pended, more ungrudGingly perhaps
than almost anywhere else, in pro
viding things of and for the mind
schools and ehuSches and clubs-and
in extending and beautify ing inhab-
tied areas Those old river men who
had their humble homes on the levee
were hearted fellows and
cheerfully parted with their last dol
lar to obtain for themselves or their
families things which pleased Today
n similar spirit of libcrality animates
the people who live, not on the levees.
but on the fine streets and avenues
and who are IN anifesting their eager-
ness to excel both in the elegance OF
their private dwellings. and the gran
observations and reflections are eX-
tremely appropriate to the subject of
this article-Rock Island city
Advantages DweIt Upon.
A few of the extracts from the
write up follow:
They speak to this day Of harbors
on the river, and all admit that one of
the finest of these harbors-in other
words. easy landings-iS ut Rock Isl
and. What it is at the present time it
was in the olden time. For this reason,
if there had been no other, all the boats
tied mp and did business at this place.
But there was another reasOn-there
were no white inhabitants on the Iowa
side, where now is the rich and thirty
ing city of Davenport"
Rock Island is now railroad CEN
ter and city of extensive manufac-
lures. II is also n money center and
city with a great deal of trade. 1t
has many institutions of education
and religion and it supports them all
most literally. Its streets and ave
nues are fine-therc are none iinerany-
where-and care and considerable
amounts OF money have been bestowed
upon its parks and driveways. Its
social elements are well Disseminated.
and society is organized in the fashion
that is most approved of in much
larger cities. In word. Rock Island
is a city"
The population of Rock Island
is placed ut -, 900 and this is deemed
bv the best informed to be conserva-
tive estimate. There are very few
retired rich men there and not many
impecunious idlers. There seems
to be enough business for all and
nearly all are in business. The 80
factories are running At full capacity
and at least three other factories are
said to be about to locate there"
The steam railroads, consider
ing the numb Der that have come into
Rock Island, and the 30 trains that
pass daily through the city offer the
least possible menace TO persons in
private vehicles and to pedestrians.
A stranger may be in the town for
days together and never see a rail-
road train or hear one whistle. But
the electric car is everywhere. There
is no other city, no matter OF what
size. in this country so well supplied
with electric transportation As is Rock
Island. "
The article speaks of the benefits to
accrue to the city from the Hennepin
canal, the tine public buildings, the
Modern Woodmen headquarters, its
popular city officers, past and present