Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-08-15
Former Superintendent Pleased
With His Montana Envir.
onments.
TIE A PECULIAR
OTTY,
Has Also a Good Word for His
Successor and Former
Associates.

ne speaks OF having lOI HaIly entered
upon his duties as uperintendent of
schools there, and states that he is
well pleased with his position and
prospects. Rock Island will have a
fine superintendent in Mr.. Hayden"
he SAYS. Il know him we'll and he is
all right, good, strong man in every
way"
In letter to Secretary r. A. DON
aldson, of the board of education, Mr..
Young saws that although he has been
in Butte but a few days he is Begin
ming to get acquainted with the
schools and general conditions. Il
wish" he says, Il could give you a
good idea of the city, but that is i'm
possible. One must see it and
breathe its spirit-and smoke-to
fully realize its many Peculiarities.
1t is place of over $4,000 active,
surging, pushing people. A vast
amount of building is going on in all
parts of the city, business blocks,
residences, warehouses, etc., being
represented in the Improvements, but
in spite of all this, every place is
crowded and rents are high. There
are many very extensive business
houses here. One of these is said to
be the finest west of Chicago. 1t is
owned chiefly by Marcus Daily, and you
may Judge something of the swing
it has. The main streets are paved
with granite blocks and the public
improvements of all kinds are of the
most modern type. The water sup
ply is at present very poor; in fact,
it is vile; so much so that most of the
people buy spring water that is ped
died about the streets. The water
question, however, will be remedied
in few months, as a new system is
being provided. This will bring the
water 80 miles from the Big Hole
liver and will supply the city with
water in abundance and of the very
finest quality.
Copper the Chief Industry.
While every form of business is
carried on here, you, of course, know
that copper mining holds the chief
place and gives color to all employ
ments. The smoke stack with its
dense volume of black, sulphurous
smoke pouring out. is seen on every
hand, and unlike the great volcanoes
of history, they never cease tteir ac-
tivity, but day in and day out, year
in and year out, they continue to
pour out into the pure air and bright
sunshine that God has given US their
dense clouds of smoke and sulphur
fumes.
Mines are found everywhere, back
in and on the mountains, on the edge
of the city. in the city, in the alleys.
in the backyards of residences-every-I
where. one may see the hoist and
shaft from which the ore is being
taken and transported by team, street
cars, and steam cars, to some of the
many smelters in and about the city.
Mineral Land Everywhere.
The entire territory on which the
city is located is mineral land and
when one buys lot, he buys only the |
surface right, the seller reserving the |
right to the mineral below and often |
times he reserves a spot on which he |
may sink q shaft when he desires to
do so.
There is very little vegation in the
city, only a few lawns and no trees. |
is green here-not even the |
people except some of the new COM
ers). There are many fine residences,
business blocks, and public buildings.
The library would do credit to city |
of 10000 people and some of the
business blocks of four, five and six
stories can not be duplicated in the
.ri-cities. 1 attended church Sunday
IN q very beautiful church recently
erected a cost of $S5. 900 or more. 1t
mas a very fine pipe organ and is
furnished. The school
are large and modern, the
high school being especially attrac-
i've in its exterior outline and it's in
erior finish. 1t cost, so the clerk
ellis me, 1925. 900. The enrolment
or next year. it is expected, will
each nearly 600.
The altitude here is about 5000
eet, so you may see that a tender
GOT needs to be little dignitied in
lis movements till he gets his sec
md wind
Strange City.
ut is, taking it all in ALL strange
ity; a com bination that cannot be
ound anywhere else on earth-men
md women from all parts of the
rose, good. bad and indifferent: the
10 tllne cdoiu sue Dy Slde VIII ING
modern business block; the church
nd the giIded palace; the profess
ional gam bier and the missionary;
he thug and the white cravetted par
on; the reeling drunkard and the COL
eye president, etc.
Men work all the time. some by :
ay. some by night; the city is always )
wake and is always doing business, :
'ut some of il is the business of death. |,
While there are a great many shady ,
'eople here, you can find no better
eople on earth than those who are
egarded as the better element and
vho give character. and tone. and
movement to the community. They
re keen, alert, active, industrious,