Rock Island Argus., 1900-04-11

dream could be realized if the cities
worked together. 1t was his hope
that the ends sought would be accom-
plished.
Rock Island Arsenal.
Mai. S. E. Blunt followed with an
interesting talk on "Rock Island
Arsenal. a subject that the people
are alway happy to hear him dis
cuss. Reviewing the improvements
wrought at the arsenal under the
administration of his predecessors,
especially Gems. Rodman and Flagler,
Maj. Blunt brought his listeners down
to present day conditions, and spoke
felic t0usly of the good results ao-
complished with the assistance of IL e
tri-city business people in increasing
the appropria tion for the small arms
plant. He tcld of the visit here last
fall, upon invitation of the three
cities, of a number of congress
men. While passing through the
empty buildings in armory row Con-
gressman Cannon suggested that he
C c1uld only hear the echo of Allison
"Allison.r Allison Some one re-
piled that the time was hoped for
when from the buildings now un-
used would come the echo of
Cannon, Cannon "'Cannoni.
Aud to that able Illinois congress
man the three cities and Rock Island
arsenal could look for much. 1t
was in his power to produce the re-
suits that would insure enough
money to install the small arms plant
and the speaker believed he could
be depended upon. Maj. Blunt said
if the bust. ess associations would
continue to help the arsenal, as they
had in the past, the dream for its de-
velopment would be realized. He
said that only Yesterday bids were
opened for S75, 900 worth of electri-
cal machinery TO increase the water
power plant to meet the additional
requirments that will come from the
small arms plant.
United Efforts.
United Efforts was a topic that
was ably treated by +. ii. Guyer. of
Rock Island. He said the most strik-
ing feature of the times in which we
lived was the tendency towards COM
bination. 1t was a conceded fact that
nine-tenths of the legislation enacted
by congress and by legislatures was
instigated or influenced by some one
or other of these mighty cOmbina-
tions. An impossible task for the in
dividual was one easy of accom- plish-
ment by concerted and united effort.
There should be unauimity in our
aims, in our plans and in our efforts,
and then results would ensue of gigan-
tie importance 1t should be the aim
of every good citizen to promote the
advancement of the city in which he
lived and that unanimity of aim
should be sufficient inducemeut to
impel every such citizen to become
memb ber of the organization in his
city which was intended to promote
the city's advancement. for unless
there was such an org lniZatiOn there
could he no unanimiJv of plan or of
action, and if not guided by concerted
plan and line of action, different indi
viduals, though having the same aim.
might neutraliZe the efforts, each OF
the other, by pulling in different di-
rectiOns, By concerted action and
organization we had added greatly to
each citizens comfort and convenience
in the building of paved streets and
uniform sidewalks; we had insured
the health of our families by pare
water supplies, ornamented our re-
spective cities by several beautiful
parks, and had caused to be con-
structed a canal connecting the lakes
with the great river. We could ac
complish more than any city between
ST. Louis and ST. Paul or between
Lake Michigan and the Mississippi
river. In all that vast territory
we could force a recognition of the
tri-cities in culture, in force, in in
dustry, in trade, in wealth and In all
the elements that characterized a me-
tropolis. Nothing would be too great
for us to undertake when we yoked
together the persistency of Daven-
port. the faith of Rock Island and the
assurance of proud Moline.
Tri-CitIes' Future.
A. p. McGuirk in telling of The
Tri- Cities Future" said the three
cities had the advantages of location,
had the push, energy and ingenuity
to make themselves the greatest cities
between St. Louis and St. Paul. The
three cities were situated in the gar
den spot of the world, Mr.. McGuirk
said. 1t would eventually become
-
with a population of a half million
people within % years. He suggested
the uniting of n group of states in the
west and the holding of conventions
looking to the securing of propar
recognition from the government in
the distribution of federal improve
ments. An influence that would be
irresistible would be welded. 1t
would be mightier in strength than
the Niagara or the Mississippi
damned at Moline.
The Professional Man.
DR.. G. L. Eyster, of Rock Island, in
responding to the toast, The Pro-
fessional Man. said the professional
man, as other individuals, had his
ups and downs, but was just as much
interested in the educational. artistic.
rOlitiPal and moral of o;k