Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-01-23
in the Committees possession are ap-

in the committees possession are APP
| pended:
Muscatine, Ia, Jan. Is. 1901.-As
chairman of the original committee
appointed TO investigate the PROPOSE
ton and credentials of George I'll. John
ston, of st. Ilouis. L wish to say that
our report to the club thereon has
been fully verified, and the citizens
who bought the tickets and made it
possible for US to have a modern
ground floor opera house. are well
pleased with the same. Everything
Mr.. Johnston agreed to do has been
done, and more, too, and our dealings
with him have been pleasant al the
way through.-John III. Munroe.
President Commercial Club.
Muscatine, Ia, Jan. IS, 190l.-Our
committee and all our citizens are
well pleased with our opera house,
erected by George III. Johnston. We
had cast iron contract with Mr..
Johnston, backed by an approved
bond. The contract was carried out
to the letter. In fact, he did more than
his contract called for. The building
was accepted by our committee of %
unanimously. and his bond has been
cancelled. NJ. Gobble, Chairman
Opera House Committee.
More Than He Promised.
Vicksburg, Miss. May IL, $780,
The Vicksburg Opera House COM
pany entered into a contract with
George II. Johnston, of st. Louis, for
the erection and completion of a mod
ern ground floor theatre in this city.
On behalf of said company, 1 desire
to state that Mr.. Johnston has in
every sense carried out his agreement
with US. 10 fact, in several instances,
he has done things that he was not
called on under his contract to do,
and it affords me great pleasure to
indorse him as q thoroughly honest,
capable man. and further, as one who
understands the construction of
theatres to the minutest detail. 1t
is genuine pleasure to do business
with man of this kind, and we can
conscientiously recommend him to
any one who contemplates the cree
ton of q theatre. NJ. Searles,
Secretary and General Manager.
Freeport, Ill.-George II. Johnston
has erected in this city an opera
house of which we all feel proud. 1t
was opened on the 4th of this month
in very popular play, and the large
audience present was unanimous in
pronouncing the building "perfect
GEM" Our citizens are highly pleased
with Mr.. Johnston's plans and his
work. and have found by actual ex-
perience that "his word is as good as
his bond.'' 1 have no hesitation
whatever in recommending him to
any one as a man in whom they may
place unlimited confidence.-W. N.
Cronkrite, County Judge.
Kewanee, Ill.-George H. Johnston
has just completed an opera house in
this city, and it gives us the greatest
pleasure to say that in all of his deal
ings with the people here he has full
filed his agreements to the letter and
met all obligations promptly. Before
he started on his work here we in
vestigstsd his standing in other
places where he had put up buildings,
and at each place he was heartily in
dorsed by the people with WHOM he
had dealt He leaves here with the
best wishes of our citizens.-James
X. Blish, President First National
Bank.
In conclusion the committee says:
sit is generally well known that a
strong sentiment has been manifest in |
this city for the erection of an opera |
house suitable for the convenience aad |
for the growing needs of |
our city. In this respect Rock Island
is sadly deficient in the matter of thea
tire building. her sister cities of the
same class throughout the west being
well provided with modern, up-to-
date opera houses, capable of accom-
the largest opera compa-
MES, extravaganzas and theatre COM
panies on the road.
1--WE have endeavored to enlist
local capital to construct an opera
house suitable to the requirements of /
Rock Island. but our efforts have been
In vain. We have now a proposition
from Mr.. Johnston, a gentleman of
standing and ability, who has erected
opera houses in many of the cities of
the west and south, and whose plan
has been set forth above.
with this statement of the case
the com mittee rests assured that the /
people of Rock Island will aid the I'M
dertaking TO the extent of their op-
portunities, to the end that they may |
secure for the community that which |
we now stand most in need of, safe. |
modern place of amusement in keep.
ing with public requirements and the
other environments and general |
CT Rock Island
Canvasser j. B. Arthurs is expected |
to arrived in the city tonight, in |
which event he will resume the ticket |
sale tomorrow morning.