Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26
!; lGLEANINGS FROM THE ARGUS Oh
7 HALE CENTURY AGO.

oAEANANO Z RON1
HALE A Gen
In CHANGING through the numbers
of The Argus published half cen
fury ago many curious things are
noted with reference to the condi-
tions in general about the city as re-
Elected in the local columns and the
manner of transacting business as
shown in the advertising columns.
Rock Island was claimed at that
time to be city of over 1000 inhab-
itants, but Illinois street. which is
now Second avenue, appears to have
been improved only i'm few places.
There were no crossings between the
Rock Island house and the depot of
the Chicago d Rock Island road
which was on what is now Twentieth
street. With the mud and irregular
ity of the walks where there were
any at all, the pedestrian must have
found it rather difficult getting
about. 70 make matters worse. at
one time noted. the street lights.
which burned gas. were out of COM
mission several weeks at time on ac-
count of one bench of retorts having
burned out. While others were be-
ing built the public had to get along
i'm the dark.
The western railroads advertised in
the early issue of 1855 were the Chi
cage, Rock Island d Pacific. Chicago.
Burlington d Quincy. Chicago & Mis-
sissippi and the Great Western roads
The first named was completed To the
city about that time and the BurIing-
ton had just been built from Chicago
to Burlington. The former was the
only road touching this city. The
display advertisement of the Chicago,
| Rock Island q Pacific road contains
the following: Chicago q Rock Is
land and Peoria and Bureau Valley
railroads are now completed and
open to Peoria. BY Chicago d Mis-
sissippi railroad connecting with this
road at Joliet passengers are convey
ed to Bloomington, Springfield and
| Alton. connecting with steamers for
81. Louis. Night express train dis
continued. Four daily passenger
trains leave Chicago Sunday except
/ d). Stages connect at Rock Island
and Davenport for Upton. Cedar Rap
ids. Iowa City. Fort Des Moines and
Council Bluffs. Passengers are re-
minded of the necessity Of giving dis
tinct directions in regard to dcstina-
ton of their baggage; also to pro
cure tickets before taking seats in
the cars.
In issues of that year the list of
city officers IL published at the top
Of the first page as follows:
Mayor Ben harper.
Police Maglstrate-A. +. Swandcr.
AIuermen-rIrst ward, i. ". Van
SAINT. J. l.. Bean; Second ward, VIII
lam nale, L. :. Albert; Third ward,
James Lopp, Jere =. Smith.
Cierk-LornelIus Lynde.
Marshal--Joseph Johnston.
Deputy MarshaI-Joseph II. Barnet.
Assessor-Cornelius Lyndc.
Printer. b. Danforth, Jr.
supervisor of Sidewalks-C. Lyndc.
Street COMMISSIONER ward,
j. l.. Bean; Second ward. Z. ). Albert;
/ bird ward, Joseph IA. barnet.
There is a notice which reads:
"Strayed or StOIen-FrOm the gov
ernmcnt house at Fort Armstrong on
Rock Island Sunday night, Il light red
COW about IL or II years old and had
the letter Ii cut on each horn. Who
ever will return said COW or give in
formation that will lead To her re-
covcry shall be suitably rewarded"
In the advertising columns of the
other issues appears card which
reads -. ". Van SAINT. carpenter
and shipbuilder." Mr.. Van SAINT,
who died recently at his home in LIE
Claire, was a resident of this city
and his son. Samuel, who is now gov
ernor of Minnesota. was Il small boy.
DR.. j. Il. Hayes. father of l. w.
Hayes, head of the Southern Pacific
road. ran card in The Argus adver-
Using his business as Il druggist. No
patent quack medicine" it said.
What do the druggists of today think
of that?
=
of one of the younger medical firms
in the city.
Sears, Wood II Co. advertised for
sale 100000 shaved pine shingles at
their mill ON Rock Island near Mo-
line.
Whistler's grocery store advertised
conspicuously at all times of the
year stock of corn, corn meal, hops,
oats. thyme. fiaXseed and garden seed.
Adams & Engle killed Il 1000 pound
steer and all their customers were
advised to call early the next morn
ing in order to be served with the
best cuts.