Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-22
is busy preparing for
the centennial celebration OF
the permanent settlement of
the city. While history gives

the centennial celebration OF
the permanent settlement of
the city. While history gives
August as the month of anniversary,
the men who are arranging the fetes
have fixed on Sept. &c to Oct. 1 for the
jubilee, August being month when
Chicagoans are pretty generally scat
tered on vacation tours.
In 1795 the United States govern
ment bought from the Indians a piece
of ground six miles square near the
mouth of the Chicago river. This was
fixed on as the site of Fort Dearborn,
built by Major Whistler in 1903. This
was the first permanent structure in
the building of the city, and 1t is this
step the centennial is to commemorate.
No event to inspire greater civic pride
toward celebration has come to Chi
Iago, and therefore the plans that are
being made have in their scope and
character the object of surprising all
previous efforts of the city. This is
high mark. for there have been several
great fetes in the past.
c. r. Macloon. the present secretary
of the citizens committees, suggested
the celebration. and in January the
mayor and city council took the first
step toward its development. An exec
utive committee, with Charles a. PA
mondon, a prominent manufacturer
at its head, was appointed. w. W.
Tracy, a banker was made chairman
of the finance committee, which began
the work of raising 100000 for ex-
penses. George Ii. Jenney was placed
at the head of the entertainment COM
mittee, which began to outline the
character of the six day jubilee.
1t was decided to give as many open
air spectacles as possible, so that ev-
erybody could enjoy the festivities.
Fort Dearborn being the historical piv-
OF of the events, it has been planned to
reproduce this fort in facsimile inside
and out and place it in one of the
parks and surround ii with Indians
who arc descendants of the tribes that
conferred around Chicago in the early
days. For this purpose 400 Indians
have been engaged. These will come
from Michigan in their canoes and will
paddle into the river when the celebra-
ton begins. They will camp near the
fort and at stated times will make
sham attack on the occupants. These
Indians Will give entertainments, and
there will be no admission charges to
any of the events.
A military parade will be another
feature. There is some hope that the
president may be induced to visit Chi
cago for one day, and if he does the
military parade will act as his escort in
the afternoon. Should he fail to come
there will be numerous dignitaries in
the city, including members of the
cabinet and diplomatic corps, govern
ors OF various states, senators, con-
gressmen, mayors Of leading cities and
others we'll known in public life. For
these the immense and brilliant pro-
cession will move. In it will be seen
the government troops stationed in
Fort Sheridan, near Chicago; Uncle
Sans men from nearby military posts,
the several regiments of the Illinois
national guard, the crack militiamen
of neighboring states and local uni
. formed organizations.
To give Chicagoans and their visiting
friends a thrill the great fire of 1871