Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-31

The improvements for fhe year 1908
in Rock Island aggregated 1888, 800,
u material increase over 1902, when
the total was 81, 4s5, 600.
~ Despite the diseouragfng prospect,
s5occasioned by the high price of build
4 ing materials and the unsettled con-
clifton generally in the labor market,
I the city has gone forward keeping
pace with the PROGRESS of former
years. Contractors express surprise
at the extent of inmprovem ents in the
Y city, for tbevT state they could not
5help, when weighing the situation
from s-ny point, but taking a pessi-
misticsf view of the year so far as build
. ing. was concerned.
2The same progress is TO be noted
&hroughout Rock island county. Mo-
a4nne has made advances that compare
I eE vorably with years of the past, while
Jth the towns over the county and in
H3ffle, farming communities new bust
hiss houses and homes have sprung
Elssa on all sides. indicating a gradual
SF.nd substantial growth. At New
q aops, where the Rock Island road is
lpe, sucentrate its shops and estab-
r4l9sh a plant for the manufacture of
3Rt locomotives and cars, building has
W )ne on through the summer, and the
4 1ssult is one of the largest institutions
m its kind in the country. During the
e ming month the machine shop will
G started in operation, and before
5h 4aother year rolls around probably
L poo men will be given employment
II here. 1t means the bringing into be-
"a ing of another thriving town in the
IL 81 ~ 0nH
Is consequent bensfit to this city and
FL neighbOr. Moline.
u 81 rom Moline Though to the upper
II a 81 of he county an interurban line
Is been projected, touching sew
eral towns, and Bringing the country
people in closer teach with the coun-
ty seat and theiv 9ty neighbors. In
the coming yearsit9s anticipated that
an interJIrban roV the surveys for
a which have beent1s 4fe already, reach
i hing from Rock Islstd to the southern
he arty of the count will be built and
lri cars coming u over the Milan
eA .dges, all of Wild are to be either
lei quilt or strengt ened to support
M ,otric cars. 20 swing the bridge
q Improvement MilaIswill also have the |
Y gAvantage of eleeaic cars operated
90 Efhe Tri-City Railway COMPANY. Al
evy ether the new lear bids fair to
r elop even bette3 things than the
lie that comes to 4 close tonight.
= improvements made by the county
include a $4,000 bridge across Rock
river at Hillsdale, ana $4,000 piuper
house at the infirmsfy. None OF the
improvements outsiCh the city is in |
cluded in the total given in the cpen-
inc Ila ra 0raTh Of fhiS n rficIe
Past Records Outdone.
In the matter OF new homes Rock |
Island has outdone all former records, |
24O having been built IN 1908 as
against $50 the year previous. Al are |
them have all the conveniences to be |
he 2ynd in the finest homes of the city. |
he building has mostly been done in |
on new additions in the south and |
MT - Invest portions, although OYER the |
DIR }Pire town there are to be found a |
a1l { mixing of new residences. One fat |
Al Blding was erected, that of DIR. Z. NJ |
Vi Ga, on Nineteenth street, costrg
D5N4., 900. Averaging the houses at :
4sC each-a conservative estimate
ca 1000 has been expended under tins t
be d. In addition to this amouat
EN- ut $125,0OO has been expended n
As DodeIing and repair work.
eel Dside from residences there ha, I
les. notable improvements in the bIl
and industrial sections, while cd