Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-22

efforts of the association. All these
things came through the work of the
Improvement association. All looked
like big tasks at first, but they all came
through successfully. People TO this
day look back with fondness and pride
to that beginning of the Greater Rock
Island. In later years, the Rock Island
club has been successful in bringing
the small arms plant to Rock Island ar
senal, the securing of the location of
the Table Oil Cloth company here, the
Fremont Butter Tub company, and i
number OF smaller factories, and during
the past year the Industrial commission
has added a number more. Mr.. Guyer
also spoke of what Terre Haute had
done, of what MoberIy, Mo-, with it's
1000 had accomplished in raising $7o.-
600 for the encouragement of new fac
tories, and of what Hoopstown, H., had
done with its 5000 people in raising a
like s,mount for new industries. Surely
Rock Island can do what other cities
have done.
SAFEGUARDS OF FUNDS.
Dr. Eyster dWelt on the safeguards
that had been thrown about not only
the custody, but the proper expenditure
of the funds to be raised in the 100000
subscription plan. in order that they
would not be wasted or frittered away.
All projects, DR.. Eyster said. are first
considered by the proper committee OF
the Industrial commission. for inVesti-
cation, and then reported to the board
of control, of which body are the pres
dents of the two commerce. and bus
mess mems bodies of the city, the Rock
Island Club and the Rock Island Bust
ness Mems association, the mayor of
the city and three aldermen, together
with a number of other representative
men of the city. From the board Of
control the project is reported to
trustees OF the funds. composed of the
mayor of the city. the president of the
Business Mems assoc aton. the presi-
dent of the Rock Island Club, and the
presidents of the three commercial
banks, for approval. Not a cent of the
money raised for new factories can be
expended without passing through this
| process, and a better check on the
fritterng away of any of the funds It
| tory to be secured must show by practi-
| cal exempIification its Worthiness and
soundness, and none will be secured
except by definite contract and with
the stipulation that it is to secure no
| help until it has made good in Rock
Island. The main industry the COM
mission is now endeaVoring 70 bring TO
Rock island, for instance, is ready to
enter into a contract that, on condition
of It's receiving site and $4,000 fac
tory building, it is to establish its plant
here and employ labor which will ag-
aregate 100000 in five years before
| Rock Island is required to fulfill its
part of the agreement. No money will
| be paid until the new industry that has
been brought here has demonstrated its
capacity to employ labor and increase
| the population of the city. DR.. Eyster
stated that he wished he had the eIo-
quence of a Demosthenes. to inspire
the committee with the full import of
what the undertaking that was about
to be entered upon means to Rock Is
land.
So GET ALL OR NONE.
Mr.. Medill spoke of the fact that the
amount apportioned to each subscriber
was to be spread over period of years.
amounting to five payments, SO that it
would not prove a great hardship to
Those who responded to the committee s
iaHforfe
coIectable until the entire amount OF
100000 had been raised. Hence, if
the 100000 failed. every subscription
would fail. The subscription blanks
were shown to be explicit in this re
Ispect.
Mr.. Reck spoke of the efforts of the
advisory committee to be just and con-
lserVatiVe in its apportionment, and Of
the system of organization that the
committee proposed putting into effect
that it believed would result in raising
the amount desired in few days time
|. s. White then read for the commit
tees benefit the list of citizens and in
situations, numbering over 500, and the
amounts the committee had apportion
ed to each.
Secretary Levi read the list of fac
tories that had been secured for Roct
Island during the past year, having al
the outset of the meeting distributed
with the compliments Of Rock Islands
, newest industry-the John Charter To
: bacco con1pany-packages of Rock Is
land made smoking goods.
) Chairman Reck read some deductions
made by J. w. Parker, which appeal
t elsewhere on this page, of what Wouls
: be Rock Islands gain if it succeeded
, in raising the 100000 new factor.
: fund, judging from Terre Haute's ex
: perience.
. \ GOOD STARTER.
5 The subscription roll was then open
ed as starter, and L. Simon being tn
, original 100000 new factory fund man
j. was accorded the privilege of writin!
e the first response to his assessment. |
Z was for $1,000, and MIR. Simon pu
r down his name for that amount ami
cheers. DR.. Eyster. the club president