Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-08
PLANS FULLY ADOPTED
TO RAISE 100000 TO
BOOST FOR ROCK ISLAND
Citizens Back Up Industrial Commissions Efforts
to Land New Factories by Substantial
PIedges--.High Mark Set

be secured without Il bonus. and yet
are well worth their price to the city
where the factory is located If Rock
Island is to enter the field of competi-
ton with other cities Mr.. Levi said he
was convinced this city must do as
other cities do and offer substantial in
iduccments.
Chance to Land II Good One.
! Recently there was presented to the
Industrial commission proposition for
the location of a factory here that will
employ 500 people, mainly women and
girls, with smaller proportion of men.
The company has an established bust
mess which is operated at enormous
profits, and has a factory in small
town few hundred miles from here.
where the labor field has been exhaust
ed. Requiring a field where the COM
munity can supply 800 girls for such
work, the company has decided to To-
cate elsewhere. Representative of the
company have visited this city, and
nave been fayorably impressed.
Later William NJ. Reck chairman of
the manufacturers committee of the "a
dustrial committee and Secretarv
Mayer Levi went to the town whore
the present factory is located. and
made a thorough investigation. Tho
committee through Chairman Reck re
ported that the company will locate
| here if provided with a site and fac
tory. representing an outlay of about
| $4,000. None of the stock of the COM
pany is for sale.
1t was TO present this report and to
determine whether the men represent
ing the commercial. Industrial AMI
business interests of the city believed
it advisable to make an effort to Sc
cure this industry on these terms, that
the meeting was called.
Must Make Hove.
Following Mr.. Lewis brief state
ment, William NJ. Reck submitted the
report made to the board of control OF
the industrial committee. giving in do
tail the proposition and the results OF
the inspection made by himself and
Mr.. Levi. The factory now employs
behind with orders, and would employ
500 hands if they could be secured il
the present location Some of the
girls earn as high as $15 a week. the
wages paid for piece work. ranging
from Sc upward. The factory is doing
a 100000 business, and wages paid to
operatives alone at the present loca-
ton is $4,000, the total payroll beias
some $4,000 d year.
The company gives assurance that il
will employ an average of at least $40
people the first five years. 100 people
within 80 days. 200 in 90 days, and 90
in a year from the starting of the new
factory. The payroIls are to reach
$4,000 a year for the first five Yeas
and in the opinion Of those who have
investigated the matter, the payroll
Will probably reach $500 600 year.
The company requires a building
1OOx150 feet in dimensions, and three
stories high. The location must &C
away from the railway but With
reach of the street car service.
j Earnestly Discuss Proposition.
So excellent is the proposition tn a
! the committee and the industrial com
! mittee thought it should at least ,,
4 presented. and the favor with which i
4 met last evening indicated that tht
4 commission did not make a mistak
in this decision. After the proposition
4 Itself had been explained with care
in discussion in which President q
8 l.. Eyster of the club, Secretary Maye
4 Levi, w. NJ. Reck. H. d. Mack, }
4 Simon, l.. S. McCabe, and others pal
I ticipated, Mr.. Levi explained the pll
4 of some cities of establishing a fun
q to meet such conditions as are pre-
4 scented in the present case, with an "
dustry Of the greatest prosperity
. value to the community. within reac
At cost OF about $4,000. In cite
A which have met with the greatest su,
cess in this line of activity. there haJ
{ been bonuses given, and perhaps tn
\ most notable example is afforded l.
& Terre Haute, Ind. Mr. Levi last ev
4 ning presented to the meeting Il cop
4 of clipping from an IndianapOl
4 newspaper, of a dispatch from Ter,
4 Haute.. indicating the success of I'll
4 plan adopted there. The item is
4 considerable interest in itself. an
4 more because it was one of the inf
4 ences that last evening brought abo,
4 well founded movement for Il
4 adoption of like arrangement in Roc
n Island 1t is as follows:
4 What Terre Haute Has Done.
"The Commercial club will make
systematic canvass for subscription
4 to the $150,000 guarantee fund to
4 used in bringing industries to the cit
4 When such a fund was suggested
4 few weeks ago doubt was gener
4 about raising the amount, but unsOl
4 tied subscriptions amounting to 81
900, of which $4,000 was in last wee
treasures the club officials.
THE suggestion TO raise the fu-
was made at a time when the club w
n ~,