Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-28
CITY Is WELL
EQUIPPED TO
HANDLE CROWD
Moline and Davenport Ready to
Do Their Part in Hous-
ing the Visitors.
MUCH HERE TO INTEREST
Community Favored With Many
Amusement Places and Spots of
Historic Importance.

Rock Island has a wide reputation
In the state and nation as conven-
ton city, shaving entertained at one
time or another, nearly every state
organization of any importance, and
having been the scene OF several ma
tional gatherings. One of the most
notable meetings in the city's history,
however, will be that of the SD an
nual grand commandery Knights Tenn
plar of Illinois, which will convene
here Oct. 10 for the session of three
days. 1t will be great gathering
because there will be from 5000 to
5000 sir knights and their ladies here
leading citizens from nearly every
community in the state Its coming
will also be particularly gratifying be-
cause the grand commandery has
never met here before. in fact has met
but once in its history outside of Chi
cago, at Peoria five years ago.
While there will be but about 200
delegates to the Commandery meeting
proper, there will be ten times that
number of uniformed men here to take
part in the grand parade that will be
the feature of the opening day, and
thousands of other members and their
ladies will come on pleasure bent. To
these. and in fact, to all the visitors,
Rock Island, with its sister cities of
Moline and Davenport, has much to
offer.
Is Important Center.
To begin with the tri-city ccmmun-
ity, comprising a population of 125,000
souls, is the most important physically.
commercially and otherwise, between
St Louis on the south and Minneap-
oils and st. Paul on the north and be-
tween Chicago on the east and Omaha
and Kansas City on the west. Cover
ing a large area on both sides of the
Father of Waters its scenic beauty is
unsurpassed while the progressive
spirit of its people is shown in the
possession of practically all the met
ropolitan features of the largest cities.
One of the matters of first import
ance in entertaining conventions is
cities are not excelled anywhere in
the middle west. Three great railroad
systems, the Rock Island, Burlington
and Milwaukee. with several branches,
enter the tri-cities from every direc-
ton and have access to all three OF
them. Two interurban lines and ex
cellent country roads furnish means
of access for those living near The
Mississippi river, Rock river and the
Hennepin canal. the latter connecting
with the Illinois river and the Chicago
drainage canal and thus tapping the
Great Lake region, give means OF
water travel and furnish an opportun
ity for delightful excursions on the
packet lines or pleasure craft which
ply them. OF no less importance fol
the convenience of visitors the three
cities and surrounding towns are con
nected by the electric lines of the Tri
City Railway company. which for years
have been recognized as among the
best equipped in the country, far bet
ter, in fact, than the great majority IL
the larger cities.
Well Provided with Hotels.
lin the matter Of hotel accomnoda
tions the three cities stand in the
front rank, all the leading hostelrie'
being either new or lately remodeled
Rock Island has the Harper. Hote
Harms and Rock Island house. thu
first named being designated as OF