Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-11

may find relief from the cares of day |
in our crowded cities these are abso-
lutely necessary to The health and
of~the Inhabitants. A day
in the parks is. rare treat to the
children. of the tenement districts.
The growing increase in the number
Of parks and pleasure grounds is an
evidence of the paternal care and in
terest taken by our city fathers in the
public good. A beautiful park tends
to elevate the moral tone of a com
as well as to minister to its
physical welfare and comfort. There
is something restful, peaceful and
quoting in close communion with
nature amid surroundings of flowers,
heavily foliaged trees and spreading
carpets of velvety green.
sketch of Davenport.
I'VE meet today to celebrate the
opening-the dedication of this park
of Long View. We owe debt of
gratitude TO those who made it pos
sible for you and me to enjoy this
beauty spot. and their memory should
be revered by this community for all
time Among those of our former
citizens: whose name is still a by
word was one who was chief execu-
tive of this city during the trying
times of the civil war, from 1861 to
1866. Later he was again called to
serve in the same capacity. His en-
tire life was closely associated with
the progress and up-building of this
community He built the original
railroad to Black Hawks Watch
Tower. thus giving our citizens easy
access to that noted historic spot. and
for years the only pleasure grounds
within our city were those afforded
His immediate relatives residing in
our sister city on the Iowa shore have
seen fit to establish as a lasting me-
mortal to our late fellow townsman,
this beautiful fountain. And now Mr..
lCnairman. ladies and gentlemen, in
behalf of the Misses Naomi l.. and
Cattarine Davenport of Davenport
Iowa, T. hereby present TO the city OF
Rock Island. and to every man
woman and child who shall in the
future enter these grounds, this foun
tain as a lasting and fitting tribute and
memorial to man whose heart and
hand were always open to the public
and who was ever ready to respond
to humanity's call, Hon. Bailey Daven
pOrt."
Ornament Is Unveiled.
As. Mr. Connolly concluded his re
marks. the fountain, which had beer
draped in flags, was gracefully un
yelled by the Misses Cora GAZETTEER ant
Cora Mckown. and in moment it!
spray was shining brilliantly in thu
glare of the red fire lighted at thu
moment of the unwilling The foun
tain is indeed a beautiful ornament
and its beauty and the charm it add
to that portion of the park was th'
lsubject of much comment during thu
evening.
AS the fountain was being unveiled
the ladies' chorus sang "Ye Hills anC
Bright Wales" an original anthem
written as an apOstrophe TO Ions
View park by Robert Rexdale, an,
set to the music of 1.-THE Star Span
Igled Banner"
Beautiful PyrOtechnics.
The patriotic selection by the BAN
concluded the exercises, and the fire
works display, in charge of F. G
Young. was the concluding feature Q
the days events. The display wa
one of the most beautiful ever see
in Rock Island and there was niue
praise for Mr.. Young from the thor
| sands who enjoyed the exhibition. Fo
Two hours there was a constant diy
play of every sort of fireworks, an
a. times there were a half dozen roci
cts bursting in the air at once.
How System Was Built.
Hon. William Jackson in the closin
address of the afternoon at the par
gave statement of the work tina
was necessary to prepare it for tn
public and also the work contemplate
for the future for the improvement
of the park. He said that he felt grea
satisfaction and pride in seeing S
many people gathered to accept tn
park on behalf of the citizens of Roc
Island. He then told of the spiri
that had animated the commissioner
while they We're at work ON the pr,
lject, saying that it was a work of Low
: entirely and that it was done for th
] rising generation, The children VIII
/ were coming ON to take the place
left vacant by the deaths of ttos
I lwho had done the work of buildin
: the park.
Mr.. jackson gave a brief history {
the parks of the city since they can
Unto existence about 1887 At TIL:
time there were Spencer square an
lGarnsey square, but neither were wo
{ thy of the name of park as Spence
< Square was abou. filled with watt
z aud refuse, in fact it was used as
Isort of public dumping place.
( Istone quarry had been dug in ii
: livery middle of it. Garnsey square W;
lin as bad condition. being covere
4 with gravel and unfit for anything
lgrow in. The Citizens Improvemei
! lassociation, organized in 1887, took i
the work of educating the people |
3 1.-THE needs of a public park and III