Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-31
RECORD OF THE LEADING LOCAL EVENTS IN THE CLOSING YEA

In Rock Island, the year just about
to pass into history. has seen the
usual number of events that go toward
the making of the history of the COM
munity. There have been the usual
number of deaths, although this year
the harvest of the grim reaper has
been more noticeable among children,
and fewer of the old time residents
have answered deaths summons. The
wave of death, however, has taken OFF
some of the city's most representative
men, and most noble women. and while
there are the inevitable occurrence,
the loss is keenly felt.
The year has been marked by steady
business progress, and while the eff
fects of the panic of 1907 have not en-
tirely passed away, there has, parti-
cularly during the last few months,
been a marked improvement in bust
ness. The year has seen much build
ing improvement in Rock Island. a
more detailed record of which appears
elsewhere in this issue.
Long View IN Dedicated.
One of the notable events of 1908
was the completion and dedication of
Long View park The park commits
sioners, after several years of earnest
work, practically completed the i'm
provement of the park last spring, and
when the Davenport Memorial foun
tain was installed in place in the park
arrangements were made for the for
maj dedication of Long View. Fitting
exercises were held July 10, and in
the evening great pyrotechnical dis
play followed the program of addresses
and the formal presentation of the
Davenport memorial to the city.
First Annual Exposition.
One of the achievements of the year
was the organization of the Rock Is
land Exposition company, an institu
ton that did much, and promises to dc
even more in the future, to make the
name of Rock Island known better
throughout the land. The Exposition
company has secured the old fair
grounds on Ninth street for a term OF
years, and this year many important
improvements were made at the
grounds. The company this fall, Sept
rs to Oct 3, held its first annual ex
position, and while the weather con
ditions were very unfavorable, the
event was a great success. The politi
cal days attracted some very notable
men to Rock Island IS speakers, in
Guiding the vice president elect, Con
gresham James S. Sherman, Hon
William Jennings Bryan and Congress
man Nicholas Longworth, son-in-law OF
President Roosevelt
Several Costly Fires.
The year added greatly to the fire
history of Rock Island, the blaze tina:
destroyed the yards of the Rock Is
land Sash e Door works, the Rock Is
land Lumber company, and damaged
other property greatly, proving thu
most serious fire in the city's history
The damage was about $550.OO0. This
fire was followed shortly afterwards
by one that destroyed the old Wagner
building on Fifth avenue, occupied BY
the Willets- Magin Manufacturing com
pany. The loss in this blaze was about
$4,000. There were two serious fire:
in the Looney block on Second avenue
within two weeks of each other. anC
considered in connection with the mys
FERROUS explosion in the same building
early in the spring, add to the publ,
interest in the structure The two
fires were of mysterious origin, thougt
supposed to have been the work of al
| incendiary The first fire destroyed
the Mirror saloon, and caused S10,00t
damage. The second fire Quilted tn,
entire block, and damaged adjoinin.
buildings, the total damage being abou
SS5 900.
Some New Factories.
During 1908 two important achieve
ments have been made as a result o
the work of the Rock Island Industria
commission. New factories have bee
built by the National Neck Yoke con
pany and the Rock Island Tool con
pany, and plans have been made 70
the enlargement of both institution
In the business district, the develol
ment of the city has been given in
petus by the opening of the Safet
building, and the construction of TIL
Best block. The year has seen til
start made on the construction of a