Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-08
SURPRISE DUE
FOR BOOSTERS
Resources Of Country They
Will Visit Not Fully Ap-
preciated in Past.
is RICH IN AGRICULTURE
People Progressive and VIII Meet
Visitors Half Way in Their
Undertakings.

oursion over the Rock Island South
ern tomorrow go into territory much
Of which has ia years past been &C
cessible from this city only by slow
and tedious methods Of travel and so
It will not be surprising if many of
never before have had the pleasure
OF viewing. That a majority win
be surprised with what they see there
is no doubt. They viii find flourish
ing cities, villages and hamlets and
some Of the fairest and most produc-
tive districts that Illinois boasts or
now made douhlv HPauttfu1 by the
unfolding of natures vernaI charms.
They will find a happy, prosperous
and progressive people ready to meet
them half way IN projects OF mutual
advantage. Under such circumstan-
ces their expedition ought to accom-
plish great good, preparing the way
for future relations that vii; promote
both urban and suburban develop
ment.
Evidence that the country opened
to Rock Islands markets by the new
line of the Rock Island Southern is
prospecting is given by the returns
of the census last year, which show
that hardly a community along the
road has failed to make substantial
gains during the last decade.
MILAN.
Starting from this city at a m,
the boosters Will reach Milan at SIS,
remaining there until 1925. This
village, though one of the first
settled along the route, has not suf-
fered the fate of so many of its early
contemporaries. II hasn't a vacant
house Milan is Rock Islands gate
way to the rural districts that pa
tronize the latter's markets and fur
nish 1t with farm products. 1t has
a population of 1927. Built up origi-
nary by factories attracted by It's
water power, It suffered loss years
ago when water power temporarily
gave way to steam but is now rap
idly coming TO its own as a suburban
residence DISTRICT Scores of its men
and women are employed ii the tri-
cities, travelling back and forth Dy
trolley Inca
Milan claims an interest in the
Sears water power plant now being
within its borders Industrial enter
prises attracted by cheap power. 1t
has nearby the government boat yard
on the Hennepin canal. employing a
considerable number OF men. It's
transportation facilities. with two
steam lines. two electric lines and the
Hennepin canal, are eXcelled in few
villages OF its size. The merchants
do a thriving business, distributing
goods over a considerable area to
the east. south and west.
TAYLOR RIDGE.
At S:45 the boosters are due at
Taylor Ridge, there TO remain 20
minutes. This hamlet does a bust
ness out of proportion to its size.
II has a bank, three grocery and
general stores, a hardware and i'm
p1ement store, two elevators, a
creamery and a chicken factory"
a rich farming country lies all about
and people HvinS within a dozen
miles to westward ratronize it as a
station on their " and from the
county seat T C,ators do a
large business and fat stock IS
shipped from the ne Chicago
market.
REYNOLDS.
Next comes Reynolds, where the
boosters viii remain from $40 TIL
9:25. This is a hustling village OF
3G7 people. II is distributing poin.
for the country west almost TO the Mis- .
sissippi river. drawing trade from two
counties. II is the most important sta .
ton between Milan and Aledo. Here
are found a live weekly news .
paper. two strong banks. three gen
eral stores, a drug store. lumber yard,
hotel, furniture store, two hardware
and implement houses, three restau-
rants, a meat market, harness shop, a .
cement block factory. two l3Tge eleya :
tors, a marble and granite works. a
fine school with three departments. in
Guiding high school. and three church
IS y modern garage is being built
Few places of its size do as much bust
ness and few villages possess as much +.
per capita wealth. Formerly handi
capped by lack OF transportation facil-
tiles. since The adven; Of the r. I. 5. 4
il has IS passenger trains Eve days
in the week, "a on Sundays and so /,
on Saturdays. From four 10 six trains
stopping dali except SunGaH p its
station handle Only I.e.Shr.
Reynolds few years ago enjoyed the 1,
distinction OF being the largest stock
shipping center IN ITiaois outside OF
Peoria and Chicago. OF late years part
Ct the stock that caI: 2 nsra is market
ed al Joy, Mercer county but Rey-i
holds is without doubt still the most I
Important shipping point for farm AM
mails OF its size in Illinois. 4
MATHERSIILLE.
MathersvilIe. mining town of 500
people. which has sp:Uns Up N ? field 4
practically all within i mr.. VII be
reTt visited from 9:45 till 1910. This
: probably the most interesting stop
IN the trip. While part Of the vii
,aEe, for it was incorporated as such
OILY u n.CLJh age, was removed from