Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-14
Silvis is a Bristling Railroad Town

as the price of land, the donation OF /
land. and the offer of a cash oonus' !
Nothing but remarkable adaptaolllty
for the purpose desired had any weight
in determining the question OF Locating
a plant of so great magnitude, ana
that required the expenditure OF sucn
a vast amount of money as would De-
come necessary in building and fully
eouipping with modern and up to date
machinery such railway shops as the
Rock Island has established at SllVls.
THE LAND PURCHASE.
The location most desirable and
advantageous. having been agreed up
on the question of securing the land
by purchase followed, for without the
desired number of acres and being IN
a compact body in suitable proportion
the carrying out of this great enter
prise could not be accomplished, for
be it understood that the board OF di-
rectors had appropriated and set aside
$500, 900 as a building fund to be ex-
pended in accordance to the estimates
submitted by the railway engineers
and which was ratified and approved
by the board of directors.
The gentleman selected for this IN
dertaking was r. S. Silvis, residing at
1 that time in South Heights, ROCK Is
land. Mr.. Silvis, having formerly re-
sided near the land in question and
being we'll acquainted with the own
ers and well posted as to conditions
/ to meet the requirements of the rail-
way company, was well equipped for
the task. And a task it proved to be,
for many obstacles were to be over
come and opposition from various
sources was encountered, and While
everyone in final settlement received
twice the actual value of his land
there were many who received three
four. six and as high as eight times
the real value of their holdings. One
of the great difficulties encountered
and to be overcome was the changing
of a certain public highway running
east and west very near the center Of
the tract and the line being directly
through the center of the main build
ings as planned. 1t was proposed by
Mr.. Silvis 10 the commissioners o.
highways of Hampton township thai
If they would vacate this road and lay
out a new road a little further to the
south, which is now First avenue, al
expense and charges by reason of th'
change and the laying out and max
ing of the road would be paid by thu
railway company, thereby relieving
the township Of any expense and max
ing a highway just as good if not bet
ter than the one vacated.
The main objectOrs TO the PROPOSE
ton were those living east of the site
as it would cause them to travel abou
one-fourth of a mile farther in goin
to the tri-cities Today these sam
directors chose who are owners @
real estate) are happy in the know
edge that their property is wort
double and in many instances tripl
in value compared with values prio
to the change, and with the additions
convenience CT having street car SER
ice much nearer their door than 10
merly.
BUILDING OPERATIONS BEGUN.
In 1902 the negotiations for the pu
chase of these lands were opened an
early in 1908 MIR. Silvis closed the las
deal by which the Rock Island Railwa
company became owner Of nearly ]
goo acres at q cost of 100000. TIL
land ;a situ.+ad ip tov-psb;o No I
north, range /, east Of the fourth pril
cipal meridian, and just one-half mil
east of the meridian line, lying in
compact form and perfectly suited fl
what was intended the location Of Il
greatest railway shops west of Oh
cago, and a beautiful site for a "a.
road town.
The railway company began bull
ing early in the season in 1903, al
the shops were originally called al
known as New Shops to designa
hem from other shops along the sy
TEN, as at that time there was no TOW
Or village site established
Building operations progressed "a
idly and with the employment of SUI
a large number of men the QuestiC
of providing residences or homes f
them became serious problem. Ste
were at once taken to make some pr
vision by which those desiring to b,
homes could do so, and others wis
ing to rent might be accommodate
With this end in view a number
wealthy men formed an orgsnizatit
/ which was given the name ard
l known as the Silvis Land company.
/ COMPANY'S PRELIMINARY WoRH
! The first steps taken by this CO..
l pany after organizing was to appoi
| R. S. Silvis as the active and gener
manager Of the company. Arrant
ments we're then made with the Ro
Island Railway company by which 2
acres Of land were transferred to t