Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27


View line, extended the Red line to
the factory district in the southwest
part of the city, installed electrical
equipment from Sears to Milan, re-
built with heavy steel all its other
tracks, erected q big car barn and
brought its equipment up till it is
equal to the best used anywhere.
WATER POWER DEVELOPED.
Hundreds OF thousands of dollars
have been expended in improving the
facilities for the generation of gas
and electricity for public use, the
plants being rebuilt and enlarged and
the service lines extended in all di-
rections. In this connection should
be mentioned the building of a water
power plant on Rock river by the Da-
Wis interests-an improvement which
VIII mean more to Rock Island as
the years pass.
There has been a marked increase
in the efficiency of the local telephone
system, the Central Union company
having put its wires in the business
district under ground and having 9th.
erwise brought its equipment up 10
date.
In the business district such new
structures as the London block, Safe
ty building, Best building, Hotel
Harms, new postofice, Rock Island
Modern Woodmen annex and : urint
shop, Rock Island Savings bank, and
many others, have sprung. while the
Robinson block, State Bank building,
Harper house, Rock Island house and
others have been rebuilt along mod
ern lines, and practically Sery ctore
room has been given at least a new
front and other wise changed to meet
the latest demands OF up to date mer-
chandising. Wires and wooden poles
have been removed from Second ave
nue. and curb lights installed.
COSTLY NEW RESIDENCES.
In the residence district several of
the more imposing sites have been
Improved with costly dwellings. New
churches include the places of wor-
ship Of the Central Presbyterian,
Spencer Memorial Methodist Zion
Lutheran, German Evangelical and
Free Methodist congregations. while
st. Joseph's, St Mary's and others
have been remodeled. The Rock Is
land road has erected a new passen-
ger station and commissary building
here. The Villa de Chantal has more
than doubled the size OF its main
building and st. Anthonys hospital
had added greatly to it's capacity by
the erection of a south wing.
Long View park. 10 years ago a COW
pasture, has been improved with
drives, walks. artificial lakes and
streams, and the surface has been
graded and sodded and shrubbery
planted. making the spot one of the
most beautiful in the Mississippi val
ley. Two new tracts for park DUR
poses have been given the city, one
in the east end and the other in the
west end.
lndustrially, the progress has been
equally marked. The magnificent new
plant of the Rock Island Pillow COM
pany heads a long list OF new struc-
lures that have added to the cfty's
manufacturing facilities. Whole
blocks have been purchased by the
piow company for additional room.
The Rock Island Sash and Door works
has branched out till it is one of the
largest institutions of it's kind in the
country, and its improvements have
all been OF a permanent nature. The
west end factory district has several
other new structures, including the
homes OF the Rock Island Manufactur-
ing company, Standard Table Oilcloth
company, National Neck Yoke com.
pany, Rock Island Tool COMPANY.
Blake Specially company, Trio Manu- |
featuring company, Rock Island
Bridge and Iron works, and an extern |
sive addition 10 the Rock Island Stove
company. East OF the business dis
trict are TO be found the remodeIed |
plant OF the Rock Island Lumber COM |
pany, White Buggy company, Lewis
Roofing company building, the new
street railway barns and many others. |
The interurban has made it's advent |
here. In addition TO the extension of
the Tri-City Railway company's lines
10 Watertown and Muscatine, the /.
& l. has been built to Clinton and the
Rock Island Southern has connected
this city with Monmouth and Gales
burg, besides giving quick snd fire.
quent service 10 and from points in
the lower end of Rock Island county