Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-14
TO RAISE $4,000
FOR VALLEY ROAD
Over 81, 800 Subscribed at a
Meeting of Boosters Held
at Erie.

Seyenty-fve Rock River Valley
Route boosters met at Erie at 10 .
o'clock yesterday morning and had
very enthusiastic meeting President \
A. 3. Johnson acted as chairman OF 4
the meeting and Edwin l.. Hanson as
secretary. Mr.. Johnson explained that I
this was 10 be the last meeting of this /
association, before the vote was taken .
By the Tri-City Ocean-to-Ocean High f!
way association on the matter OF decid- /
ing which route from the quad cities /
10 the twin cities would be the official
route. and urged that all important /
matters should be taken up at this 1
meeting.
Arrangements were made 10 make a
systematic canvass Of every land own
or along the route and solicit subscrip-
tons 10 apply on fund to assist in
improving the road. Arrangements
also were made to place the signs and
paint the poles along the entire route.
The directors in each township were
also authorized and instructed to see
that the roads were dragged after
every rain. II was unanimously dscid-
VI mat .'lDl4Adgt june N44CAl 10 the
day before the big sociability run from
the tri-cities to Sterling, will take
place, should be work day" on the
Rock River Valley route and to have
as many boosters residing along the
route and also from the quad cities
and twin cities get on the road with
a healthy shovel and do all they can
to get the road in good condition for
the sociability run.
The most important matter Of the
meeting. however, was the securing
OF subscriptions to apply on the fund
which will assist in the improving of
this road and after a thorough explana-
ton by Mr.. Johnson, Mr.. Nissen and
others. Of the proposed subscription
plan, IL was suggested that any OF
those present who wished to sign the
came 10 do so. The first subscriber
10 the fund was w J. Doherty of Ster-
ling, who, Notwithstanding the fact
that he is not a land owner along the
route, explained he was glad to do his
share toward the improving of the
road, and be guaranteed that the city
OF Sterling would do its share and
more, not only toward improving the
road, but toward advertising il, II il il
worthy OF being advertised. Mr.. Do
herty subscribed $25. The next sub
scriber was X. S. WOODBURY. OF Moline,
who OWNS farm along the route and
he subscribed $3.50. There was also
a large number of others who gave lib.
orally. over $500 was raised. II is
believed that a fund OF not less than
$4,000 will be subscribed on this route
in the next 10 days. Immediately az
tcr-the meeting at about 80. the cars
paraded 10 Watertown, where they
were met by a number of tri-city cars
and 81 cars paraded through the quad
cities. They were escorted by Mayor
Carlson OF Moline The enthusiasm
on this road is intense ana everybody
seems 20 be anxious 10 do all they can
not only 10 improve the road but tC
boost for it.
To the members Of the Tri-City
Oceanic Ocean Highway association
and all others concerned: The scenic
route is the only route Offering any IN
duCement for tourists TO come her,
rather than TO Clinton, T. e. 80 miles
Of magnificent scenery along the Miss
issippi river II . tourist is at Ster
ling and undecided whether to 90 L
Clinton or TO come here the fact tina
there Is 4 road called a short road
leading here will not influence him il
the slightest. for there are a m!lliol
short roads" in the United States
but the fact that there is a "sceni
route" leading here will influence hir
greatly and especially In this case, TO
there is only one Mississippi river
the whole world VIII ne miss an OF
portunity OF riding 30 miles along thi
river? Never. NO other route offer
any iqducement for a tourist at Ste
ling to come here rather than to CliI
ton. SO instead OF the scenic rout
cau1ng people TO so to Clinton
would. on the contrary. be one Of tn
greatest reasons why they would com
here.
Clinton would prefer TO have SON
other route than ours chosen, for
short route" would be no competitC
OF the trans-continental as the shor
est road across the state is from Oh
cago 10 Clinton, but a scenic route
would be a competitor. for they wou
have nothing 10 offer that would OF
set beautiful ride of 80 miles aloI
the Mississippi! river.
No Clinton boosters have met
Garden Plain with the people the
since this association was formed