Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-21
GREAT PROGRESS
NOW BEING MADE
2. M. G. A. Structure to Be One
of Finest Public Edifices
in Rock Island.

Last week was a period Of notable
achievement on the new Y. NJ. c. A.
building. The perfect weather, and
the arrival or needed materials. to
gether with the enthusiastic work Of
the men, made possible the best
weeks work that has yet been done on
this great building.
The concrete for the entire first
floor was poured during the week, the
finishing touches being put on Satur-
day afternoon. At the same time the
work on the big gymnasium was push
ed as far as possible with the mater
ials on hand, and the fine brick work
along the front walls of the building
was started.
The gymnasium has now begun to
take on shape that indicates what
splendid structure it is to be. The floor
is 10 by rs feet in its dimensions, Civ
ing room for a large group of men to
exercise at the same time. The room
is lined with a cream-colored brick,
which, with the numerous windows,
will make it well lighted and inviting
in appearance. One of the most not
able features in the gymnasium is the
visitors gallery, q permanently seat
ed balcony which extends clear around
the big room 10 feet above the floor,
and which, when seated as it is to be,
will furnish seating space for about
800 spectators without at all encroach-
ing upon the main floor. This gal
lery has two exits. and thus is made
easy of access. and safe even for a
! large crowd. Above the visitors gal
lery, the regulation running track ex-
tends around the gymnasium, with
sliding poles of brass giving access TO
the main floor.
Today the cement workers are pour
ing the topping, OF finish, on the con
crete floors already laid. The car
penters are at work preparing the
| forms for the concrete columns which
! support the second floor, and if al
goes well, by the end of the present
week work on the second floor con
! crete will be in progress.
/ AS the big building begins to take
/ shape, it is arousing new interest il
the minds of the hundreds of people
! who look at it every day. Its great
bulk is surprising to those who have
not yet realized what a great struc
| ture it is 10 be, while the ingenious
and unique, but simple and dignifieC
style of finish and decorations is prov
! ing a surprise in its departure from
| the conventional style of local build
| ings.
By the end OF the present week i
| is likely that the brick work will have
been extended to the second foo
! level for the entire building, which
will give a much better idea of the
appearance than it has been possible
to secure heretofore. The window
frames have been set today along the
Twentieth street front on the frs
floor, and the bricklayers will sooI
have the walls completed to the tor
Of the windows, at least.
Word comes from Danville to thu
local Y. NJ. c. A. that the campaign
for a new building fund of 1925, 900 i!
to be launched there within a few
days. J. S. Freeman, formerly of Mo
line, is now in charge of the work a
Danville. and his preparations are
nearly complete for the great effor'
to put that city on the map in Y
NJ. c A. affairs. There is no doub
that the effort will be successful, ant
that Danville will be the next large
city in the state to put up fine new
| building for her young men.