Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-24
IMPROVEMENT OF
1900 BLOCK SURE;
ALREADY BEGUN
Swinging and Curb Signs Re-
moved and Displays Taken
Of the Sidewalks.
ALL FRONTS TO BE WHITE
Business Men Raise Fund to Equip a
Ball Team and Plan Other
Advertising.

\ new era in the 1900 uIock was
enthusiastically proclaimed last night
at meeting at the Rock Island house
attended by a good representation OF
business men OF the block The
White Block" was adopted as a slogan
and plans were formed to give It the
widest publicity. Speeches were made
predicting much greater business GEN.
trali;ation in the block when the cam
paign to improve appearances of prop
erty is closed.
Immediate action toward the I'M
provement OF business houses by
painting the fronts white was urged
I by A. E. Nissen, field secretary for the
Iowa Auto association. who will boost
/ the 1000 block movement in connec-
ton with the good roads day meeting
to be held at the Illinois theatre,
March 80. Mr. Nissen suggested that
the merchants begin a line of adver-
Using cooperating with the good roads
| day meeting. 81 will boost your block
in the course of my field work in ar
ranging for good roads day." he said.
Doom Swinging Sign.
Other rousing speeches were deliv-
cred favoring the discarding OF GER
tain provincial ideas relative to pub
licity. Swinging signs and curb signs
must go. 1t was declared. The swing
Ing signs were shown TO be a menace
and the curb signs were used IN vio- |
lation of a city ordinance. Entire har- |
mony with plans to dispense with the |
undesirable signs prevailed. Owners !
Of those places of business having the !
most expensive signs were the first |
TO join in the movement to remove |
them in conformity with the ideas /
for the betterment of the block.
The 1000 block will have a baseball
team this season. A team, last year
a winner and known as the Islanders.
proposed TO adopt the name OF the
block IL business men would partially
finance their club. The proposition
was favorably considered and a fund
subscribed. Members of the team the
coming season will wear across their
shirt fronts the words, THE 1000
Block" Carl Rinehart was appointed
to represent the business men of the
block in direction of the clubs activi-
ties.
A petition was prepared to be pre-
scented to the municipal commission
asking for the establishment of a
waiting station for street car and in
terurban passengers near the site of
the present band stand and weigh
masters quarters in Market square.
The business men also asked Phil
president of the Rock Island
State bank, to place two lamp stand
ards in front of the banking quarters.
A resolution was adopted and deliv-
cred to X. T. Anderson, cashier. who
said he would take the matter up with
Mr. Mitchell.
Accept Bid For Painting.
A. ]. Riess presided at the meet
ing. The bid of Lerch & Greve,
painters, for the painting of the fronts
Of all business houses in the block. ,
inclusive of canopies was accepted.
That the Tri-City Railway company
will paint it's poles and the city is
relied upon to give the lamp stand
ards a new coat.
The contract for the painting was
signed this morning and it was
announced that the work would be
started tomorrow morning. II pos !
sible 1t will be finished by the end of
the week.
Takes Down First Sign.
c. H. March, S. w. Bowlby and ].
II. Paulsen were named as commit
tee TO explain the stand of the organi-
zation in regard to signs and this
work was started. Mr..
Paulsen was the first TO remove his
swinging sign. In a short time the {
curb signs had been gathered in and s
exhibits taken on the sidewalks caus- :
ing an immediate and striking i'm {
Drovement in appearances. l
Another committee composed of /
Phil Mitchell. w. o. Negus and J. r. S
E<imball was appointed to lay the mat L