Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-11-17

Mr. Sudlow and 3 number OF other
Rock Island men.
After William B, Mcintyre of Rock
Island had been introduced and had
given very happy little address OF
optimism and good cheer, George
Metzgar OF Port Byron. representing
the old lime association, was called on
and he spoke briefly Il had been 40
years, he said, since he went into the
lime business in Port Byron, and he
was now glad that the business was to
be rehabilitated by the Successors OF
the old company
Mr. Rolls, being called on, suggest
ed that J. Ramser. who was present
from Rock Island, was the man TO tell
something about the new association.
Mr.. Ramser was very brief, but he
spoke to the point The new associa-
ton proposes to spend $4,000 TO
$4,000 in the work Of rehabilitation
The plant will be equipped for hydrat-
ing lime. and it will be modern one
Hits Old System.
George W. Ross OF East Moline
dwelt for time on our too intricate
and wasteful system Of local govern
ment. He said he was not seeking to
belittle the officials who are admin
istering local government, for his OBJ
lection was not 10 men but to the sys-
tenn. AS an illustration, this county
of Rock Ialsnd is an old county. one
of the earliest organized In the state,
Il has been in existence not far
from one hundred years. It has along
the bank Of the Mississippi from above
Cordova down through Port Byron,
Hampton. East Moline and Moline into
/ Rock Island one Of the finest scenic
highways in the world. This highway
given a smooth surface. would be
known all over the world, and 1t would
| attract tourists from everywhere But
! after almost hundred years of such
care as it has cotton under our sys-
TEN of county and township govern
ment. it can hardly be said to be bet.
ter than 1t was nearly century ago.
MIR Ross briefly but emphatically
argued for the abandonment Of our
| present form of county government in
favor OF the commission plan, In which
the board Of supervisors is displaced
as in several counties in Illinois at
the present time by board Of three
or Eve commissioners Mr. Ross en-
phasized again the fact that he had
no fault to find with the members OF
cur supervisor board Should the
commission form be established in
this county, he would be perfectly sat.
isfied were three or five Of our pres
ent supervisors named to constitute
the new governing commission.
What Moline Has Done.
Chairman Abraham told interesting
ly of what the Greater Moline com
mittee has already done and what it il
striving to do for the city in its ca
pacity as the business body represent,
ing the Moline Commercial club, the
Retail Merchants association, the
Retail Merchants association NOW
the Business Mems association of Mo
line East Moline and Silvisl. the Real
Estate exchange Of Moline and the
general psblic
Mr., Abraham was able 10 recount
d large number Of worthwhile things
already accomplished for the city, and
he enforced it on his hearers. whom
he congratulated on the organization
of the Port Byron Improvement asso
citation, that little can be done with
out organization. When you have thf
proper organization, with d right de-
gree of unanimity, and you want any
thing for your community. all you have
to do is to 90 out and get ii.
Mr.. Clarksou who is known as the
Missouri road builder and who is now
connected with the Road Maker, pub
lished in Moline, was introduced and
he made some felicitous remarks, Civ
ing way to ]. D. Long, the Road Max
or editor
Florida SETS Example.
Joe Long always makes good
speech, and he did it on this occasion
/ One of the concrete facts that he
/ brought out as to good roads, was thai
! the people would be reader to make
appropriations, or to vote bonds even
/ for good roads, if they could know ii
/ advance just what they were going Il
get, or whether they would be likely
to get anything worth while. Il re-
NAMED for a community in Florida t6
make the right plan to give the people
! good roads marked in plain figures
/ 10 give them what they were ready &c
pay for.
| This Florida community had discus
for two years project for building
road along the coast connecting W
number Of Outside resorts, The
people were practically agreed on the
type of road they wanted. They knew
! where they wanted it and how long
and wide it ought to be. Various es'
Inmates of its cost had been hazarded
| These ran all the way from hall
million dollars to a million. But there
was no tangible basis TO go on. I'm
ally. to clear up the situation bids
were asked for on specifications tc
which no one objected, AS soon as tbs
bids. backed up by bonds for faithful
performance, the people knew what
they could get for tnefr money. &C
| cording to the most favorable bid, the
road would cost 100000 Then came
an election on the question Of issuing