Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-23

A hundred years is a long time,
measured by the standards Of these
rapid moving times, but even so, any
community which develops from
wild as nature made it so that it is able
to show the indications of progress in
evidence in yesterdays parade has
cause for elf-congratulatiOn.
For the GROWING feature Of the Fort
Armstrong centennial celebration wit
messed in the streets Of Rock Island,
Moline and Davenport yesterday after
noon was fairly representative Of what
the hand Of man has done hereabOut.
Its numerous floats and its marching
hosts spoke eloquently Of the vast in
dustries, the far reaching business in
fluence. the wealth. culture and en-
terprise of the $4,000 people whose
homes are here.
From the standpoint Of mere size,
the parade eclipsed anything ever be-
fore attempted in the tri-cities. Il was
five miles in length There were go
floats and passenger automobiles, all
decorated. in line in Rock Island, to-
gether with hundreds Of marching
members of industrial and fraternal
organizations Rock Island furnished
1872 vehicles, Davenport 81 and Moline
a. The numbers were approximately
the same in the other two cities. The
motor driven part of the parade made
the circuit of the business districts 0:
all three cities, while each city sup
piled its own marching division, il
being obviously impossible to transfer
these from one place to the other. Rocf
Island WoOdmen and Odd Fellows
however, took part in the Davenport
parade.
In short, the parade was as large as
could be successfully staged in al
three cities in half d day. 1t was Sc
big that there were unavoidable delays
in getting started and though the
start from here for Moline was made
at 2 o'clock it was nearly before TIT
long line had crossed to Davenport.
Is Well Handled.
Its size did not prevent the marsha
and his aides from handling the pro
cession smoothly and in perfect order
but il did make it impossible Il
sharply draw the line between the di
visions furnished by the different cit
les. 1t was also out of the question t
switch the lead as had been intended
so that each contingent led in its home
town. Davenport started in the leat
and was forced 10 maintain it.
1t was the most ambitious under
taking of the kind the tri-city com
munity has seen and it was viewed b!
a larger number of people than evel
saw a similar spectacle here. ROcl
Island streets along which the process
sion moved were packed with peoplt
all afternoon People came by auto
rail and water for many miles. In Mo
line and Davenport the crowds were
equally large.
Great pains and expense we're in
volved in the preparation Of the float
and the public gave ample evidence o
its appreciation. To single out, an!
particular display for especial mention
would be unfair to great man.
others. The Rock Island Plow com
pany's offering of seven Heider draw
ing a full line of implements made b,
the concern attracted great deal o
attention. The tri-city shoe repairer
promised a surprise and they fur
nished il, with a big float and /
autos carrying members of their or
ganization. Amoo grotto of Rock Is
land figured strongly, with band AM
20 autos bearing members.
After a threatening morning the at
ternoon turned out clear and warn
and the pageant was put on unde
most favorable circumstances.
The parade was formed on Fift
avenue in this city facing east. Float
began lining up shortly after noon an
il was two hours before the long col
umn finally got in motion. 1t passe
10 Moline via Thirty-eighth street an
Seventh avenue. tTaversing there tn
main streets in the business distric
and returning to Rock Island vi
Fifth avenue On that thoroughfare
proceeded west to Nineteenth, mayin
north TO Third avenue, thence west I
Thirteenth street, north to Second ave
nue., east TO Twentieth street, south t