Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-31
BIZ JOSEPH G. RAY.


1t probably never entered the aver
age persons mind 20 years ago, when
the head Offices Of the Modern Wood
men of America were moved from
Fulton to Rock Island, that the So
ciety would in later years become such
a strong giant as It is In the fraternal,
financial and economic world.
No other similar organization Is SO
widely known throughout the United
100000 members and their families,
100000 more, know that
Rock Island Is the home Of Modern
'Woodcraft--or at least they have the
opportunity Of knowing it, for not
pnly Is the name of this city on every
piece Of its printed matter, including
policies or benefit certificates, but
bach month Rock Island Is carried In
The date line of the official paper that
Toes to the entire membership. Aside
from being direct and valuable as
let TO the community IN financial
yay, it is conceded by all obseryant
PERSONS that Woodcraft is perhaps
{oing more to advertise to the world
bat Rock Island is on the map, than
}ny other single or combined agency.
Then, too, Rock Island is almost pre-
Ssely midway between PASSPORT,
Naine, and Seaside, Oregon, the east
en- and western limits of Woodcraft,
aid between Medicine Hat and Cor
Jus Christi its northern and south
an boundary limits. So all roads
bgieally lead to Rock Island, the hub
Or center of things in Woodmen activ-
ties.
Nothing new pertaining to the
Woodmen headquarters probably can
be related to the old-time residents of
Rock Island. To them it may have
become an everyday story. However,
many thousands of the newer inhabi
lants do not likely realize the large
folume of business being daily trans
acted with no flourish Of trumpets or
beating Of drums in the two four
story buildings at the corner of FIT
tenth street and Third avenue and in
the three-story building midway be-
tween Third and Fourth avenues on
Sixteenth street.
These modern, fire-proof structures
that house the activities of the ad~
illustrative departments and the
printing plant Of the society were
erected in the years 1899, 1905 and
1908. respectively, at an aggregate
cost Of 1911 ,551 In the opinion of
competent architects, these buildings
today could not be replaced for an
even 100000. II is an unusual thing
for an Office building to have its own
Rrtesian drinking water, but an in
Ivestment few years ago developed
such a well on the premises at To-
II tai cost Of $3,309.61. While Modern
Woodmen of America is a corpora
ton, it may be said in passing that 1t
has no capital stock to be "watered.r
Financially this, the largest fra
ternal insurance society Of today
takes front rank in the community. as
It receives and clears through various
original depository banks in the tri-
cities an average of S20650. coo annual
", from approximately 1900 sources
such as local camps, deputies and in
dividuals, representing that number
Of towns and cities IN which Wood
craft is organized. From the head Of
/ fee an average of CTS death claims
are paid monthly, or at the rate oil
I 400 yearly, amounting in 1915 tC
/ $13 $3.50, 25105, or a monthly average
disbursement OF 81 ,163. 800 20. The so
ciety has paid out for death losses In
all about $200, 100000 since organiza-
ton. A monthly average Of 1850 or
I ders on the general fund are issued
aggregating $159,565 monthly. o.
Sl,755, coo annually, which figures in.
cIude the sanatorium expenditures.
I The accounting system maintained
/ by the head clerk involves the audit
/ ing and handling by the various de
partments of approximately 14.77i
monthly reports from local camp'
( that cover individual accounts o
/ l 100000 members-each one of whom
has his full history and standing OF
an individual card. These reports il
/ the course Of a years time numbe
l177300 and 12,4S0,O00 individual &C
| counts.
! The Modern Woodmen is a regula
and substantial customer of Uncl
Sam, and, incidentally, the local post
Office is a higher class by reason of in
creased receipts from the sale Of hi
small and nicely engraved pictures
costing one. two and three cents
mostly the latter since We started il
to annihiiate the kaiser-afiiXed to al