Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-04-19


title Of the report of the activities
Of the board of directors Of the
Rock Island club, the Rock Island
Chamber of Commerce and the
Rock Island Business Mems asso-
citation submitted at the annual
membership meeting at the Clue
last night.
A prelude to the report says:
The following is a report OF the
accomplishments and activities OF
thtemem bers and board Of directors
of the Rock Island club, Chamber
of Commerce and Business Mems
association.
We have caused the report to be
made jointly for the reason that 1t
would be rather difficult to make a
separate report covering the actiV-
tiles of any one of these organlza-
tions. They have been working in
perfect harmony and so closely
have they cooperated that there is
no line of demarkation setting
forth where the work of one organ
iZation began and the other left of.
In addition to the activities set
forth we call your attention to the
fact that these three organizations
have served the nation faithfully
and with credit in plotting Rock
Island successfully through the
great maze of war activities which
were assigned to this city. The
burden was a heavy one and be
cause of the Rock Island arsenal
assumed national character, re-
during that committees from these
organizations be represented at the
nations capitol While the war
work of the organization was stu
pendous, it was nevertheless Of
such a character as has paid large
dividends in extended payroils and
in physical assets-proportions
diff cult to reduce to figures
This being the first report made
since the organization of the Cham
Der of Commerce which occurred in
July, 1917, we have attempted to
cover all the things accomplished
from its incipiency. Inasmuch as IT
did not get into operation before
Oct. 1, the report really covers d
period of Is months.
Things accomplished stands
out as a gIaring example of what
NAV be accomplished by coopera-
tive and concerted action on the
part of the members of the crgani-
cations that go to make up the
Chamber of Commerce, the Rock
Island club and Business Mems as
ISOLATION"
Copies of the report, which is in
pamphlet form, are to be immed-
lately printed and distributed to
every home in the city. This was
suggested by c. J. Searle, who re-
ferred to the attacks that had been
made on the organizations during
the last few weeks.
There should be copy of this
resolution in every home in the
city" Mr.. Searle said. Il make a
motion that we adopt a resolution
to this effect" The motion was
seconded and favorably voted for.
The report in full follows:
Industrial.
THE work of the industrial COM
mittee has been hampered be
cause of the activities of war. We
found il almost impossible to de-
veIop new enterprises or to sue
cessfully handle many factory
projects seeking new locations.
Government restrictions surround
ing the development Of new fac
tories made it practically impos-
sible and what has been accom-
plished has been brought about in
spite of the obstacles with which
we were confronted.
I'VE feel that the accomplish
ment IS one of which the cOmmu-
nifty can be very prouL 1t has
done more in the way Of factory
and in the way of
factory location than has been
done in any similar period in the
city's history.
Government Houses.
'In the obtaining Of a federal
appropriation of approximately
81 100000 for government houses
the committee has its greatest &C
Space will not
permit of reviewing the tremend-
Gus amount of time and effort that
was expended in the getting of
this appropriation. 1t was only
obtained through the vigilance and
tireless effort of the committee
members. 1t was a proposition on
which the work never seemed to
be completed. Even after the ap-
had been secured it
required constant watchfulness
and endeavor to see that the whole
amount of the appropria ion was
Only a few months ago a bill
came before the committee on
and grounds which prac
tically ordered a stoppage of the
building of these houses. a rep
resentatiVe of the committee ap-
peared in Washington twice, and
in cooperation with the cities of
Moline and East Moline was able
TO prevent stOppage.
These houses are now COM
pleted and are being rented and
represent approximately .wo hum
dred and twenty permanent home
for Rock Island citizens. These
houses are well built. are attrac-
tive and represent a most desira-
BILE acquisition.
New Manufacturing Concerns.
Your committee early adopted
a policy OF small factory extension
and has directed most of its ener-