Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-31
auto SERVICE
STATIONS. PUT
UP BY CONCERN
Reserve Trust Company Sponsor
for Million Dollar System
Started in Last Year.
BY HARRY l.. ROBERTS.

been built up in ROCK Island q $l,-
100000 concern employing more
than 400 men and operating
throughout the middle west an ex-
tensive chain OF modern drive in"
service stations for the distribu-
ton to motorists Of gasoline, oils,
greases and kindred motor neces-
stiles.
1t was just year ago that the
Peee-ve Trust company was organ
ICED BY Is prominent bankers and
business men OF western Illinois
and eastern Iowa to finance the
Consumers Service Stations, Inc.
1t had for its purpose the building
and operating of a chain Of SER
vice stations to meet the demand
of motorists throughout the middle
west for better and more conven-
lent facilities for obtaining their
..o1y-uay r. c4ui. ~ments Oh sdsoilne
and similar supplies. The organ
izers believed they recognized in
this demand an opportunity for
profitable investment. They thought
they foresaw that the motor car
owners in the smaller cities and
towns where the modern service
station was not yet known would
gladly forego the old red gasoline
can. the garage storage tank and
the curb pump for the new method
OF service and convenience.
At the outset the company &C.
cupied two office rooms on the
third floor Of the Robinson build
ing. Its personnel, counting every
one from the general manager to
the Office boy. comprised a dozen
persons.
Today the company occupies ap-
proximately 5000 square feet OF
office space at 2016-1S-20 Fourth
avenue. 1t employs more than 400
men-and. incidentally. the great
er part Of these men make their
homes In Rock Island. The assets
Of the company total we'll over
$1.000.000.
Last June the company moved
from its Offices in the Robinson
building to the building formerly
occupied by the Union Telephone
company at 1920 Fourth avenue.
This building. now known as the
Reserve Trust building. is occu-
pied exclusively by the ofiices OF
the company, which recently was
compelled by its growth to pur-
chase the residence property ad-
joining the building on the west
and remodel 1t as temporary
home for several Of its offices. An
addition also was constructed to
connect the structure with the
main office building.
Plans are now under way for the
construction by the company Of a
warehouse. garage and several
bulk storage tanks to cost more
than 100000. These buildings will
be used as storing and distribu-
? ting plant for the products market
ed at the company's stations. They
will be completed by spring.
Have Big Plans.
When warm weather comes, the
company expects to have nearly
$50 OF its stations operating. Ap-
proximately 100 stations now are
in operation or we'll under way OF
construction. Virtually all Of them
are in Iowa. The company, how
ever. now is entering several add.
tional states. Besides the 100 sta
lions. sites have been procured and
materials are being shipped pre-
paratory to beginning construction
OF about fifty additional stations
The company has its own construc.
ton department and is going ahead
with its building activities through.
out the winter months.
In building up its chain Of sta
tons. the company has laid great
stress upon erecting buildings that
please the eve. equipment that in
sures full measure to the consum-
ers, products Of high quality and q
service that caters to the utmost
requirements and the slightest
Wnlm0 OF motorists.
The company's stations are mod
els Of efficiency and attractiveness.
The construction department has
adopted uniform design Of build
Ing which is unique and which
makes the stations stand out as
distinctive. The design Is adapta-
BILE to any size Of building. It is
suited as we'll to the modest sta
ton in a small village as to the
ornate and imposing structure
which graces the busy downtown
corner Of large city.
A black and white checkerboard
scheme Of exterior decoration adds
j to the distinctiveness Of the sta
lions. A hobby also is made of
surrounding the stations, wherever
location permits. with grass plots,
shrubberT and flowers. Concrete
driveways connecting with the
streets permit automobiles to drive
directly through the stations.
Invariably the company installs
in each Of its stations the very
latest and most improved devices
for handling gasoline. oils and
similar products. Visible pumps
always are installed. These pumps
permit the purchaser to see for
himself that he gets full measure.
A double system of strainers is
utilized to insure that the gasoline
is free from foreign substances and
impurities when it goes into the
tank of car.
The highest standard of quality
is maintained in all the products
marketed. Besides Go Cas-" the
gasoline which 1t features, the COM
pany markets under its own trade
mark a full line of oils. sreases
and kindred products. The COM
pany also is distributor in its ter
ritory for the Texaco petroleum
products OF the Texas company. the
third largest oil company in the
Jfnjfod States