davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
HOUSING SALES :.
GIVEN IMPETUS
IN TRI CITIES

One Of the most successful. as
well rs the first Of tie United States
government housing projects in the
country, was that which was con-
Quoted in Rock Island, Moline and
East Moline, and which was con-
summated with the sale of $50
houses in the three cities in q 15-
day sale the latter part Of October
and first of November Of this year.
The building and sale project in
Rock Island and neighboring cities
was made possible through the ap-
preparation OF congress of $4,000
for housing war workers, and the
increase of this amount subsequent
ly to $1l0,000,000 The number Of
projects undertaken by the govern
ment was about Is, Of which this
in the Rock Island arsenal territory
was one of four in the middlewest.
Terms Easy.
The average sale price of the
houses built by the government cor
poration here was $1,000. The total
sales aggregated $1,254,040.- The
terms on the houses were made as
easy as possible. They were a cash
payment Of 10 percent OF the pur-
chase price, with the balance pay
able in monthly installments of
| per cent of the purchase price, in
cluding interest at 8 per cent.
A further plan was arranged for,
whereby purchasers unable to pay
the 10 per cent cash were per-
Lmitted to pay in monthly install
ments equal to the rent price plus
SO. Most Of the buyers preferred
the first terms.
The houses were of one and two
story construction, and contained
four, five and six rooms. The gov
ernment' will arrange for the plant
ing Of the lots on which they are
built, at q later date.
Preference in the sales was given
to the tenants, and following the
period Of sale to tenants, the re.
naming houses were offered fol
sale to the public. About IS pei
cent Of the tenants purchased.
A local board of survey placed the
prices, before the opening of. the
sales. They were instructed te
place a fair market value, bearing
in mind that the general public
rather than the individual buyers
should bear the excess war cost
This board was composed Of CalviI
C. Williams Of the central work.
council Of the United States arsen
al; Ben Jacobson Of the Tri-Cit,
Federation of Labor: William H
Kimball, civil engineer; william c
Johnson, president Of the Illinoi'
Real Estate ASSOCIATION, and Edwars
s. Judd, a former president Of tn,
Chicago real estate board and o
the national association of real es
tate boards, who also had the loca
end of the selling in charge.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
Is Civic Want.
By C. F. GAETJER.
Sunerintendent of pArkN-

The citizens of Rock Island are
proud of their parks. They are
particularly proud Of Long View.
which, by reason Of its contours, is
claimed to be one Of the finest In
the state.
This park comprises 40 acres. It
10 frequented annually by thou
sands Of people. Not only those Of
the quad-cities but those who come
for miles BY auto to enjoy the
shade Of the magnificent elms on
late summer days. This IL a. It
should be. The park IL built for
just such purposes, and the public
takes advantage Of 1t.
Lincoln park has already, and
will IN the future come In for its
share Of improvements. It % hoped
that 1890 will SEQ tho driveways
built. A comfort station at. . cost
Of $500 10 nearing compistion.
Tennis courts, . shelter house and
children's Fairgrounds have been
installed and equipment stored for
the wintsr.
Tho main driveway Into the park
will be on Thirty ninth strest from
Fourteenth avenue and cast to
Forty-third street, In order to g.
tablish = 10 per cent grade. This
will only be possible by having two
parties either donate or condemn
a small tract Of ground owned BY
WI. Vaile Of Moline and A. II.
6ippsi Of Rock island, The latter
win deed the piece involved to thu
city, II will, Of course, b srats-
fully received.
Spencer Square. benkmann,
J Garnsey and the Sixth and Seventh
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
Today's Events

Tonight the United States will
experience its first dry" New
Years eve celebration.
Today II the 425th anniversary
OF the birth of jacques Cartier, the
famous explorer Of the st. Law
renee.
Tho annual national congress Of
the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity In
to be entered IN Cleveland during
the four days beginning today.
College graduatas and students
interested In the practical adyance-
ment OF Zionism will gather at
Harvard university today for the
national conference Of the Inter:
collegiate Zionist association.
Delegates representing = thou
sand or more preparatory schools
and colleges Of North America are
expected In Des Moines today for
the opening Of the eighth tntefna-
tionai convention Of the Student
Volunteer Movement for foreign
missions,
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
1919 MARKET IN
REAL ESTATE IS
AN UNUSUAL ONE
BY REDY BROS.

The real estate market for the
year 1919 has been an extremely
unusual one. This effect has many
causes and to fully portray these
causes many of the used war time
phrases will have to be called
upon.
Dwelling property has expert
enced the most phenominal move
ment that this city has witnessed
for years, due to the high cost of
building material and labor, and
the fact that there we're practically
no dwellings for rent; also to the
fact that money was plentiful and
property could be bought on the
contract plan, that is by making a
small payment down and the bal
ance in monthly payments. Per-
haps 80 per cent of the dwelling
property sold in 1919 was on the
latter plan. Whether or not this is
to prove satisfactory, remains for
the future to demonstrate. Prices
on dwellings under this pressure
have advanced 25 to 40 per cent
and all classes of dwellings have
experienced the movement.
Building lots have Jagged during
the year and prices have remained
about stationary to the non-build-
ing of dwellings. By this state
ment it is not intended to say that
there was no building at all; rath-
er it would be more explicit to say
that building operations as to
dwelling property was about 30
per cent of normal. Business prop
erty has been rather active with
Third avenue from Seventeenth to
Twenty-third street, leading the
movement. Notable among the lat
ter was the purchase by W. A. Ros-
enfield of the corner of Nineteenth
street and Third avenue, on which
is to rise the beautiful, new Fort
Armstrong theatre. This purchase
and the outlay of money which is
to be expended upon it stands out
as the leading deal Of the year as
far as the city of Rock Island is
concerned.
Another deal of importance on
Third avenue was the purchase Of
the corner on Nineteenth street and
Third avenue, just across the street
from the new theatre location, for
a new hotel. This project is now
in the embryo state but all indica-
tions point to activity in the early
spring. The gentlemen behind this
project are capable of doing big
things and no doubt Rock Island
will see 10-story hotel building
on this site in the near future.
There were many other deals In
business property at values that
speak well for the future Of this
class of property.
Taking it on the whole the year
has been a very good one for real
estate business and conditions here
i vary but little from those existing
all over the country. The local
outstanding feature is the seeming
desire of local capital to invest in
Rock Island real estate. This, Of
itself, is perhaps the best assur-
ance that the city can have of fu-
ture growth.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
civic want, in that, there will be

civic want. in that, there will be
some central place to house con-
ventions, auto shows, large gather
ings, musical entertainments and
the like, where q large floor space
and seating capacity is . necessity.
Tentative plans call for seating
capacity Of $500 on the main floor
and 1900 in the balcony. and IL
NECESSARY 750 can be seated on the
stage, making it the largest place
Of its kind west Of Chicago, 50 that
mid-winter circuses and the largest
theatrical productions can be stag
ed. It 10 the hope Of the grotto
membership to have this building
ready for occupancy early in the
spring Of 1921.
The building will also be
equipped with a large dining room
in the basement to accommodate at
least 1900. The scheme will be
financed by a stock company with
the bulk Of the stock held by the
grotro members, and it is thought
that very little outside assistance
will be necessary. A committee
will shortly undertake the work OF
financing the proposition.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
n. Its total cost will be near $20,.
Erect Enameling Room.

on. Its total cost will be near $780,
900.
Erect Enameling Room.
A building for enameling ranges
will be completed by the Rock Is
land Stove company within another
month. Work was started upon
this project five weeks ago, and
when finished it will be one-story
high, 50x130 feet at the base, and
will have cost approximately $40,-
900. Fuel oil is used to produce the
heat in the two large ovens which
are to bake the paint upon the
ranges, and the air brush system
may be installed for placing the
enamel beforehand. The great
growth in the business Of this COM
pany during 1919 has occasioned
this addition. A small storeroom
30x40 feet and costing several
thousand dollars was also erected
last November.
Growth also materially affected
the Phelps Motor company on First
street and Sixth avenue. During
the two months Of August and Sep
tember the Office building of that
plant, then covering about 1,000
square feet Of ground space, was
renovated, the interior and exter-
Tor being improved, and an addi-
tion also covering 1000 square feet
was made. The whole structure is
one story in height. The entire
job. including renovation. building
and new equipment. cost 5000
New machinery and other shor
equipment to the value of $45. .00t
has been received and installed
during 1919. and there were 10t
more persons on the pay roll In
December Of this year than there
were last spring.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
HOTEL AND BIG
GR0TT0 MOSQUE
TO Be ERECTED
Both VIII Be Decided Asset to Com.
munity as to Appearance
and Need fer Them.

Two undertakings being watched
with interest by the Rock Island
public, especially those with an eye
toward the future civic growth and
increasing importance Of Rock Is
land, are the hotel which is being
fostered by the Chamber Of Com
merce and the Amoo grotto audito-
rum, both to be wholly or partly
erected by next winter.
First intimations that out OF
town capital was seeking a location
here for a hotel to cost nearly q
million dollars, was received by
the Chamber Of Commerce. That
organization at once set to work
promoting the proposition. with the
result that It has become an as
sured fact. The structure is to be
erected on the southeast corner OF
the intersection Of Nineteenth
street and Third avenue. It will be
10 stories high and will cost $780,
900, approximately. All plans are
not prepared, but the work Of pre-
liminary arrangements Is steadily
going forward and an early start is
hoped for.
Tho committee representing the
local business interests in working
up the plan IL composed OF H. s
Cable, M. 8. Heagy, J. L. Vernon,
Major Walter A. Rosenfleld. Frank
Mixter. I. 8. White. H. H. Cleave-
land and H. e. Curtis.
6rotto to Have Hall.
The coming year probably will
sec the fondest hopes and dreams
Of the membership Of Amoo grotto
como true, In the election Of theiI
proposed home or auditorium
which has been uppsrmost In the
minds Of the grotto for the pas,
three ysars.
Tho auditorium idea had IT. ilrst
inception from several Of tho grotte
members, who are also members ol
the Mystic Shrine. and they cams
to tho conclusion that II tho grottf
met with tho same successful
growth a. the shrine, It w0uidsonly
be . short time until . large build.
ing or auditorium would be neces
l a.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31

and now ranks as one Of the larg-
est grottoes in the realm. For the
past IL months it has been impos-
sible to accommodate the members
and visitors at the semi-annual
ceremonials.
Two years ago the agitation for
a new home was started by sew
eral members, who thought it time
for the grotto to look ahead, and
the idea gathered momentum with
each ceremonial, until at the meet
ing in December the trustees7 were
authorized to close an option on q
tract Of land 116x230 feet at Twen-
ty-f1ve street and Fifth avenue
This tract runs through to Fourth
avenue and was one of the few
central locations which could be
found that was not cut by an alley
This location is ideal and can cas-
lily be reached from any part Of the
tri-cities.
Is Civic Want.
1t is probable the new building
will be known as the Mosque" OF
the "Amoo Grotto," taking its name
from similar buildings Of the or
ganization throughout the country
In this building also the city oi
Rock Island will realize q long felt
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
Today's Birthdays

General Tasker H. Bliss, y. &,
A.. former chief OF the general staif
and later, one Of the American rep-
resentattves In the peace confer
encs, born at Lewisburg, Pa. IS
years ago today.
Emile Loubet. former president
Of the French republic. born at
Marsanne. France. 81 years ago to-
day, .ss
Harry 8, New, United States sen-
ator from Indiana. born at Indiaa-
apclis, l years ago today.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
ONLY ONE MILE
paved STREETS
ADDED IN 1878
High Cost of Material and Labor
Shortage Cause Of Slump.
Projects Contracted For.

Slightly less than one mile of
paving was completed in Rock Is
land during the IL months from
Dec. /, 1918. to Dec. l. 1919, al
though contracts were let for more
paving work, according to the re-
port of Commissioner Frank Wich.
in charge of the department Of
streets and public improvements.
Paving to an amount of 1,641
feet was completed on Thirty-third
street between Fourteenth and
Eighteenth avenues at . cost o.
$20, 0,035.87 and to a length Of S,52l
feet on Fifth avenue between Sec
ond and Thirteenth streets at q
cost of s43,85S, making a total Of
5,165 feet Of paving completed at q
cost of $63,S93.S7. All paving con-
pleted was of brick.
During 1918 over three miles oi
paving was completed at . cost oi
$156.215.1S.
Commissioner Wich announces
that on account of the high cost g:
materials and the shortage Of
labor. paving had been contracted
for only when 1t was petitioned to;
by property owners.
Payiue Contracted For.
r..-,.,sta,a,, ~. ..,,,...
~. ".nnS ...,, ..a.,. - @ 80. - "a,.,
n,ot:a % % Smr;,~ ~ tha " naar ,.r.,
pn,.ha- p,~,I~ ~ .ns. ra.. ntr.s..d %,
n. nuo., -. =. 'oo0 "o Ss.S.. S 49, 80 .a,, .w'
anu o'nvIs oe r.,, uow ,eHuy a.. ~. .,a ~.
la ,,u ~ ~ 10 ss. De,.S,eI N.,, - 'na. ,'. @ - -.
/, .liy on y. enl. wh W put m W.
su4Ae, ,.ao ai llne :" o'"i' ~. ieo
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
SLUMP IN new
!. SIDEWALKS IS
NOTED IN YEAR

Only slightly over three and one
half miles Of sidewalks were laid
in Rock sIsland during the year be-
ginning Dec. /. 1918. and ending
Dec. !, 1919 according to the re-
port Of Commissioner Frank Wich.
IN charge Of the department Of
streets and public improvements.
There were s3,ss2 square feet of
Wallis laid. to be ezect, and the cost
Of the work amounted to 15,973.54.
The record shows considerably less
than during 1918. when about five
miles Of sidewalks we're laid. Dur
1uG 1913 sidewalk work amounted
to 116, 1876 square feet. costing $780,
24S.3o.
For instance, over eight miles Of
sidswa1ks were laid in this city in
.e17 and 13 miles Of walks were
constructed IN 1916. Tho 1916 mark
WAS the highest ever reached in
Sidewalk construction.
Nearly all the work done this
scar Was done under private con.
tract. However. some work was
done under city contract. Permit
FEES collected by the city On work
done " private contracts amount
ed to e1Se.SS and water rent
Amounted 70 &190.16.
WsrA By City Contract.
9idswalks completed under city
contracts were laid On Thirty-fifth
street from Twelfth to Eighteenth
avenue. on T0rty-third street from
Fifteenth to Eighteenth avenue
and on Seventeenth avenue from
Fofty-fourth to Forty-sixth street
In addition. contract was let for
! laying . sidewalk on the west aide
OF Twslfth street from Nineteenth
TO Eorty-fourth avenue.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
BUILDING WORK IN ROCK island
SHOWS TOTAL Of $1,S92,e8e AS.
COMPILED BY INSPECTOR LINDR0S|
During the Year 326 New Dwell.
ings Were Constructed and q
We're Given Repairs.

Actual cost of building work In
Rock Island in 1919 was $780,
$50.
According to a report compiled
by John A. Lindros, city building
inspector, $1,594,151 was spent for
general building construction, as
shown by permits issued by his
ONCE. However, figures given at
the time permits are taken out are
usually far below the actual cost,
and hence 25 per cent is added as
conservative addition to reach
the exact cost.
In addition to this large outlay,
$62,624 was expended for heating
plants. bringing the total cost up
work that was approved by the
building inspector up to $1,656,775.
There were 1886 dwellings erected
during the year, additions built on
to % dwellings, lib were remod-
eled and % were given repairs.
The total number of permits is
sued by Inspector Lindros and his
predecessor, C. V. Johnson, was
S76, and Of this number 1874 were
for garages.
In addition to these permits 100
permits were issued for installing
heating plants. Total fees collect
ed amounted to $2,128.75.
Building Work General.
The scope Of the building work
during the year covered long list
OF improvements and most of these
were general in nature.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31

NeW factory DullQfnS ......... s
Addition to factory buildings.
Remodeling factory buildings
Estimated cost of buildings,
$1.594,151.
Building permit fees. $1,496.93.
Heating permits. 130.
Estimated cost of heating plants,
$81,624.
Fees for heating permits, $182.
Square feet Of sidewalks laid,
93.962.
Permit fees for sidewalks,
$269.67.
Water rent for sidewalks,
$190.16.
Total 70 all fees collected,
$2,128.7s.
Total estimated cost Of building
and heating work. $1,656,775.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31

cerned with the improvements.
and only In a few instances
was it necessary to- arrive at
an estimate. In such cases
the most conservative figures
were accepted. It is more
than likely that the grand to-
tai would exceed six millions
II 1t was possible to receive &C
curate data in all cases.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31

OF Spain's population about one
fifteenth are mobiles, of whom four
flfths are tither paupers or on the
verge Of poverty.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
Inspectors Report.

The fact that q jury in India
consists of nine members IL not
generally known, Another point
about the Indian jury ip that the
Judge. In ease Of . division Of 'opin-
ion. nay refuse to accept the YER
diet II hs thinks the majority too
small.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31

Many Buildings and Other
Betternl0t1fs Made in Year

Rock Island arsenal ..........,.... $2,648778
St. Anthony's hospital communion. 100000
Factory extension and repairs ....... 100000
Buildings -. ..................... 1,8o2686
Peoples Power company ........... 3oo77o
Public improvements ............... Io3867
Heating ...... ................... 62,634
Plumbing $4,000
Tri-City Railway company .......... oS,783
Electrical construction .......... 10000
Municipal work Observation-Disclosures. 1850
Postofice -. ...:................. 1850
Total, 1919 Observation-Disclosures. .S5,o18,668
Total, 1917 100000
lUCIcdSe .>p19IC,OOC
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
ROCK ISLAND HAS PARK SYSTEM
OF WHICH IT Is JUSTLY PROUD,
SAYS SUPERINTENDENT GAETJER

avenue boulevards will receive
nothing more than the usual care
during the year.
The park board will consider and
possibly take action on the building
Of two wading pools for children
either ut Long View or Denkmana
square.
The board has handled the funds
allotted It for park purposes with
the greatest care. No outstanding
debts have been permitted. Labor
ers are paid every week. Bills are
settled and salaries paid ON the
first of each month.
While our neighboring city, across
the river has . park Of some 970,-
900, we have only about one-third
OF that amount. Yet our park sys-
tenn prospers and we are making
improvements by degrees. Our
system compares very favorably
with their system.
Tho park board members have
given freely and unsparingiy Of
their time. They are William Jack
son. presidsnt; J. G, Denkmann,
vice president; y. B, McKovn, Sec
rotary and treasurer: W. Fl. Dart
and Wallace Treiohler. members.
Tho following funds were ex-
pended from April s to Dec. /. 1919.
Spencer Square ..........s1.10e.6d
Denkmann ,,...,.......... lSl.@S
Market square drinking
I0unte1h ,......,....... &Ia
Gernsey square .....,..., e27.8.
Long View ...,....,,..,... 4.707. IS
Lincoln ..,...,.,.,,,.,.., 2,470.7o
BOulsvards, Sixth and
Seventh ..,,....,,.,... 1919
General ,.,...t.,.,...,... l,Do0.0
Paving against lark system 1857 81
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
WORK
KEEPS even Of.
1918 ACTIVITY
Report Of Inspector Yerbury Shows
Work Equal to Proceeding Year
Fixtures Cost e17kO

The report Of the work during
the year 1919 in the department Of
the city plumbing inspector shows
the activities to have been about the
same in scope "a during 1918.
Frank Yerbury. plumbing inspector,
reports that during 1919 plumbing
was installed in 702 dwellings and
the other work caused an outlay
Of money es lated to reach the
sum Of $175,C00 In the aggregate,
not including repair work.
Mr.. Yerbury took over the posi-
ton of plumbing inspector a. an
appointed official under the new
city administration. and succeeded
Walter Littig in this work for the
city.
In almost every item given In the
report . close approximation is
made Of the report for 1918. In
about half the items tho 1919 rec
ord 10 highest and the, other half
gives 1918 the greatest amount of
work.
In the matter Of fees collected
tho 1918 record beats that Of 1919
by $1sS. The 1919 collection
amounted 10 1857 while the collec-
ton In 1918 was &2.l70.
Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
Fewer Officers.

Starting the year with more than
nifty ofncers stationed at the is
land. together with varying num-
tefs Of soldiers maintained as q
guard, the end of 1919 sgw the ON
ciAl star cut to its pre-war stand-.
ing of Is. apportioned among the
various departments. No regular
army mon are retained for q guard,
the company which was thers hav-
ting been sent farther west during
midsummer.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-02

of the tires by our experienced mechanics
will save you valuable trucking time.
Then to insure you their long mileage, we
inspect them frequently for signs of prema-
ture wear locating the cause, and suggest
ing remedies for its prevention.
Goodyear Tires and Goodyear Service are
real economizers and you can begin to bene-
fit by them today by getting in touch with
us at our Service Station.