Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-31
FACTORIES ARE
ENLARGED and
new ONES COME

and Constructing Of Man.
ufacturing Plants In 1919 Cost
Quarter Million.
Costs Of improvements and alter
ations to factories of Rock Island
during the closing year totaled in
the vicinity Of quarter Of a mil
lion dollars. All kinds OF work was
done to the buildings and equip
ments of manufacturing establish
ments, from repairing fire losses
and building additions to erecting
q new main structure.
On Aug. "a disastrous fire start
ed, blamed to defective insulation
on electric wires, and destroyed the
east half Of the Moline tractor
works, Forty-first street and Fifth
avenue. Rock Island. The loss was
estimated at 100000, while the de-
struction Of some highly specialize
ed machinery made the real loss
much greater. Work Of rebuilding
was started Immediately, and is
now practically finished. Although
the building was considered fire.
proof before-the only weak spot
being the wood beams for the cell
ing-it is now absolutely safe from
fire, all parts being of steel, brick
and glass. A sprinkler system is
installed: The plant will be ready
tor use In a few days. Production
Of the tractors made in that place
was not stopped by the razing of
that part Of the plant, although 1t
was much curtailed. Less trouble
than was anticipated was expert
enced in replacing the machinery,
tince some Of the same kind need
ed was purchased from the gov
ernment upon slowing down of war
activities.
The Victor Storage Battery man
ufacturing plant at the foot OF
Fourth avenue was occupied and
tegan operating on Sept. 2. The
building and equipment, q one-story
structure covering a ground space
Of 80x130 feet, cost approximately
$4,000. 1t is located on the OLD
Observation-Disclosures mill site
between Sixth avenue and Fourth
avenue.
OIL Company Plant Grows.
An extension Of 6Ox141 feet was
made on the barrel factory section
Of the Illinois Oil company prop
erty, extending along Fourth ave
nue. between Twenty-fourth and
Twenty-fifth streets, during the
spring and summer. A service sta
ton Of the type ordinarily erected
by that company is nearly complet-
ed on the corner Of the new struc-
ture. at the intersection of Fourtf
avenue and Twenty-fourth street
The combined cost Of these two
buildings. both Of which are one.
story high, is about $4,000. If con.
ditions are favorable a 150-foot adj.
dition will be put on the paint shoK
at the north end Of the property.
Then along Twenty-fpurth street
from this prospective addition te
the one put on the barrel factory
this summer q three-story building
will be placed, closing the open enc
Of the court between the three
present wings of the factory. This
three-story building will house the
offices Of the concern, will have 9
foor space of $4,000 feet. and al
present conditions should cost
about $4,000.
Marking the general increase o,
manufacturing during 1919 the
Rock Island Bridge & Iron com.
pany erected pattern shops valued
at $4,000 about its property al
Sixteenth avenue and Mill street.
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