The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-31
The Year in Rock Island.

In reviewing the record of the year closing
today. Rock Island finds that its experience
has been pretty much the same as that of other
cities over the country, although in one re-
spect, that of building, We have suffered seri-
Gus setback owing TO the failure of the con-
tractors and journeymen to adjust their differ
ences in time to permit carrying out of the
years building program. High prices of ma
terials also proved a deterrant, many projects
planned for the year having been postponed.
While the year just past has been disappoint
ment because of its poor showing when com
pared with the record of previous years yet
the future will prove that the material progress
of the community has not been affected-that
the coming year will witness realization OF
most of the deferred improvements and the
contamination of many additional ones Thus
Rock Island in the matter of building, during
the past year has simply been taking a vaca-
ton. Builders and craftsmen alike are enthusi-
astic over the prospects of the coming year.
There will be no labor troubles, building costs
will have gone far in the direction of normally
business conditions generally will have i'm
proved and there will have been restored that
feeling in the public mind that it is time to for
get the unpleasantries of the past and resume
doing things. Not that anyone who knows
Rock Island has lest faith in the city and its
future-people who had planned money expen-
ditures any extensive scale simply took the
cue from over the country that 1921 was not
to be normal year, and that the wise thing
to do was to postpone financial outlays that
were not pressingly imperative.
The year has been kind to Rock Island and
its people in a general sense The city has
continued in the enjoyment of good health, has
escaped disaster and has passed through the
with
While the effect of the widespread industrial
and business depression has not been unnoticed
still in Rock Island there has been less suffer
ing and inconvenience attributable to this con-
dition than in most cities of similar size over
the country Merchants of Rock Island are
not denying that they haven't had better years
than 1921, but when they compare their ex-
periences with those of tradesmen in other To-
callties they feel that they have no grounds for
complaint There have been no serious bust
ness failures in Rock Island. and merchants
and business men and heads of industries look
toward the new year with optimism and con-
fidence.
The year has not been without its welfare
problems. but these have been satisfactorily
met through a public funI dispensed by a CEN
trai agency. The Rock Island Welfare associ-
alton has been handling all of the charity funds
III previous years dispensed through different I
agencies, and the plan has been working salts |
factorily both 10 the needy and to those CON
tributing the funds. The plan has proved so !
successful here that ii has been adopted bv a
number OF netghboring cities. There is ALWAYS
poverty and Suffering, but so broad has been
the plan of extending,aid in Rock Island under
the welfare associations program that it has
not been necessary for any person 10 go cold
or hungry, nor has it been necessary for any
one to turn criminal in order to exist. The /
helping hand has always been extended through
the Welfare association
After all. it is the human element that +
should be considered first in discussing the +
Years record of city, and under this head
Rock Island has occasion TO rejoice in the his
DRY OF 1921, not that the material progress was !
'ucn as to call for congratulation for il has
'een anything but that, but on the broader
ground that the people have courageousIy faced
conditions and have been smiling through. so =
speak and there are not left for future be-
moaning any marks of the battle with old Cen /
raj Depression. IL
me new year promises much for Rock Is
and. On all sides there are evidences Of re-
irnlng prosperity. The revival is nationwide a
no ROCK Island is assured Of reaping its shars
the rewards. In reading through tbe COL
mes or this issue OF The Argus you will find
ucn 10 cheer you in the prospects for the ?
'ming year Your part in the scheme Of i'm
rowing things Is to forget old 1921 and dig in.