The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-04
NOTED FOR COMMUNITY SPIRIT is
PRAISED IN LINES PUBLICATION


ments were made from time tc
time, they were paid for as rapidly
| as the bills came due.
The members of the present city
council are all employees OF the
Rock Island railroad company;
also the city clerk and the city
treasurer. George Steeth, the
mayor, and also a machinist in the
Silvis shops, has been connect ed
with the city in an official capacity
from its earliest history, and the
same is true of many other men. IL
| our story, we have made frequent
reference to the great care exer-
cised by the authorities in handling
the city's finances.
AS a proof of this statement we
| might refer to the city records
where we find from a recent audit
that all bids have been paid, with
absolutely no indebtedness what
ever, and balance on hand in the
city treasury of $4,000. We fec
quite safe in saying that there is
no city in the state that can show a
better system of accounting MOI
produce a better statement than the
little city of Silvis. PAY as you
co. is the motto, and seldom does
it deviate from this rigid ruling
With a desire to protect the city
against. losses from fire, and up-to-
date fire alarm system has been IL
stalled, which is far superior to
/ that found in cities many times its
size. And in addition to this, it has
well-organized fire department
with all necessary modern equip
ment. Hence it goes without say
ing that the losses from fire have
been very few and far between
Silvis also has a well-organized
community council, the members of
which are very active and take
great interest in the welfare Of the
city. 1t has indeed rendered great
service and has become vital fac
tor in community affairs.
What Shops Signify.
Thus far in this write-up we have
dealt with Silvis as city with nc
reference whatever to the Rock
Island shops and if We were to stop
here the story would be incomplete
and only partly told. In thinking
of this great railway plant, we
sometimes fear there is but small
per cent of the employees on the
Rock Island lines who really know
of this institution and Of its rela-
tive Importance to the road. Few
that compare with it and none thai
surpasses it on any railroad
Great in its size and strictly up
to-date in al Its equipment, Silvis
! shops have grown very common
place to those who are on tbs
| ground every day. Only the occa-
sional visitor who sees it, as com
pared with other plants, is in q
| position to pass judgment. Take
| the power house, supplied with its
modern boilers and electrical units
so well equipped and efficiently
managed. A walk through the
/ great machine shop, with all OF its
modern machinery and ,up-to-date
! devices, can be appreciated only
/ by one with a mechanical turn OF
| mind who alone can judge as to rs
perfection. Then to step into the
| blacksmith shop and see the out
put of that department, is almost 4
wonder to behold. And on our tour
we take in the A stall roundhouse
an then on through the car depart
ment and up to the transfer plat
formal a part of the Silvis plant
! Nor does this tell the story, fol
| on the same grounds we have the
| general storehouse and reclama
ton department. All supplies USED
on the Rock Island pass through
| the general storehouse at this point
and the figures covering such sup
plies are startling. c. H. Rost, the
general storekeeper, with ]. c
Kirk, assistant, are both located n
! this point. 1t would be not only
interesting but instructive for an,
! one to visit this department.
A Bow to Sam.
And still we find our story In
complete, for we have not referred
to S. W. Mullinix, the shop super.
| intendent, who aside from the dis.
/ charge of his duties, as such, has
been a real friend to the group o.
men employed in the Silvis shops
| A man whose presence is an in,
! SEPARATION as well as an incentive
Then, too,s We have the Silyis shoI
glee club, an organization of shoI
men that we are all mighty prodc
of-known far and near because o.
! the high-class entertainments they
| have given from time to time.
Silvis is city of approximately
| $500 and Of this number 95 pei
cent. employees of the Rock Island
A city unselfish in it's aims, and ye
deeply interested in its own wei
fare. Apd city whose authorities
are putting forth every effort il
their power to make it indeed a city
of homes.
1t may be interesting to add tina
/ while many shops on other line!
have closed down, the Rock ISLAND
! shops have continued to operate re
I CARELESS of the depression and to
day are working practically a nor
NAL force on a 44-hour week basis
The whistle continues to blow an
the men continue to work.
: