Rock Island County, Illinois - The whole text, 1908 (part 6 of 16)

Nothing speaks more loudly of the loy^alty, unselfishness and progressive spirit of the people of Rock Island than the success that marked this undertaking.

J. F. Robinson and Morris Rosenfield estates, of fifty acres of land exceptionally well adapted to manufacturing purposes and admirably situated with respect to shipjiinf!; facilities, both by rail and water.

Coupled with these concrete conditions there has been a spirit awakened to the consciousness of the possibilities that lie before Rock Island and a determination to grasp them in furtherance of the aniljition to become what nature ordained and which is already evident in our wonderful growth as a successful manufacturing center.

Rock Island Club

The idea of forming an association such as the Rock Island Club was first broached by a part}' of Rock Island gentlemen, who met on the evening of November 18, 1896, at the Harper House. F. W. Bahnsen was chosen temporary chairman, and E. J. Burns temporary secretary. A committee of seven was named to jierfect an organization, and at a meeting two days afterward, the latter appointed a sub-committee of three to draw up a constitution and by-laws, and to take o\it articles of incorporation. A charter was secured during December of the same year, and at a meeting held that month the first board of tlirectors was elected, consisting of A. ('. Dart, Charles McHugh, F. W. Bahnsen, W. H. Marshall, E. H. Guyer, Mayer Ilosenfifld. William Jackson, Phil Mitchell, E. W. Hiu-st, Henry Carse and C. J. Searle.

For nearly two years the club renuiined practically dormant, negotiations being in ]irogress at that time for suitable quarters. Finally terms were arranged with Mrs. Dr. C. B. Kinyon for the use of the present (piarters on Sixteenth Street and Third .\ venue, and October 14. 1898, another meeting was held at the Harper House, at which a three-year lease of the premises was ratified. liefore this time had expired, in .Inly. 19()L tlie clubhouse and grounds wvvtpurchased from Mrs. Kinvon, .¥T_>. 0(1(1 l>eiiig the consideration. Immediate plans for extensions were begun, and tluring the Fall $5,000 was spent upon improvements, which have given the club quarters that are considered the finest in the State outside of Chicago.

The Club began with a membership of 100. Being a pronounced success from the start, there was no difficulty in securing additions to the enrollment, and at the present time there are 287 members in good standing.

F. W. Bahnsen was the first president, and Joliu T. Stafford was the first secretary. Mayer Rosenfield was elected treasurer when the organization was effected, and held the position up to the time he ceased to be a resident of the City. At the .election in January, 1899, the board of directors was divided into three sections, one serving three years, another two years, and a third one year, as follows: Three years, W. H. I\Iarshall, E. H. Guyer, C. A. Stoddard; two years, A. C. Dart, F. W. Bahnsen, Dr. G. L. Eyster, George A. Price; one year, Charles McHugh, Phil Mitchell, John T. Stafford, Mayer Levi. Since that time one section has been elected annually for a term of three years.

The defined oljjects of the club are, of course, largely social. The quarters are fitted up with ]iarlors, a library, private dining rooms, a billiard room and bowling alleys. The rooms are elegantly furnished, and provided with everything for the entertainment of the members and guests. They are especially convenient at times \\hen the City is called upon to do hoimr to a visitor of distinction.

There are fourteen standing committees j)rovided for in the by-laws. Of these nine are appointed on club affairs and entertainment. The others are calculated to help in the tipbuilding of the community. The sub-, jects they cover are local improvements, Rock Island Arsenal, the tri-cities, manufacturers and railroads. Through these latter bodies many important matters have been brought to the attenti'Ui "f the clulj, and subsequently acted upon, with great benefit to the city. A number of enterjirises that were looking for a suitable field in which to locate have been induced, through the efforts of the Club to locate in Rock Island, and concessions have been secured from various cor])orations doing business here, upon which private appeals would have had no effect.

Another acquisition to the City, for which the Club deserves almost entire credit, is the Illinois Theatre, built on the advance sale seat plan, by George H. .Johnson of St. Louis, at a cost of SoU.OOO, and completed in 1901. The matter was first taken holil of by the Club in 1900. Rock Island now has a playhouse second to none in the country, and it is all the more a source of satisfaction to the people at large because it was secured through local enterprise, manifested by a local organization.

Another important movement the Club fathered, and the one that will probably do more for the Cit}- than any other one thing that has ever been undertaken, was that for the installation of a small arms jilant by the Government at Rock Island Arsenal. This was one of the ver}^ first matters taken hold of by the Club as the champion of the City's interests. How the sujjport of Illinois and Iowa Congre.ssmen and Senators was drawn to the project is too well known to need relating in detail. These successes point to the results which can l)e olitained by active and persistent co-operation, which the Rock Island Club has, upon numerous occasions, demonstrated it is capable of promoting.

The Rock Island Club is now in a flourishing condition. It is established ujwn a firm basis, for it fills a real need, and is conductetl along correct lines.

Hawk, the Sachem, have been jjarted by the keels of Illini dug-out, Huron birch canoe, batteau of voyageur, flat boat of pioneer, winch-ferry of the early settler, horse-ferry of established villagers, steamer of modern date, and motor boat of oil and electricity. of the opening era, and almo.st without exception, the introduction of these modes of passing over its waters have been due to transversely directed migration rather than lateral travel - the desire to cross the river rather than float with or stem it.

At this point the "Father of Waters" is a trifle over three-fourths of a mile wide, and while not deep enough to float an ocean liner, it is never shallow enough to ford; and even the earliest settler found himself naturally beset with the hankering to keep both sides the might}' stream under foot sovereignty. As a result, the boat. Probably at first a canoe or dug-out did duty for such as dared the red man's treachery - white taught: but the day was soon when the advent of the advance guard of the pioneer host made its appearance and household effects, and women and children called for better accommodation - and got it.

Just when Antoine LeClaire of Dubuque started ferrying his followers across is problematical, but May 28, 1S37. it is sure that he deeded to John Wilson, of Rock Island County, Illinois, "the right to keep and operate a ferry across the Mississippi at a point known as 'The Ferry Hou.se,' recently erected and staniling on the west bank of the Mississippi in the town of Davenport, extending one miles u]) and one miles down the river" together "with the boats and crafts now used on said ferry." and including the "privilege of passing over his land for purpose aforesaid," for the sums of So. 00 in hand and Sl.OOO.

The jjhraseology is not of the clearest and the "one miles" up anil down river is especially obscure, but the intent is clear so far as the ferrv being alreadv in existance as owned jiroperty i.s concerned, as is also the fact that the said Antoine LeChiire owned much hmd in the locality. By another clause it is also made clear that the said Antoine Leriaire was fairly modern in his ideas and would have done credit to this day and age, namel}-: "Subject to the said I.eClaire crossing in ferry free of charge.''

That the ferry in those days was not a gift enterprise is shown by the schedule of prices afh.xed to this document, now yellow with age, held in the vaults of the Rock Island National Bank by the present secretarytreasurer, which schedule shows as follows;

Ferry R.vtes, 1837 - Footmen, 25 cents; man and horse, 75 cents; loose cattle and horses, 25 cents per head; yoke oxen, 50 cents; loaded w^agon and two horses, $1.50; loaded wagon and yoke oxen, $1.50; loaded wagon with horse or ox, 25 cents; two-wheel carriage with horse or ox, SI. 50; hogs and sheep, 12}4 cents per head.

Just when John Wilson and wife came into the matter is uncertain, V)ut in 1853 and 1854 John W. Spencer, James Cirant and Thomas J. Robinson accpiired the Wilson interests in this ferry, and January 28, 1857, the first actual charter for the ferry was issued to Spencer, Grant and Robinson. It gave wide latitude to the landing place, allowing for the growth of Rock Island and Davenport up or down the river, but stipulated the keeping of a Rock Island landing between Buffalo and Madison Streets, the keeping u;) a suitable equipment, etc.

April 7, 1888, the original license to operate this ferry was issued by the United States Treasin-y Department, and April 26, 1888, a charter was issued to the incorporated body - The Rock Island-Davenport Ferry Company, with a capital stock of $60,000.

From that time practically no change of stockholders in the corporation nor in its management occurred until the death of Thomas J. Robinson, which occurred in ,\pril of 1800. when his stock was heirod by his son, J. Frank Robinson, and with it went the management. r))oii the death of J. Frank Robinson in .May of 1902. it was learned that he bequeathed the Robinson stock to his cousin, (,'aptain ilarcus L. Henderson, who had been in charge of the ferry as general manager since 1896.

In 1891 the ''Augusta'' was put in service- In 1902 she was rebuilt, re-christened the "T. J. Robinson." electric lighted and refurnished. In 1904, entirely without public demand, the " Davenport '' was biult at Rock Island by Kahlke Brothers, and put in commission. She is also of modern design.

The Tri-City Press Club is an organization representing some sixty odd working newspaper men of the Cities of Rock Island, Maline and Davenport. The condition of active membership is identical with the editorial or business departments of the papers and other reputable journals of the three cities. Two other classes of membership are honorary and non-resident. The Club was organized at a banquet tendered representatives of the press of the three cities at Black Hawk Inn by Charles McHugh and J. F. Lardner, in September, 1898. The Club at its first meeting elected Mr. McHugh and Mr. Lardner honorary memliers, and since that time has added the names of H. E. Downer, of Davenport; J. T. ilcCutcheon, George Ade, H. B. Chamberlain, R. E. Little, W. J. Bryan, Captain W. T. Thompson, Rabbi W. H. Fineschriber, Henry Watterson, James Whitcomb Riley and Sir Robert Ball to that list.

The following have served as presidents: 1898, Walter Johason, Rock Lsland; 1899, J. E. Calkins, Davenport, 1900; P. S. Mc- Glynn, Moline; 1901, H. P. Simpson, Rock Island; 1902, L. P. McClarrien, Davenport; 1903. J. H. McKeevcr, Moline; 1904, Robert

The Club meets alternatel}- in Moline, Rock Island and Davenport, each business meeting being supplemented by an entertaining and instructive program and dinner. Each jear the Club becomes sponsor for a high class, intellectual public entertainment. The Club is affilliated with the National Association of Press Clubs.

The Industrial Home

The Rock Island Industrial Home Association was formed at a mass-meeting of the members of the labor unions of the City, headed by the Knights of Labor, held in December, 1887.

The branches of organized labor represented in the association, in the beginning, included Knights of Labor, printers, glassblowers, tailors, iron molders, cigar makers, carpenters, switchmen and locomotive firemen.

The first efforts of the association were turned toward the raising of a fund with which to purchase a lot and erect a home for labor. To do this an annual fair was instituted. The first one was held in February, 1SS9. and S2.200 cleared. In the Fall a jncnic netted another substantial sum. The Labor Day picnics now take the place of the original affairs; being held alternately in the three cities. Rock Island. Moline and Davenport, under thejauspices of the three Industrial Home A.ssociations. The first meetings were held at Norris Hall; Hillier's Hall being later used as headquarters for a period of five yearsTJ)efore the home was opened in 1896. The first property the association purchased was a lot at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Twentieth Street. This was sold when the present site for the home was purchased, at the corner of Third Avenue and Twentyfirst Street.

- it being a handsome three-story l>rick building, with two large stores on the ground floor, offices and halls for meeting places for the labor organizations on the second floor, and a large hall on the third floor. Its cost was S28.000. The financial affairs of the association are in the hands of T. H. Thomas, who has acted as agent, with power of attorne}', since the building was erected. The present indebtedness is 87,000, with S3.00() more needed to comjilete the building in accordance with the original plans. These include the installing of a library, gymnasium, bath rooms and everything in fact to make it a complete home, or club house, for the use of laboring men.

The Young Men'S Christian Association

Nearly thirty years ago the first Association was formed in Rock Island, with the same general objects as the present institut tion. It was engendered by a great religious revival, and E. W. Spencer, one of the originators of the idea, was elected the first president. Rooms were opened in the postoffice block, and Sunday afternoons religious meetings for yovmg men were held. At the end of two years Mr. Spencer was called to other fields, necessitating his resignation, and the work was allowed to lapse.

The present Y. ^I. C. .\. had its origin in 1884, A. M. Bruner. R. W. Salisbury and John Perritt being the prime movers. April 20. of that year, the Association was born at a meeting held at the Central Presbyterian Church, and thirty-eight members were signed to the rolls. Frank Nadler was chosen president, and George P. Lyman secretary. June 3 the formal opening of rooms over 1729 Second Avenue was held. The following February a general secretary was called in the person of George Warner, of Minneapolis. At the end ofjhe first year there were sixtyfive members.

The Ladies' Central Connnittee was formed as an auxiliary, in September, 1885, and in December of the same year the Association was incorporated. In ilarch, 1886, new quarters were taken over the Peoples National Hank. F. W. Lang of Menominee, Wisconsin, assumed the duties of general secreatary in .\ugust, 1886. In the Fall of that year ten delegates were sent to the State convention at Rockford.

The building movement was begun in January, LSS7, at a gospel service held at Reynolds, Illinois, by a few young men, where two little girls, Anna Stewart and Libbie Schoonmaker, who were interested in pictures shown of Y. M. C. A. buildings, each gave fifty cents without solicitation "to put up a building at Rock Island for young men ; " later a like amount was given by Louie Bowman, one of our boys. This dollar and a half was the nucleus of the fund which gave us our $50,000 property and interested over seven hundred contributors. At a meeting of the members a few months later $1,000 was pledged and a l)uilding committee appointed.

The contract for the foundation of the building was let at a meeting of interested business men at the residence of P. L. Mitchell, held September 24, 1888, Larkin and Stephens being the successful bidders.

The cornerstone was laid .June 26, 1890, Mayor McConochie putting it in place, assisted by the three young persons who were the first contributors. One of the notable features of the exercises was the reading of a letter from Sir George Williams of London. England, the founder of the Y. ^I. C. \.

At the opening of the year 1900. about $15,000 had Ijeen subscribed, and March 28 of that year the contract for the superstructure was let to Collins Brothers for $15,189.

The ladies were first organized as a central cunimlttee, then as the ladies auxiliar\-. They are now the association helpers. They raised hundreds of dollars for the big debt, and furnished a large part of the building; through their influence the ladies of the First AL E. Church furnished the reading room: the correspondence room (now office of the l)oys secretary) was furnished by the Ladies Aid Society of South Heights; the directors room by the King's Daughters and the chapel liy the .Women's Christian Temperance Union.

In November, 1895, through the generosity of the late J. W. Potter, proprietor of the Argus, the auxiliary published a sixteen-page Thanksgiving edition of the Argus, which was a decided success.

The new building was completed sufficiently to admit of its occupation April 2, 1891, but another canvass for money had to be undertaken to ])r()vide for the furnishing and completing of certain parts to place them in a condition to use. September 1, 1891, G. C. Blakeslee became general secretary in place of Jlr, Lang.

At the eighth annual meeting of the Association, April 20. 1892, prominent speakers from all over the middle west were .secured and $6,400 was raised, and in a month more conditional pledges were secured that raised the general fund to $18,000. The Ladies' Central Committee offered .$500 on condition that the amount specified be raised by September 1. August 29 the sum of $732 was still needed, and by a great effort it was secured diiring the two days following.

Building operations upon the interior were resumed, and as the funds became available, completed, and January 1, 1894, the contractors turned thoV>iiil<liiig over to the .Association practically as it stands today, witli the fiyiiiiiasiiini. Iiatli anil di-cssiiifi- rotims, and the aiiditoriiun ready for use. In ;i short time th(> nienilxn-siii]) was raised from one iiiuidicd lo thi-ec hundred. The annual dues for senior niend)ers was [ilaced at five ilolhirs. W. I,. I,a\'eiider was chosen the first ]>hysieal dii-ecl(U- |)(>cendiei- 1. 1S9.5. The next year J. 1'. liailey succeeded Mr. Blakeslee as general secretary, and after two years' service, the former gave way to .1. S. Freeman. At the same time as the latter change was nnide, H. G. Hanks took the position of physical director. ,J. C. Pentland first took charge of the work in 1S99.

The total membership is nmv three hundred. In the Winter season just closing about 7,000 individuals have taken exercise in the gymnasium. About forty men are enrolled in the bible classes, and every branch of the work is in the most flourishing condition that has prevailed since the forming of the Association.

.\ number of members have entered into life service for the Master, among whom we i-emember Charles Knox, J. Akers and Edward Young, in the ministry; George Warner (iraham Lee and R. C. Ricker, missionaries in foreign lands; .\. M. limner, Henry Hansen bonis A. Bowman. Or\-ille ^'erbury. .1. S. Freeman, Henry \'oss and Chauncey Tuttle in the Association secretaryship.

The original building committee comprised: A. M. Blaksley. chairman: E. B. McKown, treasurer: J. F. Robinson, .1. W. Stewart, J. W. Welch, C. K. Adams, A. 1). Sporry. Frank Xadler. George M. booseley. .A. M. Piruner. F. II. Kaupke.

The old Huford lilock at the iK)rtheast corner of Second Avenue and West Seveuteenlh Street, which has just been torn down to l)e replaced by a new reinforced concrete six-story modern business block, was erected in 1S54. Sixty feet of this corner was purchased l)_v Charles Buford from Charles K. Smith February 23, 1854: a little later he ]iurchase(l the adjoining thirty feet east from .ludge George AA'. Pleasants and Doctor John W. Bulkley. The old Imildings (ui this corner were sold at auction .Marcli 11. 1854, Major Benjamin F. Barrett being the auctioneer. The excavation for the foundation immediately commenced. Wednesday July 19, 1854. the brick laying commenced by W. H. Sage, commonly known as "Doc" Sage. The exterior was finished that Fall, and the building completed early in 1855.

Bailev and Boyle also commenced work on their three-story brick l)lock, covering the ground between East and West Seventeenth Streets, and Illinois Street and the Alley north, and Ainswoi'th and Lymle a large brick warehouse on Front Street op|iosite th.e jjresent site of Hotel Harms.

City Of Moline

Approjiriate, indeed, is the alnne (pioted appellation to the City of Moline, for nowhere between Chicago, east, and San Francisco, west, nor between St. Paul, nm-th. anil St. Louis, south, is there a city which can so fittingly disport the nuignitudc of her industries and liei- products, or demonstrate a more rajiid growth. Why Moline has been enabled to win many manufactiuing establishments in the industrial field is merely a matter of supposition - either because of the utility of the water ]iower, oi- that the

Historic Ro C K Island Co U N T Y.

Moline is an industrial fity, |)ur(' and sini])l('. Her shops are numbered among the iar}iest (iT their kind extant. The Moline Wafioii Company being admittedly the largest wagon siiop in the workl, while Deere and Company and the Moline Plow Company consume more raw steel than any other plow shop in existence.

.\ pdloiit factor in the growth (if Moline undoubtedly hinges upon the enormity and utility of tlie water power which her manufactiu'ers, witii the assistance (if th(> (lo\ei-nment, have l)rought to sncii a high state of availability ami within easy reach. .Just recently the Government lias expended an immense sum in harnessing that poj'tion of the Mississip]:)i which flows by Moline so that the Arsenal, as well as j^rivate enterprises, might profit by securing motive power at a more nominal figure than it has heretofore been possible to do.

Second Avenue, in ^loline, reminds a stranger more of the manufacturing sections of Pittsburg or Milwaukee than the industries of ,-i iciwii h(>r size: but when the impressi\'e dimensions nf tlie Moline Plow Company, Deere and Comjiany, The Moline Wagon Com])any, 1 )eei'e antl Mansiu' Comi.)any, Tlie Steel .Mills, \'elie ("'arriage Companj', Tlie Moline I''urnitiu-e Works, Williams and White Company, The Organ Works, IJarnard and Leas, Tlie Moline Pump Company, Coo|)er Sadfllers Harness Compan\', The ;\Ioline Incandescent Light Comjiatiy, and the scores of other lesser establishments, are conteiTiphit('(L tins fact does not appear so .strange. ()\-er 7.(11)11 men .are employed in Moline in her numeruus shops, while Kast Moline and Silvis employ Indf that many more. .\i Silvis are located the Rock Island shops, the largest car shojis in the world.

The same railroads which enter Rf'k Island - the Rock Island Htuite, the Chicago, Hurlington and (^uincy, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, the Davenport, Rock Island and Northwestern - also penetrate Moline, and ha\e acconnnodatetl the manufacturers with s|jnrs of tracks for switching and side tracks that represent an enormous saving in handling c.-ii-s.

Her lodges and buildings, public and private, her library, hospitals, church edifices and schools easily comp.ai-e with any city in the middle west.

In Moline [H'oper nearly .f;?(),(IIH), ()()() are invested, and the average amnnd output is given at )S1 2,500,000. The town has fiftysix miles of well kejjt streets, thirty-two miles of sidewalks, twenty miles of sewers, twenty-five miles of water nniins, fifteen miles of paved streets, ami tier |)oindation is nearly 22,000, and (if that rugged, thrifty class which characterize sn many n\ iww inanufacturing districts.

Tlie original proprieloi's of the water power, in 1841-42, laid (lut some lots on the south side of Main Street, now Second Avenue, ojjposite the grounds now occu]iied by the Plow Works, ami fminerly occupied in part by the old grist UiiU. which was built in IS41 by ])a\id B. Sears, .lohn W. S;")encer nnd Spencer H. \Miite, as was also the dam. and named the place "Rock Island Mills.'" Tlie plat, however, was never recorde 1. In 1843 Charles Atkinson, I). B. Sears and others purchased of Huntington Wells a portion of his farm lying east of the Rock Island Mills property, and they, togethei' with the owners of the latter, laid out the town of Moline. the same year. There were then Ixit thirteen dwellings on the ground platted, and the.^e were owned by Huutinaton Wells, D. B. Sears, Charles Atkinson. Benedict Patterson. Haskins Reynolds, Bell, Huntoon, Berham. Weis. A^'hite and Kinzie. Sub.sequently Charles Atkinson laid oiit his first addition, which was followed by his second addition in IS.56; since which various additions have been made from time to time, till the place has reached its present wide corporate dimensions. It extends on the east to the city limits of Rock Island, and west from that point about one and three quarter miles, and is about two miles in width north and south, with plenty of room to grow in either direction.

Moline was quite early incorporated as a town, but the records having perished in a fire, we have no authentic information respecting the first municipal organization and officers. It was, however, incorporated as a city under the General Law of the State approved April 10, 1872. On the third of that month a petition was presented to the board of trustees of the town of Moline asking the question of the adoption of a city government, to be submitted to the qualified voters of the town for their decision. The petition was granted, and in pursuance thereof an election was held on Tuesday, August 6, 1872, resulting as follows:

For city organization, 2G1 votes; against city organization, 22 votes; for minority representation in the city council. 21 votes; against minority representation in the city coiuicil, 247 votes.

On Tuesday, August 29, 1872. the election for city officers was held, and the following named persons were elected: Mayor, Daniel L. Wheelock; city clerk. Orrin K. Ferguson; city attorne}-, John T. Browning; aldermen, George W. Vinton, Luke E. Hemenway. Jerman S. Keator, Marvil TI. White. Henry Klahn, Charles W. Lobdell. Swan Hanson, Daniel W. Dimock. Charles F. Hemenway.

Ill 1843 David Sears opened the first store in the house in which he lived, which was in close proximity to the grist mill. The first hotel dates from 1843, and was conducted by Huntington Wells. In 1842 Joseph Huntoon opened a shoe shop, and two years later Grove W. Bell was the town tailor. In 1843 Aynes Kinzie started a blacksmith shop on the ground since occupied b}- Deere and Company, and in 1847 the nucleus of the world famed shops of Deere and Company was laid. The first school house was built by private subscription in 1843. and of brick, where religious meetings were also held. Joseph Jackman was the first teacher, followed by S. P. Hodges, who was afterwards county clerk. The first bank was the First National Bank, organized in 1863.

Moline Postoffice

The iloline postoffice was established in 1S44. with David B. Sears as the first postmaster. The office was located in the ' ' Brick Store" (a building owned by Mr. Sears, l)etween Fifteenth and Sixteenth Streets on Second Avenue.)

Following him Dr. Wells had the office in a little room about twelve by sixteen feet on the alley corner of Seventeenth Street between First and Second Avenues. George W. KeW succeeded Wells and moved the office south . to the corner where he had a tailor shop. Joseph J. Jackman was the next postmaster, and he again moved the office going east about half a lilock on Second .\venue. In 1856 Absolom B. Williams was appoiuteil postmaster and he was succeeded in J.dy. 1857. by Judge John M. Gould, who nnved the oflfice west on Second Avenue t > the lot adjoining the present postoffice liuiLliug and in the rear of the jn-esent site of the Peiples Trust and SaNinss Bank. .Judge (lould had a liank here and the ])ostoffice was placed in the rear of the bank room. Judge Gould was succeeded April 17, 1861, l)v William Kerns, wlio served until .Tune, 1865, when George D. Gould, a brother of Judge Gould, took the office and held it until August 11, 1869, when Mr. Kerns again took it. He was succeeded by Henr}' E. Wells, who gave place April 1, 1877, to Luke E. Hemenway. Dan W. Gould took ]:iossession February 1, 1886, being tlie third of the Gould brothers to hold that place. John M. Holt succeeded him April 1. 1800, to be followed July 4, 1894, by ^I. J. McEnir}', who held the office until October 1, 1897, when he gave way to George H. McKinley, who was followed March 1, 1906, by W. F. Eastman, the present postmaster.

The office remained in tlie banking room of Judge Gould until October, 1873, when it was removed to the old library building on the corner of Fifteenth and Library Streets, where it remained until July, 1885, when it was temporarily placed in the building on the south side of Third Avenue (two doors from Seventeenth Street) until December, 1885, when it was moved to the present site on Third Avenue and Sixteenth Street. A site has been purchased for a new building at the corner of Third Avenue and Eighteenth Streets, and there is an appropriation of $96,000 for the construction of a new building, which it is expected will be occupied in 1909.

The first available report of the receipts of the postoffice is one published by Mr. Hemenway of the receipts in the calendar year of 1879. This shows the total receipts of the office to be .115,346.50. There were 3,158 money orders issued for $30,667.1 "2, and 2,355 paid for $36,014.33. There were 640 - registered letters sent and 1,269 received. The total mimber of pieces of mail dispatched was 861,389. Business had not come to that point that the office was opened Sunday.

The reports of the auditor of the postoffice department show a rapid growth. In 1891 the number of stamps sold amounted to $24,433.28, and this was increased the next year more than $5,000. Then followed five years of depression, and it was not imtil the year ending June 30, 1897. that there was an increase; the figures then lieing $31,465.16. Since then there has been a steady increase, averaging something more than eleven per cent annually. .On account of the financial depression the receipts for the last year were but little more than in the jirevious one. having been $79,306.19. An increase to $90,000 is confidently expected the current fiscal year.

At the same time the number of pieces of mail dispatched has so increased that in one week of 1907 when they were counted there were 148,192 pieces, which would be at the rate of nearly as nuuij- in six weeks as were dispatched in the entire year of 1879.

This is the roster of the office August 24, 1908: Postmaster, W. F. Eastman; assistant postmaster, John A. Godehn; clerks, in order of appointment, A. C. Dorman, John Mc- Eniry, C. V. Gould, F. L. Rogerson, H. E. Olson, N. L. Anderson, W. Ij. Olson, Orlando Metz, A. L. Hallquist, C. W. Heimbeck, P. E. Colson, Lilla M. Fulsinger, with D.W\Warnock, Ethel L. McCanon and Elmer Heck as substitutes; carriers, in order of appointment, W. G. Baker, F. C. Viereich. J. M. Hartzell, F. N. Pierce, G. E. Carlson, J. W. Dewrose. V. F. Grantz, Neander Johnson, 0. J. Wilson, F. H. Wilson, V. W. Becker, A. O. Anderson, John Wind, A. E. Liuideen, A. E. Burlingame, Mctor Youngberg, with C. O. Hanson, J. H. Becker, P'rank Spriet and Paul Young as substitutes, and Thomas Stewart as rural carrier.

The first carriers went on duty Jidy I. 1887, Messrs. Baker and Hanson being two of the original fovu-. Mr. Baker has been on duty continuously since, but Mr. Hanson resigned near the end of his twentieth year to go into Inisiness.

Molink It He Department

According to the recollections of the ''oldest inhabitant " the first fire department of Moline was organized in 1S52. A hand engine, the "Metamora," together with a hose cart, and about two thousand feet of hose, constituted the entire fire appartaus of the city. Charles H. Deere was fireman of the hose company, and Doctor Sweetland foreman of the "Metamora." L. B. Mapes, M. A. Gould. William Watt. H. E. Mapes. J. A. Holt and Frank Kerns were among the members. The "Metamora" was a mammoth concern, and a regular man-killer; but the boys claim that with twenty men on a side they could

There were banquets, balls and tournaments in those days, and it is said that a finer appearing company than the " ^lolines " could not be found, and when on dress parade, won not only the admiration of the men, but captured the fair sex as well.

L. B. Mapes and William ^^"att were two likely young bloods, and when in harness were known as the "team of sorrels." With meager and cumbersome appartaus. this cominuiy rendered excellent service under extreme difficullties: anil their deeds of daring are seldom eipialled in the fires of today.

Among the principal fires fouglit by the first firemen were those of the Howe, Childs ' and Mapes' mills, in 1855: Sears' mills, Shaw's dry goods store, Dunn's hardware store; fires that tried the courage and nerve of the firemen. From 1S65 down to the organization of the present department there are many missing links. The old ' ' Metamora" was kept until 1872, and then sold to Milan, a steam fire engine being purchased and named the "Mississippi," which is still on hand, but not in service.

Then was organized one of the m ist remarkable organizations in the history of the pioneer service: the A. 0. T. (always on time) company. This company rendere.l strenuous and valuable service at the large and disastrous fire of the J. S. Keator saw mills, a loss of the entire ])lant with over ten million feet of lumber, making a total loss of S30(),()00. Fire help was called for. Rock Island responding with Rescue Steam Fire Engine No. 2, and Phoenix and Wide-Awake hose companies, and the Sash Factory hose company. Davenport sent over the Fire King Steamer and Fire King hose company. Colonel Flagler sent "Uncle Sam" over from the Arsenal, Geneseo coming down with their engine and fire company. The Deere hose throwing first water, closeh- followed by the A. 0. T. company and the ^linnehahas. The old "Mississippi" did magnificent work. All the firemen were deserving of unusual and unstinted praise, and all equally deserving of worthy mention for their lieroic work on that memorable night. The ladders of the first hook and ladder truck were constructed of tM'o by fom-s, and very crude.

A new organization was effected in June, 1S84: B. B. Peregoy. chief; foil )we:l by .1. M. Hart/.ell. Albo.'t .\bling. A. Williams. Xels Pete.s;in. James J. Trev.)r, H. C. Reese, for 1894, 1895, 1S96. The department at tliis time consisted of one liundred men. and was sul)divided into fonr hose companies and one hook and ladder truck com])any. and one steam fire engine. The hose companies were the Union No. 1 , Onward No. 2, Minnehaha No. 3. and Deane No. 4. In 1893 the Union hose company No. 1 di.sbanded and a new company formed called the Columbia No. 1. There were also four independent hose companies, representing the following manufactories: Deere and Company, Moline Plow Company, J^arnard and Leas ^lanufaeturing Company, and Deere and Mansur Company; each company being thoroughly eciui])]5ed with all modern appliances.

The present i)aid department was organized October 1, 1,S96, the chief being H. C. Reese, the old volunteer chief, and J. Q. Hawk, as.sistant chief. .Shortly after«-ard ,John Q. Hawk was appointed chief, and through his efficiency has held the ]30sition to the present time; the assistant chief now beinc F. Oscar Youngren.

The full force of the department is twenty men. The apparatus consists of: Three two-horse wagons in service, one two-h(}rse wagon in reserve, one hook and ladder truck. one chief's buggy.

The department has one of the finest fire alarm systems, being the Gamewell Fire .Vlarm .System. To ^^'. F. Channing of Boston, and M. O, Farmer of Salem, Ma.ssachusetts, is due the credit for the first successful employment of electricity for giving instantaneous, universal and indefinite alarms in case of fires. In 1 S.5."i Oamewoll

Company became the owners of all patents of Channing and Farmer. The fire-alarm telegraph system of Moline consists of a central or battery station, located at the water works; the wire circuit, which connects the central station with the street signal boxes and the alarm a])paratus, consisting of combined electro-mechanical gong'-strikers and indicators, located in the hose houses, and residence of the chief of the fire department ; the indicators showing in plain figures the numlier of the signal-l)Ox from which the ahirm origiiuites. A rei)eater is ])laced in the central tele])hone otlice. and each telephone has a "fire number" corresponding with that of tiie street signal-box.

Moline Water Works Dffartmknt

The City of Moline has an unusually g ) ):1 water works system (the supi)ly coming from the Mississippi Ri\'ei'), consisting of a iiuni])- ing station and filtering ]ilant, and thirty-fi\-e miles of street water mains, with three hundred and twenty-five city fire hydrants, fiftv ])rivate hydrants, and two hundred and. forty-five The number of gallons of water filtered during the year ending Ajjril 1. 1908, amounted to 988,419,230 gallons, or 2.700.598 gallons per day. The total number of gallons of water ]Mimped to the City of Moline for the said year was 949.711,378 gallons, lieing a dail}' consumption of 2,594,- 839 gallons, being a daily increase over the previous year of 151,792 galhuis. They have 3,250 service taps, making an a\'erage of 831 gallons of water per day to each tap, or a per capita consumption of one hundred gall.:)ns for the entire City of Moline. The consumption of fuel for the jiast year was 7.11 4.000 pounils of coal, being 19.437 jiounds for each day. By computation, filtering 1,904 galbns of water for each pound of coal consume.!. Cost of coal for past year $5,838.59. or $15.95 tor each twenty-four hours. Coagulates use 1 the past year in the filtering ]ilant. 412,870 pounds of lime, being 3.13 i;rains for eacli gallon; 106.780 i)oiuids of iron, or .SI grains per gallon; 19.875 pounds of alum, or 2.146 grains per gallon. 023.326.790 gallons of water were filtered with lime and iron at a cost of SI. 17 per million gallons of water: the cost of iron lieing .seventy-five cents per million gallons. Water filtered by alum at a cost of S3. 05 per million gallons. Cost of filtering water for the past year has been $5,881.20, or S5.95 per million gallons. The total cost of pumping and filtering the water used during the past year, including all expenses at the water works and filtering plant, and water main expenses, has been $22,787.16. or equal to $22.04 per million gallons.

Moline Schools

The first school house in Moline was built in 1843 on the north west corner of Sixteenth Street and Fourth Avenue, where the Burlington freight house now stands. ' " The people of the new town," says an old settler, "felt the need of a school, and of some place in which to hold religious meetings." Accordingl}- the owners of the town site donated two lots; a subscription was circulated and a brick school house built, which was for several years used also as a place of worship by different denominations. The first teacher, who also served as city clerk and justice of the peace, was Joseph Jackman, a native of Massachusetts, whei'e he had been a school mate of Honorable Charles Atkinson. The school was subsequently taught by S. P. Hodges, who afterwards became county clerk. The present school system dates from April. 1873, when, under the city charter, and in accordance with the revised school laws, the following board of education was elected: C. A. Wheelock. president; H. H. Grover. secretary; William H. Edwards, Ezra Smith, C. C. Nathan and Jonathan Huntoon.

Deere, for the East Ward school a part of H. R. Edwards block, paj-ing respectively S3,000 and $1,500 in bonds. The Central school which also contained the High school, was erected on the old site, the contract calling for an outlay of $25,000. From these beginnings has grown the present excellent system, which according to the last school report is housed in ten large buildings, with all modern improvements, employing one hundred and twelve teachers, including special teachers and superintendent: and expended for instruction and supervision alone, e.xchisive of care and maintenance of buildings and grounds for the season of 1907, $68,186.74. The course of study begins with the kindergarden: carries the child through eight grades into the High school, from which, after four years, he may pass on to any of the leading universities or colleges, or find himself equipped with a good education for the business of life. Throughout the course there is instruction by special teachers in music, drawing, physical culture and the "higher grades," and in the High school is offered industrial work, in the shape of cooking and sewing for the girls, and manual training for the boys, looking possibly to the establishment before many years of a model trade school; an advantage much to be desired in such a manufacturing center as Moline.

Moline Public Library

Xext to the public schools of ^loline as a popular educative agency, is the Carnegie Public Librar\- and reading rooms. Indeed this latter institution, in the design of its founders, is intended to carry up education to a higher plane than that reached bj' the public schools, and to lead to a broader and more comprehensive intellectual culture. To this end. its j^lan comprehends not merely a collection of books, newspapers and magazines.

but also an art .aallery, a ]ilace of aimi.senient and social conversation, a collection of rare curiosities and cabinets of natural history and tlie \arious sciences.

Measures for the e.stabli.shment of such an institution in the City of Moline were taken in the Summer of 1872, soon after the passage of the law allowing cities and towns to raise money by taxation for library purposes. The mayor. Honorable I). L. Wheelock, on the 21st of September, 1S72, appointed the following named persons a board of directors of the .Moline Public Library: J. T. J:{rowning, Eugene Lewis, S. H. ^'elie, J. C. Starr, William H. Russell, H. A. Ainsworth, H. H. Grover and E. Okerberg. Mr. Okerberg declined to serve, and his ]ilace was filled hv Honorable Charles Atkinson.

On the 21st of September, 1872, the board organized by electing the following officers- President, J. T. Browning; vice-president, J. T. Starr; secretary and collector, H. H. Grover; executive committee, Merrss. Starr, ^'elie and Grover; finance committee, Messrs. Browning, ^"elie and Atkinson. On books in foreign languages, Messrs. Parker, Russell and Ainsworth. On English books, Messrs. Ainsworth, Russell and Lewis.

In the Summer of 1872 the City Council appropriated .1800. A meeting was called on the 17th of December, and .$3,000 were pledged, the ladies organizing into a societ_v and becoming responsilile for SoOO of the amount. This sum was soon increased to §5,576.24. Rooms were obtained in the postoffice building of the Honorable S. W. Wheelock; the first installment of books was jnirchased, and the library opened to the public January 6, 1873. Mrs. Kate S. Holt was appointed librarian March 29. 1873.

The library found a generous patron in the per.son of Honorable S. W. Wheelock, whose munificent donation primarily secured a liernianent building for the library. ^Fr. and .Mrs. AVheelock contributed .$500 toward the original fund of the librai-\-. As soon as the plans were completed, they also tendered the board the use of the second floor of the postoffice building, which was accepted. Mr. Wheelock always manifested great interest in the library, and planned with broad and com])rehensive views of its usefulness.

On the loth of March, 1877, he passed o\er to the board a deed of the postoffice building, the erection of which cost upwards of $20,000. and which was occii|)ied until the opening of the new building.

The new Carnegie lil)rarv opened to the jHiblic January 26, 1904, was erected at a cost of $7O,OO0, of this sum Andrew Carnegie contributed $37,000. The business Men's Association of Moline cofistitiited the most potent factor in securing this sum from the iron master. At first Mr. Carnegie denied the requests for his aid in erecting a library, hui after a time, the matter was again urged upon him by W. A. Jones, who succeeded in his quest, and August 31, 1901, Moline was given notice that Mr. Carnegie had acquiesced, and would donate $37,000. In response to a second request that the contribution be made $50,000 instead of .$37,000, Mr. Carnegie raised the sum to $40,000. September 4. 1901, the library board accepted Mr. Carnenegie's gift, and it was endorsed by the City Council. November S, 1901, the following were elected a building committee: C. A. Barnard, L. D. Dunn, Honorable W. A. ^leese, O. F. Anderson, R. C. J. Meyers.

December 3, 1901, the Velie property, corner of Seventeenth Street and Fifth Avenue, was purchased for $10,000. As the $40,000 was contributed solely for Iniilding purposes the library board decided to solicit public subscriptions to purchase the site, and on the 16th of December twelve .$500 subscriptions had been secured, with other moneys, amounting in all to about $13,000.

The corner stone was laid May 2, 1903. and the public exhibiting an exceptional inte:est and enth\isiasm in the progress of the building the librarv board again appeali'il for public subscription, to the amount of $5,500. appending to their request an itemized statement of the finances of the Uhrary. As the time elapsed more money was received by subsiTi])tions and (h)nations. until the sum amounted to $70,000.

The building is built of vitrified brick, trimmed with Bedford Blue Stone. It contains 17,000 bound volumes, is equipped with every up-to-date appliance, and is tastily and conviently arranged.

The librarian is Miss Minnie Kohler; assistants, Mi.ss Hattie Skogh and Miss Lilian Owen. The library is open from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. on week days, and from 2 P. M. to 6 P. M. on iSundays. The board of directors meets the first Tuesday of each month.

In ISiU .ludge .lohn M. (!ould framed a bill and went to Springfield asking the Legislature for a two-mill ta.\ to be levied for hospital |)ur])oses f(}i- cities under 100,000 inhabitants. After the bill was ])assed, a home association was formed in 1 S92 and directors appointed, consisting of Doctor A.

11. Arp. Doctor W. K. Sloan and \V. B. rinian. The directors looked up a site, and during the time until 1898 the tax accumulation and donations enabled them to build, and open the lios|)ital that year with three patient.-;. Prior to this the ladies had formed a society, giving entertainments, the proceeds of which were used in furnishing the hospital Pri\-ate individ\ials furnished private rooms, among which are the Swedish Ladies room of the Swedish Lutheran Church, the Allen room, Charles R. Stephens room, (ieorge .\rthur Stephens i-oom, the Deere room, the Children's room (furnished ;uid kejit by the late Mrs. Sarah L. .\tkin,son). the S. H. Velie room, and the Athletic Clul) room. The Ladies Hospital Association ha\e keiit up the furnishings. The location selected was the old Hiram Pitts home, where the school was started for the instruction of nurses, and is now called the Nurses' Home. The training school for nurses is su])ported by the Ladies' Hospital Association, which furnishes their uniforms, and when they graduate gives each of them one hundred dollars. The superintendent of nurses is Miss Margaret Rooney; the matron. Miss Margaret Howe of Muscatine, Iowa; and there are ten nurses in attendance. The first board of directors (appointed by the mayor) was William Rutterworth and Doctor August H. Arp.

The number of patients treated since 189S to August, 1908, amounts to 2,695. The hos]iital is supjwrted by taxation and fees of patients, and is in very flourishing circumstances, with property in good conditi(ui, and self sustaining. The heating jilant uf the hosjiital is of the \'acuum Vapor System. .\ new bill has been presented to the State Legislature praying for the two mill tax to i)e increased to three mills.

.At present William Jiutterworth i.s ])resiilent of the association, and Mrs, Florence D. Sleight, secretary. The staff consists of twenty of the leading physicians of the city. According to the law under which the hospital

On Septeuiher 11, lOO."), an oiMlinance was passed by the City Council of .Moline, creatingand establishinsi a l)oard of health. On .lanuary '2. HKiG. Dr. H. ('. J. Meyer was ajipointed as the first comniissionei', and the first l)oard consisted (as required by ordinance) of the commissioner. Dr. R. ('. .1. Meyer, ciiairman; the mayor, Andrew Olsen; the chief of police, Edward Kittleson, secretary. The first meeting of the l)oard was held on January S, 1906, at which time it was decided that to accomplish the purpose of this department it would be necessary to start with an efficient and competent force of men.

The first order issued was for sobriety, as follows : To the employees of the health department: You are hereby notified not to frequent saloons during working hours; all employees found in saloons during workinghovn-s will be immediately discharged. Byorder of the health dejiartment. R. C. J. Meyer, M. D.. chairman.

The ordinance requires the health commissioner to set aside one horn- each day during which time he may hear complaints, and transact other business in connection with the oflice. The hour from 2 P. M. to 3 P. M. was selected as the hour best suited for such pur])o.ses.

Monthly reports are made to the Citv Council, and one to the State Board of Health. The first report to the City Council was made on february 5, 1906. for the monrh of .buniary, 1906.

Vit-Vl St.Xtistic'S

In order that vital statistics might be obtained, records are kept of births, contagion, deaths and burial permits issued. No burial is permitted without such ])ermit : these are made out in duplicate form, giving ever\' important data connected with such Imrial: one is retained in the office of the healtli commissioner, the other by the cemetery board: thus a duplicate record is kept.

Pure Food Divisiov

.\ laboratory was estabished in a room at the water works, and the milk test begun under the guidance and instruction of Professor W. J. Truenian of the State University at Crbana. Illinois. In the inspection of dairies and food stufT valuable assistance was rendered by Frank Hoey, Charles H. Kyellquist and other state inspectors. It was soon found that the faucet used by the milk men was not jiroperly ccmstructed, and a larger and straighter one, one that could be easier cleaned, was recommended and its installation insisted upon; this with otlier recommendations brought the milk product up to a high standard, .^t the suggestion of the health commissioner an ordinance was passed by the City Council making it an offense to sell or offer for sale any aninuil, fish or fowl that w-as not drawn at the time of slaughter, thus shutting out tiie cold storage product, and insuring sweet and wholesome meats, with little or no waste to the consumer. A constant supervision is kept for unwholesome food stuffs, and upon the request of the health commissioner, an Ordinance was passed granting power to the health de])artment to sieze such tmwholesome food stuffs and destroy the same; this has had a beneficial effect.

etc.. early in its liistory. Hales ^ioverniiig such eases had to he forimilated. and enforced: but as the people had been accustomed to laxity in this regard, and did not uaderstantl the importance of strict refiulations, considerable dithculty was encountered, and some arrests had to be made to enforce the ndes. It was soon discovered that the department was handicapped tn^ being surrounded by territor}^ in which the quarantine regulations were not enforced. Arrangements were made by the health commissioners of Moline and of Rock Island to appoint a committee of physicians of Rock Island and Moline to co-o])erate with the conunissioners to formulate rules, and make them operative throughout this territory, as one: and the rules which had been adojited here in Moline were practically adopted, and the contagion stamped out. B.ut not without showing the urgent necessity of a contagious hosjjital. and through the efforts of Dr. Meyer the physicians were organized and a committee appointed, plans drawn and the City Council requested to provide funds for the construction of such building. This petition was signed by all the ph3-sicians in the city, but without effect. Such building was to take care of all contagious, infectious, consumptive, and filthy diseases in the city.

The ordiannce requires the police de])artment to assist the health department, and all patrolmen are required to report all nuisances and matter detrimental to health to the health commissioner. Resides this a health insjjector is provided, to be subordinate to, and under the ])ers()nal direction of the commissioner of health. Many unsanitary conditions were found and al)ated. For cleaning the alleys of the city it was found best to divide the city up into districts, and place a man with his cart in charge, and hold him responsible for his district. In the Summer time the rubbish and garbage is collected separately: the garbage is required to be free from water and placed in covered cans for removal. Weeds are cut before the i)ollen have a chance to form, and all matters detrimental to health looked after.

It has long been known that boys and young men were in the habit of frequenting the slough and river for bathing purposes, seeking out of the way and often dangerous places. To rectify svich evils and to minimize the dangers incident to such practices, the health commissioner sought to establish a suitable place, and under proper supervision, where the pleasures of the bath might be enjoyed, and the City Council was appealed to for permission to establish a bathing beach at Twenty-fifth Street, which was finally granted and construction commenced, but owing to various difficulties, has not been completed.

Public Convexiexces

Realizing the necessity of better accommodations for the public, and esiiecially the stranger, the health commissioner \irged the City Council to take the initiative and establish accommodations in the City Park, and the ministers were urged to make provisions in their respective churches, with a general supervision entrusted to the police force, but so far nothing has been done.

In estalilishing the Health Department of Moline, Health Commissioner Dr. R. C. J. Meyer discovered many defects in the health ordinance, and at various times recommended changes, and in his annual report for 1906 recommended an entire recast to be made. Because of its many defects, and because the health commissioner is supposed to have supervision of all sanitary matters, but is shorn of the power to enforce his orders. For the reason that the men who are hhed by the board that are not aj^pointed by the City Council, it is impossible for him to get rid of incoin])etent. disobedient help if the board sees fit to keep them on the pay roll.

nor is the health commissioner able to administer the affairs of his department with strict economy under siu-h conditions. Dr. Meyer held that money is spent extravagantly, for instance the inspector and the barn boss should be one, and the one salary saved to the peo]ile. Such anil other recommendations were made l)v I)r. IMeyer, Init without avail. Dr. Meyer also held that this department above all dejaartments should be kept out of politics, in order that the greatest good may be accomplished for the people.

The civic department of the Womans' Club have been a great help to tiie health dejiartment and a great deal of credit is due them for their labors.

Riverside Cemetery

The old Moline Cemetery consisted of about five acres, from the north center of the Bill Mills farm, each lot holder being a member of the Association. The association turning this over to the City of Moline. who imrchased seventy-five acres more and afterwards ten acres additional, making altogether ninety acres.

The first Ijurial ground in the A'illage of iloline was where Charles H. Deere's residence now is, bodies being removed to the present old cemetery, from which a consitlerable iii'mber have lieen removed to the new part: some interments are still made in the older portiim.

The Moline Cemetery As.sociation was incorporated by special charter in IS.iI. The petitioners for a charter were A. ,1. Perkins, Hiram Hull, A. F. Swander, R. N. Tate, Joseph Jackman. L. E. Oker and George P. ^"esey. It was granted ]5ower to own real estate not to e.xceed ten acres, and funeral property not to exceed at one time five hundred dollars. At the first meeting of the stockholders (owners of lots) held May 5, 1S.51, for the ]5urpose of electing trustees, eighty-one \otes were cast: M. Grenell, N. ('. T\rvoll and Joseph Jackman were elected.

This board of trustees appointed S. P. Hodges secretary, Joseph Jackman treasurer, and Josei)h Pershing sexton. An ordinance to establish and regulate the Riverside Cemetery of the City of Moline, was passed June 7, 1873. This ordinance dedicated to the purpose of burial, the i)resent Riverside Cemetery, and vested its management in a board of directors, one of whom should be the nuiyor of the city, who, ex-offirio, was to be the chairman of the board, the six other members to be appointed by the mayor and consent of the City Council. John Deere was mayor at this time, and the following were appointed members of the board, viz: H. 0. .Sleight, A. S. Wright, C. W. Lobdell. D. I.. Wheelock, H. H. Grover and A. Williams. C. W. Lobdell was elected secretary and treasurer July 25, 1873. At this meeting a i-esolution was passed requesting the City Council to act upon securing other grounds further removed from the city, it being "the opinion of the cemetery board that the present location of the cemetery will ]:)ermanently injure the growth of the city and retard its jirosperity." The City Council took no favorable action in the matter, and the plan of Daniel Ciordon, surveyor, for laying out the gromuls in its several outlines was adopted l)y the lioard. The same year (1873) it was voted to close the public entrance to the old cemetery and to move the gates to Ann Street (Sixth Avenue) forthwith. The jjresent lodge, for the use oi the superintendent of Riverside Cemetery, was built in 1884.

Moline Manufacturies Moline Plow Company

MOLINE PLOW COMPANY. The business that eventually grew into the Moline Plow Company was originally started by Henry Candee and R. K. Swan. Associated with them were Mr. L. E. Hemenway, J. H. \A'yckoff and others. They manufactm-ed successfully fanning mills and hay- I'acks, in a wooden bnildiii"- located on the

This business wa.s started in ISO'), and shortly after Andrew Frihurg associated himself with the company, and the inainifactin'e of ])lows was taken up.

In 1S6G Mr. George Stephens added enough ca])ital to the business to make him an equal partner with the others, and for a number of years the business was carried on under the firm name of Candee. Swan and Company. Mr. George Stephens being in charge of the woodworking department: ilr. Friberg of the blacksmith shop and iron work; ilr. Swan did the business and attended to the sale of the product, and Mr. Candee kept the accounts. The business proved a profitable one. and in 1870 was incorporated under the name of ' ' Moline Plow Company " with an authorized capital of S400.000. about .S300.000 of which was paid up. Several other parties became interested as stockholders in the concern. ]irominent among them being Captain Good. A. L. Carson. S. W. Wheelock and A. R. Bryant.

The first president of the corporation was Mr. P. K. Swan; the second j^resident Mr. S. \V. Wheelock. who died in 1S91. After the death of Mr. Wheelock. Mr. George Ste])hens was elected jiresident. His son. Mr. George Arthur Stephens, and son-in-law. Mr. F. G. Allen were made co-managers and given entire charge of the business.

The company at that time had a paid u]) capital of §800,000. which has been increased from time to time until it now reaches the enormous sum of §6,000.000, the manufactured product having in the meantime increased pro]jortionately until Moline plows are known the world over.

In 1884 they brought out the Flying Dutciiman sulky ])low. which revolutionized the sulky plow business the world over. . Previous to that time all sulk)- plows had been of the two wheels variety, and in this respect are followers of the world-famous Flying Dutchman.

The sale of this plow did a great deal towards the l)uilding up of the business and making the line manufactured by the Moline Plow Com])any popular with the farming community.

In 1S86 the Moline Chami)ion corn jjlanter was bought out and produced a revolution in the manufacture of the corn planter almost equal to that produced by the Flying Dutchman in sulky plows.

Up to the time they began the manufacture of the iloline Champion corn planter, the company had never built a corn planter, and in a very short time they were the leading manufacturers of this class tools.

Beginning as plow manufacturers, they have from time to time taken on the manufacture of cultivators, harrows, disc harrows, pulverizers, potato diggers, stalk cutters, cotton planters, cane tools, sugar beet tools, and in fact, practicall}' everything used in the way of agricultural implements excepting grain drills and harvesting machinery.

The present branch house system was inatigurated after Mr. George Stephens was elected president. Prior to that time the product had been sold partially through traveling salesmen, partially through the jobbing trade and partially through some jobbing arrangements, of which the Plow Company was part owner.

The first branch house of the present system was started at Kansas City, ilissouri. in 1892; was followed very shortly by one at Omaha, Nebraska, and since that time branch houses have been organized at Minneapolis, Minnesota; Dallas, Texas; St. Louis, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Stockton. California; Salt Lake City. L'tah; Winnipeg. Canada; Denver. Colorado ;f New Orleans, Louisiana; Oklahoma City. Oklahoma; Portland. Oregon, and the Dakota-iloline Plow Companj', Sioux Fails, South Dakota, making in all fourteen magnificent branch houses, all of which, with one exception, the Moline-Bain Company, at Portland, Oregon, are owned

Historic Rock I S La X D Co U N T Y.

In addition to the enormous trade developed in the United States, their foreign trade has grown until it is a vnvy consideral^le business in itself.

The Moline Plow Company and its branch houses employ about two hundred traveling men in the United States. The office force of the Plow Company and the branch houses consists of in the neighborhood of three iiundred. and about 1,200 men are constantly employed in the shop.

In addition to the goods manufactured by the Moline Plow Company, the branch houses are jobbers of vehicles, wagons, grain drills, seeders, hay tools, feed mills and other classes of agricultural implements. A very large jiortion of the vehicles and wagons are manufactured by the Mandt ^^'agon Company at Stoughton, Wisconsin, and the Henney Buggy Company, of Freeport, Illinois, both institutions are branch factories of the Moline Plow Company, they having been merged with that institution September 24. 1906. Previous to the merger thej- were owned principally and controlled by Moline Plow Company stockholders. Moline Plow Company stock was issued holders in the Henney and Mandt factories in lieu of stock in those concerns, and for this purpose the capital stock of the Plow Com])any was increased from $4,000,000 to .$6,000,000. This increase represented the combined capitalization of the branch factories.

The wagon factory employs about four hundred men; the buggy factory about three hundred, and both are kept busy producing high grade goods which find a ready market through the branch house of the Moline Plow Company.

Mr. George Stephens who was elected president in 1892, departed this life on the 12th day of July, 1902, full of years and honor, a man respected and loved by all who knew him. He died in his eighty-third year and was succeeded as the president of the company by his son, Mr. George Arthur Stephens, who has proven a worthy successor to his father. Mr. F. G. Allen was at the same time advanced to the office of vicepresident; Mr, .C. R. Stephens, another son of Mr. George Stephens, is secretary and superintendent; C. A. Banister is treasurer.

The company's business at the present time is the largest in its history, and is steadily growing, with every indication of continuing to do so for years to come.

The business policy, including the branch house system adopted by the co-managers, Mr. Stephens and Mr. F. G. Allen in 1892, has proven successful in every respect and indicates that the judgment of Mr, George Stephens in placing the business in the hands of these men was good. Perhaps he builded better even than he knew.

The ^loline Wagon Company is indisputably the largest firm in the world devoted exclusively to the making of wagons. From a nucleus which embodied but a repair and wagon shop which was capable of jiroducing but one hundred wagons annually, this company, under the masterly hand and prolific judgment of its legitimate founder, Mr. Morris Rosenfield, succeeded with a rapidity unheard of, and forged to the front rank of industrial enterprises not only in Moline, but in the United States, '

In the mere shack in the eastern end of Moline. where James First trudged over the forge and anvil for fifteen years for a mere living, the Moline ^^"agon Company was inspired and given life by Morris Rosenfield. Mr. First had opened the shop in 18.54. Jlr. Rosenfield, in the year of 1869, perceived the vast territory in which wagons were a crying need, and the golden opportunities offered by the energetic, hustling and rajMdly settling west.

In that year, lie t'onned a partnership under tlie name of Heiiser. Hosenfield and Company, Cliarles A. Hen?;er ha\in.!!: been received into tlie conipan_\-. The newly formed company at once erected a two-story brick building on the present site of the now world-famed manufactory, and employed fifty men from the start. In 1871 prudence suggested an enlargement of the buildings, and an increase in the working capital, and a stock company was formed and incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois, and was named the Molina Wagon Company. ^Ir. Rosenfield was selected president and manager of the new corporation, an office he held up to the date of his death.

Immediately after the Company's new formation, new buildings were erected, more wagons were built, and its trade extended to every portion of the United States. The high standard of merit of its product which had been previously painstakingly observed, was faithfully and zealously maintained until the name of the Moline Wagon Company became accepted as the synonj-m of good material, scientific perfection and superior workmanship.

Branch houses were established in every ])art of the Union, the fame of the Moline light running wagons spread with the rapidity tluit characterizes all worth}- and reliable \entures or products, and the company, notwithstanding the additional spacious buildings it had erected, the vast amount of modern machinery it had installed, or the prodigious increase in its working force and increased capital, soon found it difficult to keep pace with the orders which poiu-ed into their office, and which still continue to strain ever}- facility and resource of the great plant.

Aside from the mammoth buildings, a lumber yard, everywhere dotted with great dry sheds, and covering fully ten acres, is maintained in conjunction with the factory. The company has branch headquarters from the farthest point east to the farthers point west; they meet the keenest competition o' wagonmakers everywhere, and their farm, truck and spring wagons, known respectively as "The Moline." and "The New^ Moline" light nnuiing wag(ms. are celebrated in every civilized clime.

The ])re.sent officers of the company are: Walter A. Ro.senfield, president: Morris Geismer, secretary and treasurer. That these gentlemen are dully qualified to manage the gigantic business is best illustrated by the continued prosperity the company is enjoying, the increased business which is theirsand by the rapidity with which the enlargement of the company's facilities becomes imperative. The ^loline Wagon Company is now capitalized at 8600,000, and its average output is 30,000 complete wuigons per annum. Its working force has been augmented until now it numbers approximately four hundred workmen, among them the most skilled mechanics in their particular line to be found anywhere. The ground occupied by the buildings covers over five acres, the buildings are of brick, six stories high, four hundred and fifty feet in length, and two squares in width. They are prodigious to impressiveness; they have been constructed with an eye to sanitation and convenience for the men employed, are well heated and lightedthe up-to-date machinery is amply protected, to insure safety to life and limb of operatives, and no friction between employer and employee has ever arose to mar the pacific relations of master and man.

The Velie Carriage Company

The Velie Carriage Company plant situated in Moline, Illinois, was established in 1902 by gentlemen of widelv known reputations in the middle west and who had been affiliated with manufacturing industries in that city for many years. Foreseeing a future scarcity of land for desirable factory sites, a tract of six ami a half acres in extent was purchased, from which a strip f'uu- hvmdred and fifty feet

A factory building was erected and completed in the Fall of 1902, consisting of three floors and basement, four hundred feet long and eighty feet wide, equipped with the most imjiroved and highest grade machinery, all of which is operated liy electrical jjower.

Special consideration was given by the management in the arrangement of departments, so as to facilitate the manufacture of vehicles, each department complete in itself and with operations systematized to be continuous and progressive and material economically handled. Employment of the most skilled workmen, directed b\' men of established reputations, insured the manufacture of vehicles that are practical, durable and reliable. The building is heated by steam throughout, thoroughly well lighted, thus enabling the men to work to the best advantage.

The most liberal patronage of 1903-1904 taxed the capacity of the plant to its utmost, so that an increase ^^ as found necessary and a second building was constructed in the Fall of 1904, one half the capacity of the first, two hundred and eight feet long and eight}' feet wide, three stories and basement, which with minor extensions to the original plant, increased the cajiacity from forty to .seventy-five finished vehicles a day.

The very largely increased business of the following years, has necessitated the occupation of more factory space and the third building, abutting the second and proportioned to counterpart the original building bas been built, thereby making two factory buildings fotu' hundred feet long and eighty feet wide, with unusually favorable ship])ing facilities, being located on the trunk lines of three different railroads.

feet in 1904, and lately- increased, in 1906, to 261,000 square feet and the output of 7,200 jobs shipped the first j^ear lias increased to an annual output of 20,000 vehicles, with a factory capacity of one hundred finished \ehicles a day.

Proportionate with this increase of business the employment of men has grown from one hundred the first year to three hundred and fifty, the greater projiorticui l)eing heads of families, located ])ermanently in Moline and Kock Island, and the owners of homesteads and as they are employed 'steadily ten hour.s a day throughout the entire year, the services of the most skilled workmen are assured.

The Mutual Wheel Company, Moline, Illinois, was organized in 1891 and commenced operations on the present site about the first of Januarj-. 1S92. The original capital invested by the stockholders was about $40,000, and about fifty men were at first employed. Mr. 1). :\I. Sechler, founder of the D. M. Sechler Carriage Comjjany, was the first ]iresident of this company, and Morris Rosenfield was the first vice-president. The business of the company has increased very rapidly until at the present time the factory i.s one of the largest in the United States in this line.

The present caj^ital stock of the company is .11300,000 and two hundred and fifty skilled mechanics are emploj-ed throughout the j-ear. The annual output is more than 100,000 sets of wheels for carriages, wagons, buggies, etc. The factory has always found a readj^ sale for all of its products and the Mutual wheels are well known throughout the west. A large i)roportion of the wheels manufactured go to the large carriage manufacturers at home and in this vicinity.

Besides the factory here the compan\' has a number of branch stock plants in the timber districts of the south and a large force of timber buyers are constantl}' employed looking after jioiul liickdrv tiiiil)er out of which to make spokes and felloes for the wheels. The present officers of the company are as follows: J. L. Robinson, ]n-esident, Freeport, Illinois; J. C. Moon, vice-president. St. Louis. Missouri; George McMaster. secretary and treasurer- Moline. Illinois.

Tlu' Wright Carriage Body Company was organized in 1902 with a capital of -SoO.OOO; .securing its charter in November, 1902. as a stock company, its first officers being T. 'SI. Sechler, president ; C. W. Wright, vice- ])resident and manager; E. H. Wilson, secretary and treasurer. Its first board of directors were T. M. Sechler. W. L. Velie. H. C. First. C. \^^ \^ right, Fred Peters, F. H. Wilson of midline, and C. H. Dooley of Rock Island.

A two-story factory building, one hundred and fifty by sixty feet with sixty by sixty-five feet wing for engine, boiler and dry house, was erected and actual manufacturing of carriage and buggy bodies and seats began in March. 1903.

In October, 1904. .Mr. Wright withdrew from active connection with the company and K. H. Wilson, who up to this time had been in charge of the office and the financial affairs cf the company, assumed the management.

Mr. Wilson at once reorganized the working forces and doubled the capacity of the plant, creating an output of 30,000 complete jobs per year.

At the annual meeting of stockholders held September 5. 1906. it was voted to double the capital stock, making it SIOO.OOO; which was at once taken up almost wholh* by former stockholders and additional buildings were constructed which allowed the company to again doul)le its capacity.

This company has already made a reputation for good work and is making fast strides toward lieing one of Moline's leading manufacturing plants.

Moline Ffrniture Works

The iloline Furniture Works was incorporated in 1898 with a capital stock of S25.000. Their principal manufacture is wood mantels, office and store fixtures, and special furniture to order. Officers of the company are; George ^A . Johnson, president and treasurer; F. A. Landee. vice-president; F. A. Johnson, secretary. In 1907 the capital stock was increased to SIOO.OOO. Since starting in 1898 they have yearly experienced a verj' flattering increase in their business.

Deere & Company

American history can furnish no subject more inspiring than the achievements of men whose life stories are told in the growth of the industries which they alone created, especially when those industries have developed into national or international importance, as a result of constructive policies.

Military achievement is a fruitful source of patriotic inspiration, but should be drawn upon with caution. It is fitting that oncoming generations should draw a portion of their inspirations from the soldiers of industry among whom they must cast their lot.

Men who build up great industries, give employment to working men, and wrest trade from foreign countries, should be as much objects of national admiration as military heroes.

Progress results from the birth of new desires and the growth of new necessities. Satisfying these new desires and supplying these new necessities call forth men of genius who devise the ways and means and lay the foundations for new industries.

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enlisted the genius and energy of John Deere, who invented the steel plow, which is now the corner stone of the great manufacturing industry of Deere and Company. Like other men who have achieved success, he had an U])hill fight. The story of the pluck and energy displayed and of the obstacles overcome until success was finally realized, constitutes an important chapter in our history.

While John Deere did not liegin work on the steel plow until after he was thirty j'ears of age, his previous experience had much to do with his success in this, the greatest effort of his life. He was a natural mechanic and a thoroughly trained blacksmith. He also gained considerable experience that proved heljjful in later years, while making hoes and other farm tools.

In 1837 Mr. Deer.e joined the great stream of hardy settlers then pouring into the west, where opportunities for gaining fortiuie seemed unlimited. He landed in (irand Detour, Illinois, with his experiences and about seventy-five dollars in cash.

He immediately began to work at liis trade, and coming in daily contact with farmers soon learned that their greatest need was a plow that would scour in their soil. His active mind began to work on the problem of producing such a plow, and is was not long before he had a solution. The first .steel ])low was constructed. It pro\ed a success. A new epoch in agriculture was ushered in and a new and great industry dates from that time.

The expression, "new epoch." is used advisedly. In 1S37, when .John Deere built his first steel ]ilow. American farms did not produce enough to supply home consumption. The groiuid was possessed of ^-irgin fertility, but iniplements were so crude that the vast areas availiabe could not be prepared profitably for seeding. The steel plow did more than any other agency to turn the tide of affairs. Now, thanks to its use, this country is the greatest exporter of food stuffs, our farms producing a large surplus over and above our daily wants. The handling of this sm-plus provides employment for an army of working men and is the basic support of most of the great industries for which we are justly famous.

The industry created out of an idea in a private blacksmith shop, has grown hand in hand with agriculture until it has attained the present imposing magnitutle of Deere and Company. Its products are known the world over and the name of John Deere ranks with those of Fulton, Watt, Whitney and others of equal importance.

Strange as it may seem, the first difficulty in marketing the new steel plows was to get farmers to try them. Several manufacturers had taken advantage of the demand for a self-polishing plow, to m:u'ket plows which were said to scour, l)ut in reality would not.

never will be a plow that will scour in this prairie soil." ^Ir. Deere on hearing such a remark would ask, "stranger, where do you live?" On being told, he would reply, "take this plow home with you and try it. If it does not scour, I will send and get it without any expense to you. If it does scour, I want you to pay me for it." Even such liberal terms interested only a few at first, the rest preferring not to l)e Isothered with trying an implement which they were sure would not work. Only two plows were put out in 1838. and but ten in 1839. After this, however, the demand increased very rapidly and the great difficulty was to supply it. In fact, at no time has the demand for John Deere plows been completely supplied, which accounts for the steady, healthy growth in their manufacture.

for a large plow mamifafturinii imlustry. In those days there were no railroads. Water was the only economical source of power and avenue of transportation.

Mr. Deere, together wilh Mv. Tate, liis foreman, traveled about the country looking for a desirable location. They finally decided on Moline, Illinois, and moved there in 1847, being attracted by the excellent water power and transportation facilities afforded by the Mississippi River at that point.

The manufacture of plows was begtm immediately, and by the Autumn of 1848, the business had grown to such an extent that it became necessary to form a more efhcient organization. Mr. J. ^I. Gould, who was then a member of the firm of Deere, Tate and Gould, proceeded to organize the office force, and establish a system of accounts. He also took hold of the selling end of the business, and carried otit the plans for financing the company on a larger scale than before.

Merchants in those days would not buj^ plows outright, as they did other articles of merchandise. It was, therefore, necessary to leave the plows at the various agencies to be sold on commission. Thej^ were to be paid for at the time of sale, but many farmers ga^'e their notes instead of cash. Dealers would not advance anything on these notes and it was necessary to wait until their maturity in order to get money.

In the face of such conditions, and the lack of local banks, it was often difficult to finance the firm, iloney had to he borrowed mostly from individuals. Largely for these reasons, there was no pay-day for the emjjloj-es. Plows were traded to the merchants of iloline. Hock Island. Davenport. Muscatine and other nearby towns ami orders given on them to the workmen for what thej- wanted. Money was never paid out for wages, unless an employe left or was discharged. In such cases, any wages due were settled for in cash.

occasionally. In the summer time money was sent to .St. Louis for this purpose by the steamboat clerks, but in winter, even this convenience was cut off.

Another difficulty was to get the plows to the various agencies. It was necessary to ship them by river to distributing points and then haul them by team to the merchants throughout the interior. This was a slow and imcertain process, but the only one available.

These illustrations serve to show the inconveniences that, in those days, handicapped the conduct of a business of more than local consequence. However, each difficulty and discouragement was surmounted. John Deere plows were winning their way and the firm gathered additional strength with every victory over these adverse conditions.

In 1852, both Mr. Tate and :\Ir. Gould retired from the' firm, and Mr. Deere continued the business alone. The demand foihis plows steadily increased and the output was increased as fast as possible, but could never be made to equal the demand, a condition which still exists. In 185" ten thousand plows were manufactured. This was considered an enormous output in those days. and it was, conditions considered.

By 1868 John Deere's business had grown to such proportions that a more complete organization of the manufacturing and selling departments became necessary. Accordingly Deere and Company was incorporated, witli John Deere as president, C. H. Deere, his son, as vice-president and general managei-, and S. II, ^'elie as secretary,

Deere and Company's growth has always been steady, sure, and in response to a demand for its products that has remained in advance of its ability to sup|)ly. The company has grown from an idea de\-elopecl in a little country blacksmith shop, througli the factory stage, int;) a gre.tt indu-;try with magnificent manufacturing and selling organizations. It is a fitting monument to .lolm

Historic Rock I S La N D Co U N T Y.

Today the floor space of Deere, and Company's factory equals the area of a good sized farm and a complete implement is turned out ever_v thirty seconds of the working year. In addition to this, over a million l)l()w shares are made annually to equip John Deere plows alreadj- in use. This one item alone exceeds the entire output of many plow factories. Facilities are ample for shipping fift\- complete car loads of implements a day. The system of overhead tracks, upon which imjDlements and parts are conveyed from one de]xirtment to the other, is so perfect that no handling is necessary from the time they leave the paint shop until in front of the car door for shipment.

Great distributing companies have been organized in the principal centers throughout the country, some of these companies being the largest of their kind in the world.

The Deere organizations furnish a livelihood to about twenty thousand people, and cover the civilized world in their operations. Wherever the American citizen goes, he finds that John Deere plows have preceded him.

Agricultural success makes the railroads possible and keeps the wheels of industry and commerce in constant motion. The steel plow made agriculture a success. It emancipated the farmer from bondage to the soil, enabled him to build public schools in which to educate his children and comfortable homes in which to enjoy the comforts of life.

When history finally casts up events and determines what is vrorth while, the faces of John and (". H. Deere will he seen in the hall <if fame.

Argillo Works

Argillo Works, one of the leading industries of Rock Island County, and located at Carbon Cliff, Illinois, was incorporated in 1865 by William S. Thomas, Adoniram L. Wait and Jeremiah Chamberlin, with a capital stock of $100,000. Jeremiah Chamberlain was the first president, having been elected at the time the plant was launched, and serving four years. Mr. Chamberlin was succeeded in 1869 by JTvlo Lee, who served from that time until 1896.

To these two men can be attributed the success of the plant, as it was they who piloted it through from a mere experiment to a well paj-ing investment. The succeeding presidents up until the jiresent day have also given thoroughly capable service, and under then supervision the plant gradually increased its earning powers vmtil now it is one of the county's most thriving industries.

In 1896 W. T. Ball became president and continued until J. F. Robinson was elected president in 1899. Upon the death of ;\Ir. Robinson, his wiie, Mary E. Robinson, became its president in 1903, and still holds that position.

The Argillo Works manufactures clay products, principally fire brick and farm drain tile, whicli are widely distributed throughout the state, and in fact all parts of the United States.

The Tri-City Manufacturers' Association was organized in the year 1900. with C. H. Deere of Moline as president, and E. H. Sleight of Moline as secretaiy.

The general object at that time \\as the ]5romotion of the interests of the three cities along manufacturing lines. Although started with some enthusiasm, it soon languished and practically ceased to exist until two j'-ears later. When the machinists throughout the country struck for a shorter workday, the Tri-City ]\Ianufacturers' Association awoke to life again, and practically reorganized as a defense association to check the rising tide of trade unionism. The movement here was simultaneous with others throughout the country, the ever increasing and arbitrary demands of labor unions nuiking it necessary for employers to luiite in order to offer effective resistance.

The work of this association as indicated above, has been principally of a defensive nature, but it has also been influential in various other ways. Its influence was e.xerted in behalf of the Interstate Commerce Bill, and in opposition to the so-called Uniform Bill of Lading, and an active campaign was carried on under its auspices for the cause of reciprocity.

The princij.ial nienibershij) of this association is in ^loline. and while the association as a whole cannot act, yet the Moline members have frec[uentl3' met for the consideration of matters pertaining to the welfare of their city. The iloline members of this association paid for a new private water main along the river front from the water works west, which forms a very important secondary water supply in case of fire; indeed superior to the Third Avenue main. A recent fire at the Mutual Wheel Works was checked Jiy this new water main only, when the Third Aveiuie main had collapsed. It seems quite probable that a very disastrous conflagration would have been started had it not been for the new main.

The Moline members of this association ]5urchased a lot and also advanced the money for a new fire station north of the railroad tracks. At their suggestion the city is putting down a new- water main on Third Avenue, for which the property owners are being assessed. These improvements, although paid for by the manufacturers or the property owners on Third Avenue, are for the benefit

The members of the Manufacturers' Association have also contributed liberally to many public objects. I might mention the new bathing house on Eighteenth Street, also the various conventions which come to this city, the Manufacturers' Hotel, the Moline Theatre, etc.

Tri-City manufacturers are liberal givers toward public ftuictions and enterprises. The great victory in obtaining a handsome congressional appropriation for a Government lock was brought about largely through the efforts of the manufacturers, and the establishment of such lock will ]irove of untold value to the community. .A. standing committee co-operates with other civic organizations in public benefactions, the reception and entertainment of conventions, and securing desirable and representative a.ssemblages for local entertainment.

Information of general importance is communicated to the membership by a .systematic series of btdletins from the secretary's office. From the same source items of general interest are bnlletineil from the association's affiliated organizations, including such far reaching associations as the National Association of Manufacturers, National Founders Association. National Association of Agricultural Implement and ^'ehicle Manufacturers, Metal Trades Association, Citizens Industrial Association. National Association of Credit ilen, and others.

Along defensive lines mentioned above, our association defended against the machinists' strike in 1900 and the moulders' strike in 1903, successftdly in both instances, and this we believe was not only on accoiuit of our firm front, but because we were essentially right in our i:)osition. The manufacturers conferred with the men and offered a reasonable compromise settlement, but in neither instance woidd the unions accept less than their full demands in every ]iarticular. This arliitrary stand gave the manufacturers the moral support of the comnuuiity. anil of a large part of the workmen as well.

In conclusion would say that the Tri-City Manufacturers' Association is only one of many institutions which of late years have s|)rung up all over the country in response to the pressing necessity of maintaining a check against the warlike attitude of trade unionism. The public in general will readily perceive the necessity of these organizations. Employers must look to themselves largely to maintain their own rights, which no one else will do if they neglect it. Whatever the benefit of trades unionism, and without entering into further discussion, it is evident that they have been the cause of prices advancing fully as fast as they have affected wages, that they have sowed discontent and warfare in peaceful communities, and that strikes have caused an immense amount of misery. ' They have aimed to destroy kincUy relations between employer and the individual employee.

The Tri-City Manufacturers' Association stands for the open shop, but it also stands for a high standard of wages. If we should ever lose our influence, or fail to accomplish the results we aim at, it will be because we have neglected to pay high enough wages to an intelligent and manly class of workmen. Harry Aixsworth,

In response to a petition circulated by Messrs. C. F. Dewend and C. Iver Josephson, a meeting was held in the City Hall on September 13, 1898, which wa.s attended by about one hundred of Moline's most prominent business, professional and manufacturing men for the purpose of organizing the above association. Temporary officers and committees were appointed on menibershi]), finance, bylaws and incorporation, a preamble was drawn up, the import of which was that the association was organized to subserve and advance all material and legitimate interests of Moline, East Moline and vicinity, and oinwelfare generally.

The membership at present is about one hundred. The association meets the second Tuesday of each month, the board of directors the Tuesday previous, the annual meetings are held the second Tuesday in October. The monthly meetings were held in various ]ilaces, first in the Citv Hall, then in Mc- Kinnie Hall, Moline Club Hall, Elks Club, and Assembly Room of the Peoples Savings Bank and Trust Company. Tiie board of directors hold their meetings in tlie secretary's office. The association is a memlx-i- of the Upper Mississippi River Improvement Associatiin, as well as a member of the National Board of Trade. It has always been represented by a large delegation at the annual meetings of both these organizations wherever held. It has shown what can be accomplished liy a united effort, t)y holding the Street Fair of 1899. which attractetl more people to the city than any other event held heretofore, also celebrating the same year, the Fourth of July, with a public demonstration the like of which was never known in this part of the country. It installed artisan water mains to the jniblic fountain on Market Square, it, placed other fountains in the city, it installed electric street decorations as well as flag decorations for all festive or conventional occasions. The association fiiuuicially assists for the expense of all State conventions held in the city, and is instrumental in getting these various conventions to come here. It is continually looking after the introduction of new industrial institutions to settle here, and has been instrumental in obtainina: various new factories. Through its persistent efforts Moline received an appropriation fr.)m the General Oovernmcnt of $386. ()()() for a steamboat lock and li;irb }i-. The l.)ck iuis been completed and was accepted by the National Government engineers on the 7th instant of this month (January, 1907), the deepening of the channel harbor and constructing a landing, and the beautifj'ing of River Side Park with trees, shrubberj^, drives and walks, will all be completed this year, giving Moline a beautiful park, in the center of the city, on our river front.

During the last ^-ear it has undertaken and accomplished the building of a modern theatre at a cost of S75,000, of which sum the association paid S10,000, raised through a seat sale and donations. The theatre was built entire!}' upon plans and under the smveillance of the association. There is no more modern building of its kind, and of its size, outside of Chicago.

The unity of thought and action on the part of the members and the dLi'ectors. with the financial assistance generously bestowed by our manufacturers and business men, has made it possible, and will in the future make it possible, to carry on the great work for which we are striving, namely, a Greater Moline.