ROCKFORD 



where great range is needed, or in very rocky 

 places which are dangerous for lifeboats to 

 approach. See FIREWORKS. 



ROCKFORD, ILL., a manufacturing and dis- 

 tributing center in the northern part of the 

 state, and the county seat of Winnebago 

 County. It is situated near the northern state 

 line, about midway between its eastern and 

 ern borders and on both banks of Rock 

 r. Chicago is eighty-five miles southeast ; 

 Dubuque, Iowa, is ninety-five miles west and 

 north; and Beloit, Wis., is eighteen miles di- 

 rectly north. The city is served by the Chi- 

 cago & North Western, the Illinois Central, 

 the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and the 

 Chicago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul railroads. 

 Interurban lines extend north, east and west 

 from the city. Rockford was settled by people 

 from New England in 1834, was plotted in 1836 

 and became a city in 1852. Swedes predomi- 

 nate among the foreigners, who comprise 

 about one-half of the total population. In 

 1910 the population was 45,688; in 1916 it was 

 55,185 (Federal estimate). The area was en- 

 larged considerably by the annexation of sub- 

 urbs in 1890, and now exceeds nine square 

 miles. The city is one of the largest in Illi- 

 nois which prohibit the sale of liquors. After 

 the entrance of America into the War of the 

 Nations a large area near the city was selected 

 to be the site of one of the great camps for 

 training the new national army. 



Rockford is known locally as the Forest City, 

 because of its magnificent old trees. It is a 

 beautiful city, the attractiveness of which is 

 enhanced by the Rock River. This stream 

 also contributes largely to its industrial im- 

 portance. Several railroad and highway bridges 

 span it at this point, and a dam 800 feet long 

 provides ample power for manufacture. Arte- 

 wclls supply drinking water. Rockford 

 has one of the largest plants in the United 

 States for making gas stoves exclusively, and 

 its furniture, harness, saddlery, hosiery and 

 farm-implement factories have high rank among 

 establishments of their kind; about 10,000 men 

 i ployed in three of the largest plants. 



The important buildings include the Winne- 

 bago County courthouse, the city hall, the Fed- 

 building, erected at a cost of about $130,- 

 000; Rockford Library, the gift of Andrew Car- 

 negie, the Elks' Club, East Side Inn, G. A. R. 

 Memorial Hall, the Y. M. C. A. building, the 

 American Insurance Building, and several bank, 

 ness and retail-store buildings. There are 

 forty-three churches, three sanitariums and 



ROCK ISLAND 



three hospitals, the most noted being Saint 

 Anthony's Hospital. In addition to the public 

 schools the city has Rockford College for 

 Women, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help and 

 Saint Mary's seminaries. Mandeville H 

 said to be the oldest house in Winnebago 

 County, is a feature of interest in Mandeville 

 Park. 



ROCK ISLAND, ILL., the county seat of 

 Rock Island County and a commercial center 

 of importance in its territory, is situated on the 

 northwestern border of the state, on the Mis- 

 sissippi River at the point where it receives the 

 waters of the Rock River, and on the Henne- 

 pin Canal. Chicago is 180 miles slightly north- 

 east, by rail. Railway transportation is pro- 

 vided by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, 

 the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, the Chi- 

 cago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul, the Daven- 

 port, Rock Island & Northern and the Rock 

 Island & Southern. Steamers connect with all 

 important ports on the Mississippi River, and 

 an electric line operates to adjacent towns north 

 and east through Moline. In 1910 the popula- 

 tion was 24,335; in 1916 it was 28,926 (Federal 

 estimate). The area of the city is nearly 

 square miles. 



Rock Island, Davenport and Moline, known 

 locally as the tri-cities, are as one community 

 socially and commercially. Rock Island 

 named for a near-by island in the river (some- 

 times called Government Island) and is con- 

 nected with Davenport on the opposite bank 

 by a bridge across the island, which was con- 

 structed by the United States government at a 

 cost of $1,000,000. Other bridges connect Mo- 

 line with the island, and the city of Rock 

 Island directly with Davenport. On the is- 

 land, which is three miles long and composed 

 largely of limestone, the United States jm\- 

 ernment, at an expense of about $10,000,000, 

 has erected an arsenal and armory covering 

 nearly 1,000 acres and employing about 2,500 

 men. 



The Federal government has also const rm-ted 

 a dam here, which furnishes immense \\ 

 power to the tri-cities, and has largely contrib- 

 uted to the development of this important 

 manufacturing center. Rock Island is noted 

 primarily for making agricultural implement-. 

 but the output of stoves, building mati rial.-. 

 plumbing specialties, oilcloth and carriages is 

 extensive; the railway car shops here employ 

 about 600 men. The principal building.* arc 

 the arsenal buildings, a $175,000 court 1 1 

 Saint Anthony's Hospital and sonic fine otticc 



