twelve million feet. Messrs. Keator & Son own extensive pine lands, and cut their own logs, and have their own steamer on the river.

SCALE WORKS.

The Victor Scale Co. was organized in 1870, since which time the business has grown yearly, and was never more promising than at the present time. S. W. Wheelock is President, and H. W. Candee, Secretary. The works were removed several years ago from Dixon, Ill., to Moline, as a more promising location for the business. Some twenty workmen are employed, and the prospects now are that new buildings and increased facilities will have to be added, to keep up with the growing demand for these popular scales. Although the business of the Company is mainly in the West, their trade extends to all parts of the country.

ORGAN WORKS.

Lancashire & Turner, proprietors of the Moline Pipe Organ Works, established the business of building church organs here in 1871, since which time they have run to the full capacity of their works. They have a capital invested of about $15,000 and employ about fifteen workmen. They are themselves practical organ builders, having been engaged in that business in London, Eng., before emigrating to this country. The prospects for the coming season's business are promising, as they have already orders on hand amounting to over $10,000 for church organs. They use all the latest improved machinery, and manufacture all parts of the instruments themselves.

EARLY HISTORICAL EVENTS.

The original proprieters of the water power, in 1841 or '42, laid out some lots on the south side of Main street, opposite the grounds now occupied by the plow works and paper mill, and named the place "Rock Island Mills." The plat, however, was never recorded. In 1843, Charles Atkinson, D. B. Sears and others, purchased of Huntington Wells a portion of his farm lying east of the Rock Island Mills property, and they, together with the owners of the latter, laid out the town of Moline, the same year. The plat thus laid out constituted the original town of Moline. Subsequently Charles Atkinson laid out his first addition, which was followed by his second addition in 1856; since which, various additions have been made from time to time, till the place has reached its present 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 one mile 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. That law came in force on the first of July, 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, 261 votes; against city organization, 22 votes; for minority representation in the city council, 21 votes; against minority representation in the city council, 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 Attorney-John T. Browning; Aldermen-George W. Vinton, Luke E. Hemenway, Jerman S. Keator, Marvil H. White, Henry Klahn, Charles W. Lobdell, Swan Hanson, Daniel W. Dimock, Charles F. Hemenway.

The following comprises the city official register from 1872 to the present time:

1873. Mayor-John Deere; City Clerk-A. C. Dimock; City Attorney-W. J. Entrikin; Aldermen-George Wittick, H. A. Ainsworth, L. F. Kerns, H. A. Barnard.

1874. Mayor John Deere; City Clerk-D. C. Dimock, Jr.; City Attorney-W. J. Entrikin; City Treasurer-C. F. Hemenway; Police Magistrate-A. F. Swander; Aldermen-Daniel Gault, M. H. White, L. E. Hemenway, Everett Wheelock.

1875. Mayor--D. L. Wheelock; City Clerk-Stephen T. Walker; City Attorney Eugene Lewis; City Treasurer-J. S. Gillmore; Aldermen-Henry O. Whipple, Eric O. Kerberg, Job Tuffley, C. F. Grautz.

1876. Mayor-D. L. Wheelock;_ City Clerk-Stephen T. Walker; City Attorney-Wm.R. Moore; City Treasurer-C. F. Hemenway; Alder. men-John Shallene, M. H. White, C. F. Grautz, H. A. Barnard.

MOLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Prefatory to the facts and figures we propose to give touching the present excellent graded school system of Moline, we shall glance back some thirty-five years. In 1843 the first school house was built. It originated in a two-fold interest which it has been peculiar with Americans, especially with New England people, always to keep associated, viz.: Religion and Education, the School House and the Church. In the early pioneer settlements, before separate buildings could be afforded for each of these paramount institutions, they were often brought together under the same roofthe school being taught during the week and the school house converted into a sanctuary of religion on Sunday. In precisely such a state of feeling originated the "old brick school house" of 1843. "The people," says an old settler, "felt the need of schools and of some place in which to hold religious meetings." Accordingly the proprietors of the town site donated two lots; a subscription was circulated and a school house built, on the site of the present engine house. For several years it was used as a place of worship on Sundays, by different denominations.

The first stated teacher in Moline was Joseph Jackman, well known to many of the old settlers, not as a teacher only, but as a worthy citizen and an efficient public servant, in the capacity of Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace. He came from Massachusetts, where he had formerly been a

schoolmate of Hon. Charles Atkinson. The school was subsequently taught by S. P. Hodges, late County Clerk, and for many years one of the worthy citizens of Moline.

Mr. Jackman first suggested the idea of graded schools in Moline, though it was not till many years after that the system was fully adopted and put in successful operation.

The present system, with the exception of the improvements which are constantly being made, dates from April, 1873, when the first Board of Education was elected under the City Charter and in accordance with the revised school laws. That Board consisted of the following members: C. A. Wheelock, President; H. H. Grover, Secretary; Wm. H. Edwards, Ezra Smith, C. O. Nathan, Jonathan Huntoon.

The Board this year appointed W. H. Russell Superintendent of Schools. Through his labors an elaborate course of study for all the grades of the schools was prepared and subsequently adopted by the Board.

COURSE OF STUDY.

FIRST GRADE.

Language-Reading and spelling, from charts and blackboard, 250 words; sentence-making; use of period, interrogation point, and capital letters for proper names.

Numbers-Arabic notation to 50; Roman notation to 10; add and subtract, answer not exceeding 10; addition and subtraction tables, with objects, to 10.

Drawing-Combination of 2, 3, and 4 lines using sticks; Drawing Book No. 1 to page 7.

Writing First three principles; formation and analysis of the "short

letters."

Objects-Name, parts and uses of familiar objects, the human body, plants, animals, etc. Color; distinguishing, naming and grouping simple colors. Form; shape of objects, straight, crooked and curved lines, lessons

on corners.

Singing, physical exercise, lessons in morals and manners.

Second Reader-Part I.,

SECOND GRADE.

spelling all the words; uses of all punctuation marks and capital letters. Exercise in expression, making and writing

sentences.

Numbers-Arabic notation and numeration to 1,000; Roman to 500; add and subtract, answer not exceeding 200; addition and subtraction tables with objects.

Drawing-Combination of 5, 6, 7, and 8 lines, using sticks; complete

Book 1.

Writing The principles, formation and analysis of short, semiextended, and extended letters, and combination into easy words.

Objects-Name parts, qualities, and uses of familiar objects; the human body (bones), plants and animals. Form; wave, spiral, virtical, horizontal, oblique, parallel lines; angles and plane figures. Color; tints and shades. Weight and size.

Music, physical exercise, lessons in morals and manners.

THIRD GRADE.

Language-Second Reader, Part II.; use of capital letters and all punctuation marks; oral and written spelling of all the words; practice in simple composition, and the use of spoken language.

Numbers-Notation and numeration, Arabic and Roman; simple examples in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; addition, subtraction and multiplication tables.

Writing-Book I., using pencil.

Objects-Same as in previous grades, extended according to capacity of pupils. The senses: voice, its organs; sight, sound, weight, distance, place, etc. Lessons on color and form, continued. Drawing book II., using pencil.

Music, physical exercise, and lessons in morals and manners, contined.

FOURTH GRADE.

Language-Third Reader; oral and written spelling from reader, all words used; instruction and practice in composition and expression.

Numbers-Same as Third Grade, extended; multiplication and division tables; U. S. money; linear measure, liquid measure, dry measure, avoirdupois weight, and time tables. Teacher use Primary Lessons as a guide.

Objects-Continued; lessons in natural philosophy, with experiments. Drawing Book III.

Writing-Book II., using pen.

Music, physical exercises, and lessons in morals and manners.

FIFTH GRADE.

Language-Complete Third Reader; oral and written spelling all new words; composition, and exercise in proper use of language. Arithmetic-Elementary to fractions.

Geography-Taught orally, using Our World, No. 1, as guide for

teacher.

Drawing-Analytic, Books 1. and II.

Writing-Book III.

Oral instruction in natural science, music, etc., as before.

SIXTH GRADE.

Language-Reading Fourth Reader, 100 pages; spelling from reader and geography all new words; exercise in composing and writing. Arithmetic-Elementary, continued.

Geography-Our World, No. 1, first half.
Drawing-Books II. and III.

Writing-Book IV.

Music, etc., as before. Oral instruction in natural science, simple mechanics, etc., to be used in connection with lessons in composition.

SEVENTH GRADE.

Language-Complete Fourth Reader; oral and written spelling all new words in reader and geography; language lessons, parts of speech, sentences, etc.; composition and expression.