Day in history for August 17, 2001

1876 -- 125 years ago

Fires have been started in the Rock Island Glass Works. It will take some days before the furnaces will be hot enough to work.

1901 -- 100 years ago

Rock Island put a large gang on the streets cleaning away the accumulated rubbish of the past three days.

1926 -- 75 years ago

Mystery surrounds the burning of the old packet steamer, ``Keokuk,'' destroyed at a loss of $25,000 at Nahant.

1951 -- 50 years ago

WHBF-TV began operating on doubled power today. The increase, authorized by the FCC, boosts the transmitter output power from 11 kilowatts to 23 kilowatts. WHBF-TV engineers explained that the increase in radiated power would greatly improve picture and audio quality in the outlying fringe areas.

1976 -- 25 years ago

Moline officials say a reduced speed limit, additional left-turn signals or stepped-up patrolling may be needed to upgrade safety along John Deere Road. John Hofstatter, city engineer, told aldermen at a council committee-of-the-whole session that his office is also studying traffic data gleaned in a recent survey to determine whether sign changes or pavement markings at intersections would aid the safety effort. A two-vehicle accident which killed two children on July 20 at 38th Street and John Deere Road prompted the survey and a request that the state consider lowering the 55 mile-per-hour speed limit on the route.

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