Day in history for March 11, 2002

1852 -- 150 years ago

The Argus said: Farmers could increase their tillable land fully 20 percent by straightening fences, eradicating bushes, trimming hedges, and draining wet land.

1877 -- 125 years ago

William Beadhog was killed by the fall of chunks of coal in a mine of the Coal Valley Mining Co. His working partner said Mr. Beadhog exclaimed, ``Oh, dear!'' as he was hit.

1902 -- 100 years ago

A hundred Masons, with 25 ladies, left Rock Island today by special train for Aledo, where they will help to dedicate a new Masonic Temple.

1927 -- 75 years ago

William R. Carse's unofficial plurality of 44 votes for the Republican nomination for Rock Island mayor is unchanged by the official count.

1952 -- 50 years ago

Because of a drop in attendance, the Hiland Theater in Moline will go on a schedule of limited operations beginning next week, it was announced today by W.I. Brotman, manager of the theater. Brotman blamed the decrease in attendance on television.

1977 -- 25 years ago

The long-standing proposal to build a Quad-Cities-to-St. Louis freeway apparently is dead. ``I'd say its dead, at least for 10 years,'' State Rep. Clarence Darrow, D-Rock Island, a member of the Transportation Study Commission, said today. The commission staff and technical advisory committee reported it would take at least $585.2 million a year in new money to pay for a minimum road program over the next 20 years.

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