Day in history for August 11, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

Congress ordered a survey of the Rock Island rapids. Of course, nothing was done when the river was low. A party of officers arrived when the water was 20 feet deep and could do nothing then except take comfortable hotel quarters here and amuse themselves by hunting, fishing and gallanting the ladies. Now the river is down. Now they can find out that the rocks are still where the last surveyor of the river left then.

1878 -- 125 years ago

The celebrated Rock Island Railroad building firm of Reynolds, Salpaugh And Co. has taken a contract to lay the C.B.And Q. tracks in western Iowa. The firm has built railroads and bridges all over the country. The senior member is Rock Island's esteemed mayor, Elisha P. Reynolds.

1903 -- 100 years ago

E.E. Buffum today became associate editor and John M. Colligan returned as city editor of The Argus.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Sheriff's forces confiscated 2,500 pints of beer and a quantity of hard liquor in five raids.

1953 -- 50 years ago

This may be the supersonic age, but Rock Island speeders beware. The police department will have its new radar-type speed analyzer in operation ``very shortly'' according to an announcement made by Chief of Police Claus C. Miller.

1978 -- 25 years ago

The East Moline fire department was called to the railroad tracks by International Harvester about 4:30 p.m. Monday to extinguish a grass fire.

Back: Available days in August 2003