Day in history for August 26, 2003

1853 -- 150 years ago

In the last 48 hours, 299 people have died of yellow fever in New Orleans. The toll during the past week is 622.

1878 -- 125 years ago

The Rock Island And Peoria Railroad is selling tickets to Cambridge and the Henry County Fair at nearly half price.

1903 -- 100 years ago

The female tramp from New Orleans, who has been thrice arrested here, is in the city jail again.

1928 -- 75 years ago

Fifteen nations today promised never to use war as an instrument of national policy by signing the Kellogg-Brand Treaty to outlaw war forever.

1953 -- 50 years ago

Rock Island school officials today are eyeing a $1,890,000 expansion program at the very time the city's schoolchildren will enjoy for the first time the full benefits recent school construction work costing $2,017,779. The growth of the city in population, and expansion southward, convinces public school officials of the need for a major enlargement and remodeling of Washington Junior High School and a new elementary school in the southern section of the city.

1978 -- 25 years ago

Rain-swollen skies delayed a ceremonial pouring of the first yard of concrete for Moline's $1.4 million downtown redevelopment project but couldn't wash away the smiles of officials gathered for the occasion. The new two-lane curved roadway stretching from 14th Street to the Interstate 74 overpass should be completed this fall.

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