Day in history for January 7, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

In 13 years, Chicago has grown from 4,800 to 61,000 population.

1879 -- 125 years ago

The Rock Island Paper Company started its new mill at Milan yesterday, but the water wheels soon had to be stopped because of the litigation about riparian rights in that part of Rock River.

1904 -- 100 years ago

A gang of Chicago robbers who was planning a series of Rock Island crimes was broken up when police arrested seven men in the nest of thieves on 4th Ave.

1929 -- 75 years ago

The temperature fell to 11 degrees below zero today, the coldest in two years in the Quad-Cities.

1954 -- 50 years ago

Space travel is not only possible, but probable, in the not too distant future, Donald L. Meyers, chief of the rocket launcher branch of the engineering division at the Rock Island Arsenal, told Moline Rotarians, Monday noon. Speaking on the topic, 'Possibilities of Space Travel,'' Meyers estimated that rocket ship trips to the moon will be made within 30 to 40 years.

1979 -- 25 years ago

It took more than two years and a bench trial, but Bernadine Kaufman of Moline triumphed today in the case of a youth who hit her in the face with a snowball. 'I'm very glad,'' Mrs. Kaufman said after Judge David DeDoncker found the 15-year-old youth guilty of disorderly conduct and fined him $5.

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