Quad-City Times from Davenport, Iowa • 21

1 TUESDAY EVENING THE DEMOCRAT AND LEADER. DAVENPORT. IOWA PEfT.Mr.ER ni. 19 iR 21 Five New Industries Aid Development of Muscatine During A Year of Growth '46 IS BOOM YEAR Ifl IOWA FOR BUSINESS 'V s- year proved to be one of major growth for Muscatine. Iuscatir.e, la.

The past industrial development and copula; I on of town Clinton Spends $7,000,000 In 194 6 To Lead The State In Construction Projects Clinton, la. At least seven million dollars were spent on Clinton's 1946 building and improvement program, as the city continued to lead the state in construction work and as the year ends prospects are excellent for another huge building program in 1947. The largest expenditure is going into the du Pont cellophane plant extension, which has been under construction all year, and will more than double the capacity of the first unit. Next in importance is the $2,000,000 power plant of Interstate Power Co. on Beaver slough, which will be in operation early in 1947.

The Pillsbury plant, which has been building and expand-1 ing ever since this city was se bonrr.cd as tne industrial pace accelerated, and an unofficial canvass late in the year showed approximately residents in the community. Two new plants bean operations here in 1947, two other large concerns progressed steadily with construction work on factory sites, and a fifth enterprise revealed plans for beginning operations next year. Production was becun thus fall bv the Witte Ice which lected as the site of a branch es-tablishirieiit, has completed a huge 1 FLOOD WATERS HIT EASTERN IOWA This is how it the levee broke last January on the Iowa river 3.7 miles above its junction the Thousands of acres of land in Louisa county were inundated and many heads of livestock were lost. Homes were swept away and irm building destroyed. Ihe Iowa State iu.ird, including the Davenport company, assisted in taking care of the situation, the army engineers sent experienced men to the Job and the levee has since been repaired and made stronger than ever before.

The break was due to an ice gorge forming in the river and hacking up the entire flow ol Hie stream. 1 DRY ICE IN MUSCATINE he, in blocks 21(1 pounds, is moving from two massive snow presses which solidify liquid carbon dioxide at the new plant of the Will Ice (las Los Angeles, which began operations in Muscatine late in 1910. Ihe blocks move along a conveyor and are cut Into four 60-pound blocks for wrapping and distribution. a-pacity of the plant is 3(1 tons daily, and the first carload ship-nient was made from here on Dec. 2.

State Completes Transition from War to Peace. IBY JACK i Des Moines, la, Iowa business, i sporting its peacetime, rcronvcr- sion model, had a lusty, booming' year despite occasional factors I which arose to slow its progress. I In a year marked, by two coal shut-downs, one rail strike, a dy- ing CPA, numerous shortages and other unscttliiii; factors, these stood out on the Iowa business scene: 1. Income of low a people reached a record level of more than I 2. Employments and payrolls i reached all-time highs, een exceeding wartime levels.

3. Iowa business firms com-: pleted the transition from ft wartime to a peacetime reono-; inv. 1. In point of business expansion and establishment of new industries PM(! "was one of Iowa's greatest years." 5. Returning war veterans and war plant workers were absorbed into peacetime pursuits with a minimum of difficulty.

"The income of Iowa people will be the largest on record year and will exceed two three-fourths billion dollars cording 1o the best estimates this and ae nnw available," Ihe Des Moines Chamber of Commerce reported. "Woild food neous asure a steady inc(me for Iowa for the coming vear." SALES TAX Oi 1 HS IKOOF. Another indication of Iowa's volume of business was provided in sales tax collections which dur- ing the July-September period reached a new all- time high of more than 000,000 lor a single! quarter. In late November, col- lections, for the vear totaled compared with 1 for the same 1915 period. The Iowa state bureau of labor; reported its statistics lor 1940 as a whole indicated the number of lowans employed and the sie of payrolls both were at all-time highs.

The bureau added that most, employers reported absenteeism was far less than during the war years. Reports by Iowa state employment offices in November indicated that Iowa industry was set to push to even higher levels. Established industries have been expanding operations, despite handicaps imposed by material shoi and new industries have brightened the prospects of numerous areas, the reports showed. tv ism srnu.s. The Iowa development commission refilled that more than 1(10 new nianul'aeturim; industries had been established in lowa since VK day.

The Kroiip inelud-j ed many firms which have rclo-' catod or established branch plants in the state. "This has been one of Iowa's greatest years for new industries," 'said lieriiard K. Nowack, the commission's research director. "Along with the many new planks which have come to the state in 1940, there are more in prospect for 1917." Nowack said the new Indus-j tries were well distributed in the various cities of the state and i would "contribute much toward mvinu lowa a weii-oatancea ceon- omy witti an tnousiriai us wen as an agricultural hare. Largest of the new installations is a SliO.OOO.OOO rolling mill bring erected at Davenport by the Aluminum Company of America.

It will employ from to persons. Second largest is an 000 John Deere. fc tractor plant at Duhuipie which will employ about 1.000. The real): orpt ion of more than 210,000 lowa war veterans into the slate's economy proceeded smoothly. Altho ex-service 'men weie engaged in institutional study, largely at universities and eolleyes under terms of the CI Hill of Rights, jmothcr 12,312 weie taking on-the-job training and I of the remainder were fmd-: ing their way into private em-! plovrnent.

At one lime or another during the year approximately 71,000 veterans drew one or more $20 unemployment benefit hecks. Onlv about 5'H) drew the! full 52 weeks for which they were eligible, however, and by Novem ber the number ot low a veterans on imcmplnj ruent benefit rolls had about 0,000. i I I I 1 I i i I i i I I i I i 1 I is engaged in the manufacture carbon dioxide. Manufacture of 'steel farm trailers was started July at the Stou.it Mdiiufactur- im; ana nuppiy i-o operated oy i Walter Stoudt of Muscatine. The firm, which now occupies two 100 by 40 toot Quomet huts, has a capacity ot 10 trailers a nay.

The Corp. which will engage the manufacture of a new modern type of steel kitchen cabinets, completed the major portion of construction on its new factory budding at the coiner of ()ak and Fourth streets. Plans call for the start of opera- tions the forepart of 1947. The company maintains its mam sales office in Davenport, Novel features to be introduced in the new cabinet designs in-I elude mounting ot all drawers on bearings and inclusion of small electric motors for the auto- malic lowering and raising of tip- per shelves. C.

M. Stanley of Muscatine is president, 11. Wood Miller, Davenport, vice-president, and C. T. Hanson, iMohne, secretary-treasurer.

The plant will have a capacity of 50,000 units a year, and officials announced that the first year's output has already been contracted for. The Fruitland Manufacturing incorporated this year for tnanufaitui of cellulose products, made headway on construc-! tion of a foundation for its new to be located on the Mis-! siMippi hum, about three miles south of the city limits, S. C. Stein of is president of the concern which has hopes for eventually employing up to i workers. NEW AI.

EMINEM PROJECT. Late this year, plans were announced by a group of Iowa men for organizing a company to engage in the ahmiinithig of various aluminum articles, the process being designed to prevent corrosion and to present a more attractive appearance. A factory site has been purchased here, and operations arc to start next year. Keeping in step with the expanding needs of the community, the Muscatine municipal light plant trustees contracted for more thrui a half-million dollars of ad-d'tional equipment during 194(i. Residential building was on the upgrade again, with a total of Cii new home permits issued from the otl'ice of the city engineer, at a declared valuation aggregating Reflecting the rising costs of living, relief expenditures in the i coimiv increased bv about 22 per cent over 1945, totaling SIM ,9:10.29, 1 despite the fact that the case load 1 showed but little gain.

i Crime enjoyed somewhat of a field day during the yea with po- lice making a record high number of arrests totaling 1.2115 for an average of better than 105 a month. Two murders figured in local news. One remained un- solved at the cloic of the year, as the result of the grand jury "no bill" in the alleged slaying of Ady II. McKeown, of near Cones- vilie. George Brown, 77, former; Coiiesvillo mayor, had been origi- charged with the murder, in the year, Ralph Wagner, wanted for the fatal wounding of two men in the Palace Billiard Hall here in October, 1943, was.

apprehended in Texarkana, brought to Muscatine and sen- tenced to life imprisonment. i ONE DIVORCE TO TWO 1 WEDDINGS. The marriage-divorce ratio im- proved a bit during the year, but there were still one divorce grant- ed lor every two marriage li- censes issued in the county. Mar- iases increased 58 pier cent to total 409, whila divorces gained but IS per cent, and totaled 19 J. i The county's road improvement 1 and construction program suf- fered as the result of shortages of critical materials and labor, and only about 50 per cent of the work of constructing and improving 13! miles of secondary roads in the county, contracted for early in the year, was completed.

One major highway project was completed, though, hen a con- ci etc base and bituminous ur- I i i I i of dry ice and bottling of four wheel pneumatic-tired 1 PLANE CRASH TOPS NEWS IN DEWITTIH'46 Events Range from Overall Wedding to Razing of Old Structure DeWitt, la. Advancement of plans for the DeWitt Community hospital to the blue-print stae; hustle to erect new homes for veterans mi to relieve the housing shortage; a bridal party in identical suits of blue denim shirts and gray overalls; beginning of a REA warehouse; raziig ot a 105-year-old frame structure, believed to be the oldest in the community; affiliation of the local Community club with the national Chamber of Commerce; and an airplane crash which cost the lives of two, were among 1946 events which will remain in the memory of the residents of this community. Sprinkled thru this record we: a the usual joys and tragedies of a thriving farm community reflected in inarriaees. deaths, recognitions of achievements in farm, social and school endeavors, and town celebrationis. IIIC PRODUCTION IN QUAD-CITIES NEARLYNORMAL Plants Turn Out Many Units Despite Strike, Materials Shortage.

Production in International Harvester Quad-cities manufae-j turing plants was substantial in 194ti despite a 90-day shutdown occasioned by a strike, and other setbacks to production caused by tight materials conditions or in-, terrnittcnt stoppages for one rea-! son or another. "Total production at Farma'l Works was only slightly less than in 1943 altho the actual produe-I tion period in 1946 was some 13 weeks less," Ralph C. Archer, vice president of the company's farm tractor division said, A year ago production sched-: ules called for stepping up the output of Farmall and Fa'rmall tractors to the plant capacity of tractors a week. It was not possible to do this until Au-j gust. Currently, Farmall Works is producing 1,530 tractors in a five- day week.

This is the highest five-day week production ever attained at Farmall Works. R. P. vice president of the company's farm implement division which operates East Mo-I ne Works, said that quotas for corn picker? and harvester threshers, modified because of the strike, had been met on schedule. Because output of farm machines continued short of demand, both plants made special efforts during the year to produce and ship service parts in order that customers misht keep older machines service.

Farmall Works, despite the 13-week strike eariy in 1946, produced and shipped more service parts in 1946 than in 1945, while shipment of service parts from Last Mohne Works was ab out the same as 1943. -o- CHANCES BETTER TO BUY NEW CAR IN COMING YEAR i U't'icuiue oi sinses in xne coal mines or automobile industry, according to a concensus of opinion of Quad-city dealers. It is expected that production of motor vehicles will reach 75 to 80 per cent of the 1941 peak output- However, it was pointed out. tnis tigure may oe reduced if any labor disputes arise. New car registration figures in Scott county are exrected to to'al about 1.500 for 194J with 1.3d I I eer.se during the first 11 months.

This figure represent 50 per cent of the 2.85t! new aut.s here in 1941. Most of the dealers here e- pressed opinion that these new a1. After that increase it would be very few until late ia March, there will be a stead; is believed. Ar-plication of to ch I- dren's teeth have bee) tried i eifort to prevent decay. tlAKE PLANS TO CUT IOWA AUTO DEATHS 8,545 Accidents Reported on Highways During 1946.

By FLORENCE B. MASON. Des Moines, la. (AP) Every day during 1946 Iowa's roads have been the scenes of traffic accidents in which men, women and children were killed or injured. There were not just one, two or three accidents each day the average for the year has been more than 20 daily.

The number of individuals losing their lives in these accidents will approximate 525 for the year. In early December the number of traffic fatalities for the state alreadv had far exceeded the It) 15 total of 366. In addition to the accidents in which lives were lost there have been more than 7,500 collisions and upsets, in which one or more vehicles were involved, resulting in injuries to pedestrians and riders. The total figure for accidents resulting in personal injuries in 1945 was 5,715. With dcuth wheeling across Iowa's highways increasing year by year, the Iowa state safety council is at work on a plan dc-sisiied to reduce the accident is ure.

The council's recommendation calls for compulsory testing of all motor vehicles twice a year. This plan was decided upon after a survey showed that per cent of the accidents now are attributable to mechanical difficulties, Dan J. Steele, director of safety education for Iowa, said. Before the war, mechanical difficulties accounted for only seven per cent, Steele said. Old cars that can not pass the tests will have to be repaired or kept off the roads, Steele said.

He added the council believed many old cars, which normally would fall into the hands of young drivers, thus would be put out of circulation because the youths would not spend the money necessary to repair them. GO TESTING STATIONS. Under the tentative plan, which the council's legislative committee has drawn up for presentation to the 1947 legislature, there would be 60 testing stations in the state where owners could have their vehicles tested. The recommended charge to the motorist would be 50 cents per test, or $1 a year. The stations would' be located so that no motorist would be required to drive more Mian.

15 miles lor a test. Windshield stickers would identify tested vehicles. Steele said another recommendation for reducing accidents was driver training in high schools. Some schools already are offering such courses. A third recommendation was standardizing road markings.

A standard code is sought to require signs and other road markings to be the same sie, shape, color, in all states. A suggestion for a maximum speed limit in the state was abandoned, Steele said, after a highway patrol survey showed that the average day and night speed was 53 miles an hour, which is not considered excessive. A poll of slate legislators showed, however, that more than 50 of them favor a speed limit Taw. Some have suggested a 60-mile per hour maximum, others favor it lis low as 50. The poll showed that the legislators looked favorably on the suggested testing of vehicles and driver training.

Thousands of dollars worth of property was destroyed nr damaged in 1946's accidents. The safety education division has recorded nearly 17,000 accidents in which no one was killed or injured but property was damaged. The damage must amount to S25 or more to be recorded so at a minimum, ihe damages would total $42,500. QUAD-CITY NAVAL RESERVE PLANS FOR LARGE GROUP Having reached a fourth of its total personnel complement during the five months of its exigence, the Quad-city naval re-M'lve is looking forward to a year f'i steady progress in the establishment of a large organization. Headquarters for the unit are located in the Rock Island citv hall.

The Quad-city area was allotted battalion of four divisions, soy uean storage plant and is building another at a cost of 000. Climax Engineering Co. and Clinton Industries, have added large extensions during the past year. BUILD RAILROAD YARDS. The Chicago North Western railroad, largest employer of Clinton labor, has spent a large sum this year building extensive new yards, offices, and improving and beautifying its depot.

Western Transfer company installed new terminals here. Lafayette hotel has been in ihe hands of working crews all year, busy with extensions and remodeling. Clinton Water Works company completed a new deep artesian well and many new mains. It is estimated that $350,000 was spent in the retail district enlarging and improving stores. Several new store buildings were built, including one by the Tenen-bom company which recently opened a food store on north Second street.

The new Eagle supermarket is now operating on Sixth avenue south. Clinton Chamber of Commerce took over new quarters in the Langan building, which was remodeled for its new tenant. June Van Meter post, American Legion, bought the Clinton coliseum, where the chamber formerly had its offices. The Legion has started its extensive remodeling program there. Clinton lodge of Moose is remodeling, to use its entire building.

Clinton Recreation lanes have moved into its new $200,000 home on Fifth avenue south. The local Elks lodge completed an elaborate remodeling and improvement pro-grain this year, and Turner hall was enlarged and improved with a new arrangement to provide for its growing membership. The Eagles club rooms have been remodelled after a fire last year. The lodge has a new home building project in prospect. The old portion of the Ankeny building on south Second street is being remodeled.

New business blocks have been built by Ray Dodge, Ollie Haring and others. WORK ON' AIRPORT. Clinton's municipal airport was put into commission in 1946. Some $600,000 will be spent later for permanent improvements there. More than 100 new homes were built during the year at an estimated cost of $750,000.

Many home-building projects are on the fire for 1947, including a large city addition on the former Ki-wanis golf links, property of O. D. Coil's. Clinton's new junior college started its first term last September. It is located in the high school.

Clinton voters last March authorized a $900,000 bond issue to enlarge the high school and build three' new elementary schools to replace buildings which have outgrown their usefulness. NEW SWIFT PLANT. Swift Co. have announced their choice of Clinton for a huge stock yard and slaughter plant, expected to be built in the coming year southwest of the city. Eclipse Lumber company expects to build new offices at the corner of south Second street and Eighth avenue.

An amusement project expected to be built this year is the Colonial Lanes, a bowling center on north Second street, started last spring but halted for luck of materials. The people of First Congregational church have purchased a large hilly wooded tract on north Fourth street where a new church, hall and youth center will be developed. Work may be started in the coming year. Several other churches have building plans. In the offing are a new lateral sewer along the river, and a revamping of the city's sewer system, with disposal plant; a new bridge over the Mississippi river here; a huge agricultural chemical plant in East Clinton; a new home for the Veterans of Foreign Wars to name a lew of the most important.

Clinton's housing problem has been serious, and scarcity of labor and materials alone has held down the home building program. With easing of the situation in 1947 it is expected that hundreds of homes will be built. 10.000 EMPLOYED. Some 10,000 Clinton men and women were regularly employed in Clinton as 1946 closed. In industrial employment alone the estimate is 7.300, including the factories, Chicago Northwestern and other railroads, and public utilities, but nut counting those engaged on ri.n.-truction, and in the retail and wholesale districts.

giving it a total complement of 800 men and 5u officers, which reservists hope will be reached during "the coming year. The naval reserve has been allotted two armories in this area, one to be in Rock Island and one in Davenport. Construction is expected to start in Rock Island in March and to be completed in July, 1947. BRIGHT FUTURE FOR FAIRFIELD SEEN IN '47 Industrial Growth Will Play Large Part in Progress of City. Fairfield, la.

This community, looking back upon the developments of 1946, optimistically predict the year will mark a new epoch in its history similar to 184(5, Iowa statehood year, which ushered in a period of settlement and agriculture development. Far-sighted leaders of Jefferson county foresee the day when 1946 will be hailed as the year that inaugurated an era of industrial growth, Three new industries, the, Six Aluminum Foundry, Fairfield Metal Products, and Feda Spray joined 13 already established, and have indicated a growth that will make them important factors in the community's future prosperity. Despite difficulty in obtaining materials, more than a dozen new homes have been completed in the year, representing an investment of $75,000, An additional $50,000 was spent in new manufacturing plants and expansions. Principal among these have been the Skell Gas Co. structure at Tenth and Depot streets and the Emery Sna-kenberg implement warehouse and store, covering nearly a quarter of a block, opposite the post-office.

Work on the latter building is under way. It will be two stories high, modern in every detail, and will represent a considerable investment when it is finished during the forthcoming year. Building expenditures were increased another $35,000 by cost of repairs necessitated by the terrific hailstorm, May 30. COLLEGE ENROLLMENT. Parsons, resuming pre-war schedules for the entire season, nearly doubled its enrollment to an all-time high.

Five traffic deaths were recorded during the 12-months period: Jimmie Mercer, 13, fatally injured when knocked from a bicycle on the high way west of here; Ralph Mathews, long-time resident, struck by a car while walking on the pavement; Lois Ilickenbottom, 14, high school freshman, who ran into the path of a truck, eight miles east of here; and Mrs. Phcna Di oz and her four-year-old grandson, Larry Droz, killed when their car was struck by a passenger train. Community events were highlighted by the celebration of the county centennial in tribute to Iowa's 100th vear of statehood. Ai week in September was devoted to historic pageants, displays, and festivities appropriate to the occasion. BOY SCOUTS SHOW INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP Buffalo Bill Area Council.

Bov trvinle: nf America, dosed the vear with a 14 per cent increase in membership it was reported by William C. Soudcr, scout executive. High tribute is paid by Mr. Souder to the officers of the council and chartered units for their fine work during 1946 in making scouting attractive to a large number of boys. In commenting on the reasons for the increased membership and interest in the movement, Souder pointed out that well-planned pri-crams within the or, its themselves co-ordinated such progiams witti thff district and council commit nil i ,1, (., I to making the scout mo ement successful within the local area consisting of Scott, Muscatine Cedar counties1.

AGE NO BARRIER. Lock Haven, Pa. is no barrier to hunt in of W. H. elderly nimrod brous (UP) Age in the case Knarr.

The his time bag total to 30 deer this season when he killed a six-point, 140-pound buck. i 'A si. 8 a me in ly in 13)7. Radda, Cedar town. -hip and world's champion farmer grower ol tall corn, produced stalk 151 previous feet high, bettering his mark by more than two and a nan leei.

M. G. DcLonu died and O. J. Brown, veteran of Woi Id Wars I and II, was named acting postmaster, NEW CUV WELL.

A nciv city well com 024.21 was drilled to a 1,900 feet. Kive persons were killed in auto accidents during 1940. The time hiuh was in when lost their lives. Wa high school's foot- ds.m tied thud if tin' Itt'i- Six ci.r.u-tence. V.

ol a h.iaiK on tiu I nf the ci'y or Hdri i pef-ii is in pro-pect for eai if. IH by lowa Sy I': i Od .0 un ch Th" Joyce Ir.e o. f.ictun r. -hilling to ebtau approval ol to here, a -sure ivie leaders interested in ieratsn torv in iiiU- tedeial a pk.nt lev ate A New Voik Slide Itai al Experiment st.ibou increased bcit produrtton in one instance by applying salt to the land. I i i i i 1 1 I i n.

i depth of I all! irC MAJOR MUSCATINE PROJECT or the major construction projects carried out in Muscatine county during the past year was the surfarini; of Highway 21 for a distance of approximately 11 miles, from the Muscatine city limits westerly to the Johnson county line. Ihe above picture shows a dragline at work making a cut near the Cedar river bridge. A concrete soils base and bituminous top coating were applied In the highway, with the quarter-million contrac being handled hy the Concrete Materials of Cedar Kapids. Farm Prosperity Highlights Year in Washington Region I i lacmg was aophed to a stretch of i approximately 12 miles of Hih- Pu.spe.as of purchasing a new uav 22, west from Mu.catme l0 automobile 194. are much mi-the countv line.

iV1" past The citv administration corn-, are no major labor BANKS SO END. Meanwhile another phase of low a's economy appeared to be filled with bright portents. New-: ton T. Black, state superintendent of banking, reported that Iowa banks never were in better tion than at present. "Our 039 state and national bat ks are in a very.

ery I. p.i.d condition," Bia said. 1 don't Washington, la. The year now coming to a dor-e was a notable one from the standpoint of crop yields of excellent quality arid high prices for grains and tuck to assure farmers of hiqh live incomes. Ihe srowinji season, one of the longest on record here, was ended with the first killing Irost comiiiR Nov.

17. Highlights of the year's devel- opments in this community in- eluded approval by voters of aj S192.000 bond issue to provide ad- ditional class rooms and a new high school gymnasium. Construction will probably be started early in 1948. The junior college returned to the city's school sys'tm 'alter having been dixeuntinir-d i during war year The Rock I Ith1 Line-; I r'ev-' l'l-''lf i W'" 1 1 1 1 -ol 1 .1 i Bl triictiwH oi .1 Am. i lany new lionu- dm durm.K the year ami under re.

-lion. The shortag- cummin Business building- built the ycur included an otiice i build ing arid veterinarian hospial Dr. A. Peterson at 103 EjA Third street. Carl Junubluth i constructing a new building be occupied by the Iowa Southern Utilities Co.

Natural gas will become avail- i pleted little hpvon I its rei'iilar activities during the year, but a considerable amount of street improvement work looms as top priority on the 1947 agenda. Politics rati true to form here at the November general election, into of- when Reoublicans swept ftce by 2-1 majorities. At the spring city election, tho, v. sprung a surprise to e'ect 11. K.

I-i-rmison, running as an independent, as mayor over R. R. Hunker, Republican incumbent, in a decisive victory. Sl'DDI'N RIMI LLSS WAVI' Lexiticton. kv.

(LP Puuce Judge Thomas Ready had an ly He arrived to convene court and found tr.e docket bare. He said it was the first "caselcss" court he could remember since becoming associated vvhh the Lexington police in 1893. the ever have any 1 mi oe. i 1 1- a ycur pioblem- -r low; f'aught I i-e -lithe the on the live I id climaxed bv ot the and ireight emb: i i stood i'J si, thrc-hhuhl of 1947 in a crlitiun which otiici.ils said ap ed basically rich witti the promise of o- Woiifi food production in 134t '47 i. cent year.

expected to be above that ot uijout i per prev ious.