Several improvements in construction and urban planning led to a shift in urban growth strategies in Moline. The first buildings were equipped with heat in September 1897, and electricity first arrived in Moline in 1881 when John Deere & Co. installed sixteen electric streetlights on the roadway outside its factories. Work on an electric streetcar system soon followed, and within the same decade, an intercity streetcar system linked Moline with Rock Island and Davenport. The diminishing reliance on well water or the river allowed home construction to proceed further up the bluff, and the electric streetcars allowed Tri-Citians to live in one community and shop or work in another. Moline's streetcar system, the state's first and only the nation's third, was also Illinois's best for a number of years, with a minimal five-cent fare and an extensive coverage area.Tweet, p. 34. The state's first garbage collection system was also developed in Moline in 1894. In this time, the municipal administration bureaucracy first began to grow, with departments created for sanitation, public works, utilities, and recreation. New public buildings also were constructed; the first public library came in 1873, the YMCA was built in 1885, and Moline Public Hospital opened in 1896.Jonathan Turner, "Moline authors chronicle ‘City of Mills,’" The Moline Dispatch. Moline, Illinois, Apr. 19, 1998, p. A10.
SEvERal improvemeNTS in COnStRUctiON and uRbAn Planning led to a ShIfT IN Urban grOwTH sTratEgiES In MOlInE. The fiRSt BuildinGs Were equipped with HeAt IN septemBer 1897, anD elECtriciTY first aRRiVED iN moline In 1881 wHEN jOHn DEere & cO. installed sixteen electrIc sTreetlIghTs on the roAdwaY outsidE itS faCtorIEs. work On an electriC strEEtCaR sySTem soon folLowEd, and wiThin tHe same decADe, An intERcItY StreetcaR SysTem LiNked moLinE With rOCk islANd and daVenport. The dImiNiShing reliAnCe on weLl WaTer or the RiVeR aLlowED homE CONsTrucTion to proceED fUrther up the BLufF, aNd the eLectric streetcars alLowed Tri-citians to LIVE in one communIty And Shop or wORk in AnotHEr. moline's sTrEEtCAr systEm, ThE StatE'S FirSt aNd oNLY The nation's thIrd, WAs aLSo IllInoIs's best fOr a number of yEars, wiTH a miNimal five-ceNt faRe ANd aN extensive coverage aREa.TWeet, p. 34. the staTe's first gaRbagE collEctioN SYSteM Was Also DEvElOped in moline in 1894. in This time, thE MunICipal aDminisTrATioN bUReaUcraCy firSt begAn to grOw, With depaRtmEnTs crEatEd for SaNITatION, PubliC woRKs, uTIlITies, aNd recreAtioN. nEw pUbLIc BUiLDiNgs aLsO Were consTructEd; thE fiRst PuBlIc Library CAMe In 1873, The Ymca waS BuiLt iN 1885, aNd moLine publiC hosPITAl OpENed in 1896.jOnAtHan tUrner, "moline Authors ChrOnICLe ‘CiTy of MillS,’" thE MOliNE dispatch. moLiNE, iLLiNOiS, Apr. 19, 1998, P. a10.