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Cook's Point economic survey report, 1963
Tabulation of Results
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Tabulation of Results The information given below are collected by members of the Industrial and Human Relations Club of St. Ambrose College and tabulated by students of the Ecclesiastical Department. The survey was taken among the residents of Cook's Point, chiefly by families of Mexican origin. Historical Background The nucleus of the present Mexican settlement is made up of families who were brought to Bettendorf in 1917 to work in the W.P. Bettendorf foundry. They were lodged in company dwellings in an area then called "Holy City". Unemployment increased steadily after 1918, and many were forced to move from that area. The first arrivals at Cook's Point came in 1925. The foundry went out of business in 1930, and all non-naturalized workers were sent back to Mexico. In 1940 government purchase of the foundry property forced its remaining residents to leave. With the exception of twenty families who settled elsewhere in Bettendorf, this group came to Cook's Point. Other Mexican families have moved there from Rock Island, from Silvis and from Minnesota beet fields. Utilities There are no pavements or sidewalks in the area and no drainage facilities of any kind. Two dwellings on the outskirts are served by electricity, none by city gas or city water. There is only one source of water for the entire settlement, a faucet which is connected to the water main and fitted with a meter. Each family pays a water charge of fifty cents a month and each home owner a land rent of two dollars per month. Of the 56 homes visited 35 are owned by their occupants, 30 are improvised structures, 31 are in need of major repair, 33 have never been painted on the outside and 20 have neither paint nor wallpaper on the inside. The average size of dwellings is 3.4 rooms. A total of 16 windows are without glass. Furnishings Since there is no running water in the homes, none of them have bath or inside toilet. There are 39 families with battery radios, 43 with iceboxes, 14 with bottled gas for cooking and 14 with kerosene ranges. None of furnaces. Employment Of the 270 people living in the homes visited 68 had full time employment in 1948, and 9 held part time jobs. The average wage was $48.92 per week, and average number of weeks worked was 45. Union members number 23, skilled workers school graduate, 5 who have attended high school, 15 with no formal education, the number disabled 6, and the number of veterans 10, length of their service ranging from 6 to 60 months. Finances The number of families having savings in December, 1945, was 8. The average amount was $681.25. Since then 2 have increased the amount, 2 have used part of it and 4 have used all of it. The average family income for 1948 was $3033.24 (some families include two or more workers). Average expenditure for food was 482.19 per month, for clothing $196.90 per year. Life Insurance is held by 28 families, of whom 13 have policies of $1000 or less; 10 have health insurance. Automobiles are owned by 21 families. Children There are 37 children of pre-school age. 53 in parochial school.
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Tabulation of Results The information given below are collected by members of the Industrial and Human Relations Club of St. Ambrose College and tabulated by students of the Ecclesiastical Department. The survey was taken among the residents of Cook's Point, chiefly by families of Mexican origin. Historical Background The nucleus of the present Mexican settlement is made up of families who were brought to Bettendorf in 1917 to work in the W.P. Bettendorf foundry. They were lodged in company dwellings in an area then called "Holy City". Unemployment increased steadily after 1918, and many were forced to move from that area. The first arrivals at Cook's Point came in 1925. The foundry went out of business in 1930, and all non-naturalized workers were sent back to Mexico. In 1940 government purchase of the foundry property forced its remaining residents to leave. With the exception of twenty families who settled elsewhere in Bettendorf, this group came to Cook's Point. Other Mexican families have moved there from Rock Island, from Silvis and from Minnesota beet fields. Utilities There are no pavements or sidewalks in the area and no drainage facilities of any kind. Two dwellings on the outskirts are served by electricity, none by city gas or city water. There is only one source of water for the entire settlement, a faucet which is connected to the water main and fitted with a meter. Each family pays a water charge of fifty cents a month and each home owner a land rent of two dollars per month. Of the 56 homes visited 35 are owned by their occupants, 30 are improvised structures, 31 are in need of major repair, 33 have never been painted on the outside and 20 have neither paint nor wallpaper on the inside. The average size of dwellings is 3.4 rooms. A total of 16 windows are without glass. Furnishings Since there is no running water in the homes, none of them have bath or inside toilet. There are 39 families with battery radios, 43 with iceboxes, 14 with bottled gas for cooking and 14 with kerosene ranges. None of furnaces. Employment Of the 270 people living in the homes visited 68 had full time employment in 1948, and 9 held part time jobs. The average wage was $48.92 per week, and average number of weeks worked was 45. Union members number 23, skilled workers school graduate, 5 who have attended high school, 15 with no formal education, the number disabled 6, and the number of veterans 10, length of their service ranging from 6 to 60 months. Finances The number of families having savings in December, 1945, was 8. The average amount was $681.25. Since then 2 have increased the amount, 2 have used part of it and 4 have used all of it. The average family income for 1948 was $3033.24 (some families include two or more workers). Average expenditure for food was 482.19 per month, for clothing $196.90 per year. Life Insurance is held by 28 families, of whom 13 have policies of $1000 or less; 10 have health insurance. Automobiles are owned by 21 families. Children There are 37 children of pre-school age. 53 in parochial school.
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