Today is Wednesday, Feb. 8, the 39th day of 2012. There are 261 days left in the year.

1862 -- 150 years ago: The demand for barley coffee is rapidly increasing due to the coffee tariff imposition. Rye also is being used as a substitute. Either type of grain is soaked in water, then dried and roasted and ground like the coffee beans.

1887 -- 125 years ago: Rock Island was unaffected by the earth tremors that shocked other parts of the state. However, they city is wading through two feet of slush and water on slippery streets.

1912 -- 100 years ago: George W. Newberry, chief of the Rock Island Fire Department, went to Chicago today to inspect auto trucks which are replacing horse drawn fire machines.

1937 -- 75 years ago: Plants of the International Harvester Company in Rock Island and East Moline were inspected by 624 farmers and implement dealers from five counties of the area.

1962 -- 50 years ago: An estimated 550 persons are expected to attend tonight's annual Appreciation Dinner of the Sac-Fox Council of Boy Scouts at the Post Restaurant, Rock Island Arsenal. The dinner, starting at 6:30 p.m., is an annual event of Boy Scout Week and honors adult volunteer leaders for outstanding service to youth in Rock Island, Mercer and Henry Counties.

1987 -- 25 years ago: The Rock Island District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will open bids for the sale of about seven cords of firewood-quality trees at 2 p.m., Feb. 19, at the Mississippi River Project Office, LeClaire, Iowa, adjacent to Lock and Dam 14.







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