Excerpt from Peoria of to-Day: With Peoria Blue Book Directory, 1915

Why publish this book? There should be many and strong reasons to warrant such an undertaking. T 0 know one's city, its opportunities, advantages, resources and the people that make it, is to know one's self. The wondrous and rapid growth of Peoria, one of the richest and most beautiful cities in the world, is beyond com prehension. The supreme mission of this book is to record fairly and truthfully existing conditions and facts of interest to the great body of our people, as well as to schools, officials and other special classes; a book for reference in the school, the office and the home, and a medium for introduction and acquaintance.

Its material has been gathered from every available source, and most carefully examined and sifted before acceptance. Considerable space is also devoted to bio graphical sketches of persons deemed worthy of mention for their close relation to the city in some of its varied interests. It is believed that the extensive recognition of such individuals will not be disapproved or regretted by the public; that personal biography has an honored, useful and legitimate place in such a publication as this volume aims to be; and that the omission of such a department would seriously detract from the value of the book. Perhaps no more delicate and difficult task has confronted the editor and publishers than the selection of names for this part of the work. While it is believed that no unworthy name has a place in the list, it is freely admitted that there may be others, equally or possibly more worthy, Whose names do not appear because of lack of definite and adequate information.

Simplicity, perspicuity, conciseness and accuracy have been the dominant aims and rules of its editor and writers. As a rule, the method pursued is the separate and topical, rather than chronological, as being more satisfactory and convenient for reference: that is, each subject is considered separately. To pass from subject to subject in the mere arbitrary order of time, is to sacrifice simplicity and, order to complexity and confusion. Hence no attempt at fine writing, no labored, irrelevant and long drawn accounts of matters, persons or things, which really need but a few plain words for their adequate elucidation, will be found in its pages.

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