The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-08-23

From ne ". ". .Adcertisr.l
RAILROAD TO ROCK ISLAND-HINTs
TO EASTERN AND WESTERN CAPI-
TALISTs.
Every year and every month furnish increas.
gand more satisfactory evidence Of the psaciica-
bility and importance Of . great Western Rail
land. In order 10 ensure the speedy completionof
such work - fer westward this point, il only
necessary that The attention Of capitalists b cali
ed 10 the subject. They cannot fail 10 see the
advantages 10 be obtained from building snch .
road, when they examine the geography and to-
biography Of the country, and consider the various
movements Of The people Of Michigan, Indiana,
Illinois and Iowa, oil In reference TO the one
great object
I propose, il the present article, TO offer few
thoughts upon The ptacticab:lity and necessity oi
such work, leaving the other points 10 be dis.
cussed hereafter:
let. Rock Inland IL the only eligible point for
bridging The Mississiws Rirer. The distance
across the south arm Of the river, from the upper
corner Of Bailey 4 Boyle's Addition 10 the Island,
10 % chains, or about l4jO feet, and from point
and Mr.. navenport's house across the main chan
mel, ID only - chains or ,584 tee'; being but
little over a quarter Of mile, while the river on
an average IL about three iomrths oil mile wide.
Bv going up the north bank OF the Island, we oh.
tain point about mile below the head OF The
Island, and "a miles above Davenport, where the
distance across the main channel 10 still less, be-
ing only about u chains, 800 feet; while exact
~ opposite from The Island acr oss the south branch
10 the Illinois side, Is only CD feet. The banks,
both on the Island and on The main shore, al all
these points, are high and Of solid matevial--ihe
sub.stratnm being mostly sand and gravel--in
ssme places rock. liza bridge should ever be
built upon stone arches, extending from each
bank towards the middle ofthe river with draw
bridge between, (Which. considering the depth Il
by no means impracticsble) there Is sns,her very
important consideration with the regard 10 this
location; which II, that being Il the foot OF the
Rapids, when the river breaks up in the spring,
the ice, being broken In its course over the rapds
comes down In pieces, 80 that that there would be
less danger oiis carrying of injuring the b. dge
Such combination OF advantage, cannot we
think, be found at any other point on Tie upper
Mississippi river. TO bridge the Father Of Wat
eTs, will, indeed. be great work-0ne which, a.
FIRST, we would think hardly possible; but in the
march ofimprovement, who can doubt that il will
be done! And IL il not important that the Rail
Road westward should terminate ri that point
where II can be Gone ct hall the expense II would
cost ct sny othcrs
Mr.. Van Noriwick, Chief Engineer on the
Galena and Chicago Road, thinks that the only
P'oSVeaU'e Posut W. Vsue"6 sue MbssssstPp'S ~
at Rock Island.
I'd The Great Western Rail Road, crossing the
Rocky Mountains, will be north Of the latitude OF
the Ohio river. It's now generally admitted that
the Free States have Tor 4 number OF years been
rapidly gaining over the Slave States IN population
education, wealth, and every species Of social and
political improvement. That they will continue
10 do 50, until slavery is abolished in those States
there can be no doubt. And even after the South.
ern States shall have succeeded In the efforts they
are now making 10 rid themselves oil this evil, II
will be many years before they will completely
recover from The effects OF its influence in the
mean time, the rapidly growing North will de-
mand medium oil communication through the
whole extent Of the country from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. Long before The South will be able
10 build . road over the Rocky Mountains, the
numerous roads now building in New ork, Ohio,
Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, all working west
ward, converging As they near the Mississippi,
and crossing at Rock Island, will force way
over plain and mountain into The valley Of the
Sacramento River.
In future article will be considered the vari.
Gus movements OF The people in reference 10 this
questionable continuation Of The eastern Road
westward through northern lndiana-ihe road
trcm Chicago 10 Galena-from Chicago 10 Aurora
from Peru TO Rock Island, and from Davenport
westward.
Rock Island, Aug. 10, I9l9.