The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-11-24
DAVENPORT.

Press, des scriptiye of Davenport. As the i'm.
pressions of a stranger, prejudicedin favor O
the Illinois side of the river, they can be re.
!. ceved without any allowance
Proeeediag ro the ercumf ference to the centreRock
] -fsfond shoaH pass into pirate ornership--
/ shoa3d be sold in small lots-Summer residences
Brideing the .Hisstssippi-Otd preeedents TO gtrt
i pfdee to TIE rants ofthe age--Good bye.
DAVENPORT, Oct 81, 1853.
come now to speak Of the centre around
which have arranged my groupings Of this
region-RocK ISLAND. Perhaps it would
have been more artistic had | commenced
with the central attraction and thence pro-
ceeded to the striking points which lie around
| it. but circumstances were more favorable to
a first survey of the sssurroundings,' and as
make no pretension to the Artists power, |
thought it of but little consequence to en-
quire after the laws which govern him ana
attempt their application to my unpretend-
ing though certainly very truthful linn
ings.
| Rock Island is about three miles in length
with an average width of half-a-mile and
Icontans therefore nearly one thousand acres.
The rapids commence some twelve miles
above it and terminate at its foot. On the
Illinois shore, Moline and the city of Rock
Island are opposite its extreme endings, and
the city Of Dar export and East Davenport
occupy nearly the same relation to it on the
Iowa side At the foot of the Island stands
old Fort Armstrong. built in 1916 by Col.
Mason, Z. S. A. Half-a-mile distant, on
the north side of the Island, is the residence
of the late Col. Davenport, of whose brutal
murder and the subsequent discovery, arrest
and execution of his murderers, the readers
/ Of the Press doubtless remember. These
I have constituted the only habitations upon
the Island until quite recently d number Of
small though neat tenements have been built
upon the upper end of it, for the accommo-
dation OF operatives in the Moline manufac-
tories The Island is covered with a very
dense growth ofyoung timber-oak, hickory,
ash, birch. &c. We learn from Mr.. LeClaire
that when he came to reside here, nearly forty
years ago, the Island was covered with for
est of large trees. The soldiers stationed in
the Fort and the earlier settlers of the coun-
try destroyed much of it for fuel and other
purposes, and finally fire was communicated
to the bed of leaves which had accumulated
there for ages, and swept the Island of its
crownng glory. The present growth of
timber dates its origin subsequent to this
| fire.
The Island, with the exception Of frac-
tional quarter section of about one hundred
and filty-fiye acres, which was given to Col
Davenport: belongs to the government. The
motives which led to withholding il from sale,
so long as Fort Armstrong was occupied and
there remained necessity for keeping an
armed force in this vicinity, are evident
enough. But the Fort was really abandoned
in 1885, and the policy which has induced
the government to retain its hold upon this
| Island, since that period, is not so apparent.
| Numerous efforts have been made to obtain
an order for it's sale, and it is to be feared, in
too many instances, with the view ofsccur-
ing the possession of it to few favored in
dividuals. Twice have such orders been ssu-
ed by the proper department, but on both oc-
casions the sale was not permitted to proceed
Under the circumstances it was we'll that it
| did not This magnificent body ofland lying
here in the midst of so much beauty and sur
rounded by towns which bid fair to become
the seat ofan immense commerce, should not
| be permitted to fall into the hands of mere
SPECTATORS. But the Island unquestionably
should pass from public to private ownership.
As it is, it answers no useful end to the gov
ernment or to individuals, and its being re-
tained BY the formerre retards in many ways the
prosperity of the neighboring towns and
country.
But how should it be sold! In what sub
divisions. and subject to what limitation Of
ownership! Certainly it ought not to be
mon opozed by some great money prince,
who here might build his castle and live in
more than ancient Baronial splendor and
Isolation The public sentiment here is de-
cdedly averse, as it ought to be, to any ar
Irancement that could lead to such result
II the Government consults the wishes otthc
people who are specially interested in the
subject, these lands will be sold in small sub
divisions. have heard it suggested that the
Island should be laid off into five or ten acre
| lots, with avenues and road-ways, and sold,
after full and general notice, TO the highest
bidder There are some eight hundred
acres, more or less, belonging to the govern
ment. If the general wish therefore Is
complied with and these lands be sold in
quantities as designated, or even in smaller
lots, every foot of the Island would undoubt-
edly be occupied in a very short time. CItl-
zens doing business in the surrounding towns
would purchase here for private residences.
and wealthy gentlemen from the south would
be attracted hither with their families by
the matchless beauty of the scenery and the
salubrty of the climate, for summer resi-
dcnce Such policy on the part ofthe gov
ernment would | am convinced, soon cover
! this Island with charming villas aud rem
der it most delightful place Of summer
resort.
| have in previous letters made alluSion to
the ralroad bridge that is to be thrown
across the Mississippi here, connecting the
| Chicago and Rock Island and the Missss-
/ sippi aud Missouri roads. The bridge crosses
the south channel to the Island, by three
spans, of $50 feet each, requiring two abut-
ments and two piers, and making 47b linear
feet of bridge. The bridge over the north
or Iowa channel springs from the island at
a point a short distance below the Daven-
port residence. and strikes the Iowa shore
nearly opposite LIE Claire's house. There
are seven spans on this side, five of which
| are $50 feet each, in the clear, and two OF
l20 feet each for the draw This requires
two abutments, one turn table pier and five
ordinary piers. making 1895 linear feet of
bridge superstructure, and 2s3 linear feet OF
drawbrdge superstructnre. Mr.. Warner,
one OF the company having the contract for
the mason work, is now here making ar
rancements for an early commencement OF
this stunendous undertaking. Stone d
N'