The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-04-27

National Armory
Our cotemporary Of the r. |. Republican
is again agtating the subject of Nationa
Armory on Rock Island His interest ha.
been elected by the appearance Of the fol
lowing item as reported in the Congressional
proceedings of the 30th ult:
Ma. Sre ART, from the Committee on Public Lands
10 whom were referred bill 10 authorize the sale o
Rock Island, In the State Of Illinois. and for other pnr
poses and the petition OF Dav b. Sears praying the
riet OF presumption 10 certain tract Of land settled
and improved by him, reported the bin back with an
amendment, III the form Of substtutc.'
Some years ago Government broached
the subject Of establishing an Armory in the
West, when we took up the cudgel in de-
fence of Rock Island and scarcely G Gazette
was spread to the breeze that did not have
National Armory inscribed upon it. We
believed then, and we think now, that il
ever it be the intention of the Government
to establish an Armory in the West, Rock
Island should be reserved for that purpose
Government sent commission out at
the time alluded to above, to examine the
location Of the Island and report upon its
ndaptatpn to the purposes OF National
Armory. Their report was favorable, with
the exception Of the difficulty of shipments
to and from that point. The river being
closed by ice part Of the year and nayiga-
tion almost suspended during another por-
ton by the lowness of the water. These
were serious drawbacks and after the eX-
animation of other localities in the West,
the matter was finally dropped, we believe,
without eftecting anything. The impedi-
ment mentioned was a serious one, but it has
at length been surmounted by our Railroads,
and now the Island stands inviting our G Gov-
ernment, by every argument that can be
used in favor of National Armory, to To-
cate upon it such an establishment.
The Importance of this | land, from its
location between the two growing and.
eventually to be extensive, cities of Daven-
port and Rock Island; its high, dry and
beautiful situation; with the great backbone
Railroad of the Union crossing it, recon-
mends it to Government as the most appro-
pirate site in the Union for the location of
national work, while at the same time, it
presents to the speculator broad field for
magnificent operations in his peculiar line.
Gen. Jessup in letter addressed Hon.
Jeff Davis last winter, in reference to the
portion of this Island reserved for military
purposes, about 739 acres, says:
The reserve is 10 longer necessary for
works Of mere frontier defence; but from its
natural as well as artificial advantages, it is
the best site in the whole country between
the Allegheny and the Rocky mountains II
National Armory, and for an Arsenal for
the manufacture OF wagons, ambulances,
clothing, equipage and equipments for the
use OF the army"
If our Government fail to Immediately
locate an Armory on this Island, we hope it
may throw the land into market and not
permit it longer to remain Il barren between
these two fourishing cities, of no utility to
anv one but the individual who holds the
sinecure of living there, under the iarcical
idea of protecting the old logs that remain
of the venerable Fort Armstrong. In either
case, however, we say, and all who know
the man and the circumstances affirm, that
D. B.. Sears is entitled to the pre-emptlon
Of that portion of the Islandwhichhe claims
and by right Congress should grant it te
him. We shall have something more te
say upon this subject.