New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-22
FROM ROCK ISLAND.
,~onaenee Of The N. Y. Tribune.

Dss,es er<epes Of The N. Y. Tribune
Rock ISLAND, Friday Feb. 22, 1856.
have thought few details Of the present coh-
1ition and future prospects OF this ourshing place
might be of interest to your million readers, par
ticularly as it is evident that at no distant day
Rock Island must become great manufacturing
town. The only valuable water-power In the State
is in its immediate neighborhOod and entirely uu-
der its eentrol; and within convenient distance
say from FIVE to twelve miles-an abundance Of ex-
eelsnt coal is found, which is mined with such ia
cilty as to be sold here at profit at from ~ 90 to
AZ per tun. The result of thsee singular adyant-
ages H. that factories Of many necessary articles
are already established; and almost every month
sees new enterprises commenced and in success
fnl operation.
Won win recollect that Rock Island stands at
the only point where it is practicable to tridge the
Mississippi with safety. The railroad bridge,
stupepdous work. is now nearly finished and VIII
undoubtedly be completed in March. The long
Winter which has kept the riyer firmly closed for
no many weeks has been of great advantage to
xAe builders, since it has given them safe oppor-
tunty to transport all necessary material upon the
zee and 10 complete their structure in the strongest
and most durable manner. At the breaking up of
the river there is now no doubt that the work will
be finished 20 far as to render 1t entirely safe from
1rift lee This bridge completes the railroad connec-
zion with the Iowa Road to Council Bluffs, now In
course of construction, and already operated to
Iowa CITY, distance of sixty miles west from this
town. Rock Island stands at this important point,
and is the gate to the great railroad travel, west
Of the river, stretching toward the Pacific.
The water-power at Moline three miles east OF
the city, is secured by dam from the Illinois
sbore 10 Rock Island; and it furnishes an mex
haustible power, which can be made available for
more than three miles on each shore. 1t is there
fore evident, (from the beginning already made
that tsis power will be used for manufacturing
purposes through this entire length; for between
Moline and this city there are already In opera
ton -four mills saw mills, paper mills, planning
mills, sash and door factories, pow factories, ag-
ricultural implement factories, wooden-ware fac
tories. sc. For the products Of these a ready
market is found at this place, whence they are
distributed through the vast regions north and
west 50 rapidly filling up with an enterprising and
Industrious population.
The freights up the Mississippi to this point
from the mouth OF the Tennessee, are great deal
less than from New-Orleans and Mobile to New
York and Boston. IL is evident, then the expenses
of freighting cotton TO this place being so much in
its favor, that when capital becomes more sbund
ant cotton manufacturers will be established here,
by river. great facilities for distributing merchan-
aIse in every direction. The abundance and cheap
pess of coal has already resulted In the establish
ment Of steam mills in this city. There are two
iron founderies here employing capital OF over
SlOO. 600. now in operation. They are always
overcrowded with work two or three months In
advance of their capacity 10 supply orders, not
withstandng the large additions constantly made
to the force employed. Steam engines Tor hour
mills, saw mills and various manufacturing pur-
poses are supplied from these founderies to the
country extending northwest aud west oOO miles.
In the city proper there are steam -four mills,
plow factory aud ship yard, and other branches
Of manufactures already established. These
are prosperous establishments-tor how could
they fail TO be otherwise with good coal at
only 81 so 10 81 per tun On the west of the
city at another suburb there is found the village
of Camden on Rock River, where the water
mower il very valuable, and where there are dour
and saw mills aud other manufacturing establish
ments.
The City Of Rock Island is the only point where
the varions products OF this manufacturing industry
can be disposed of to the great country above, II
sn;oys the singular advantage, too, OF the best
.ss.mbost landing for many miles on the river,
and becomes, therefore, an important steamboat
,,oyt An these considerations show how important
tb;s tavsn will become in the rapid settlement OF
a.. <ountry It's growth is marvellous. In 1888
:. .ssJ l(lO populatiOn; in 1855, 5000; and this
n,awih i founded upon the sure basis Of manu-
sssstnr;,g industry. 1t is q sober calculation
ss.rsfo,e that ia ten yesrs il will have popu-
iat,onsof between Goo and 5O,oeV. 1hat esu-
n,ste know will seem wild 70 those VINO are oniy
SSn;I;ay with the slow accretious Of Eastern towns
n.. 49, ,nshipe tide of emigration INTO the fertile
- sr Iowa ard Minnesota carries Win II All
A.''@ - r ...;t;~ad ife and they are tft mere