New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-14
WESTERN ILLINOIS-IOWA
Editorial Correspondence Of The N. Y. TRIBUNE.
D.Vrrpopr Ioua In 70

mighty bllSse5ppl now neb'uI hianociou W i0o
across which loaded wagons ale constantly passing
and which an army of one hundred thousand men
might crots in fearless security. The weather has
been gradually moderatDg for week until 1t ls to-day
quite Spring ike, and rivuets of liquid mud braw
ing down every street that leads to the river and form
ing pools and sheets of turbd water above its rocky
like covering. Just above the principal crossing from
Rock Island THE town company is taking cut blocks
of ice of generous thickness for next Summers use,
and there are other indications that the cold of
the last month has been felt here also From the Illinois
bluffs some three or four miles distant, are bring
ing in wagon loads of COAL dug from their several
farms-or fhe late "cold snap" has made fuel scarce
and dear here as almost everywhere else. The whle
yapor from hundred steam-boers rises on either side
of the river and in the multitude Of new buildings as
compared with those which have seen five years or
over and the stir of prosperous business on every side
there is ample evidence that great and fourishing
community is soon to cover most of the within my
present range Of vision. Let try 80 to describe 1t
as to answer the natural inquiries Of enterprsng ener
getc Eastern mechanics lsborers, merchants and 9TH
eIs who may be contemplating emigration to the West
Rock ISLAND (proper) is something less than mile
long and perhaps hundred rods wide, dividing the
Mississippi into two rapid and unequal streams, OF
which by far the larger passes 1t on the west The
sland was once military post, and is still mainly
Government property, though some one has engineered
through Congress bill whereby some sixty acres OF
the upper end has been handed over to an individual
on hollow pretense of presumption. These acres are
worth at least thousand dollars each, as they COM
mand the immense water-pOwer created by damIning
that arm of the river which between the island
and the Illinois Shore The residue of the island ought
forthwith to be sold in lots at auction to the highest
bidder so as speedily to be covered by thrifty popu-
ation of manufacturers and artisans; but, though it
has repeatedly been advertised it still remains unsod
the gale being regularly cOuntermanded at the last
moment bv an order from Washington; and presume
some one will soon worry through Congress bill CIV
ing him preemptioR to the beet of it for thousandth
part of its value. The preemped or northeast quarter
of the island is already studded by great sawn and
by the dwellings of those employed in them.
Directly opposite, or east of the upper end of the
leland, on the Illinois bank, is MOLINE, an active
manufacturing village of some two or three Thousand
Inhabitants, while grand Railroad Bndge-the first
bridge which ever spanned the Mississippi-connects
Illinois with Iowa the lower end OF the island,
and is daily traversed by trains connecting the Mssis
sippi and Missouri Railroad Through central Iowa.
with the Chicago and Rock Island, which runs hence
east by north to the great Railroad focus at the head
of Lake Michigan. But, in addition to these, new
Railroad is nearly graded south eastwardy from Rock
Island to Peoria some fifty miles distant, piercing
rich and vast coal-bed ten or twelve miles from
this point.
Directly below the Railroad Bridge the important
cities of Rock ISLAND on the Illinois, and DAVENPORT
on the Iowa side of The Mississippi whereof the former
claims some ten twelve and the latter no less than
fifteen thousand inhabitants. The latter is relatively
new though Rock Island is hardly dozen years old
The whole region was occupied by Indians, and was
the theaer of the famous Black Hawk War, less than
twenty five years ago. And no past growth of these
Young aspirans can have equaled that which lies d.
rectly before them.
The curent language of the people of these cities
at least of some of them-impies a jealous rivalry
which is simply absurd. They, with Moline and the
city of wheels which is TO cover the island and
perhaps another settlement on the Iowa side above
what is now Davenport, will form virtually one city
within twenty year,. And even now mans arms
might as nationally be Jealous of his legs. Davenport
s better located for trade than Rock Island, since
produce in this quarter looks eastward, not westward,
for market while Rock Island has like natural and
permanent advantage in the prosecution of manufac-
tures, through her proximity 10 Coal Coal-beds dot
this secton of Illinois, but none are found so far
north on the Iowa margin of the Mississippi; so
that fuel is always somewhat and at times de-
cdedly dearer in Davenport. The fact that Coal is
found on or near the Mississippi but little above
this point, combined with the vast watefpower here
existing, the extraordinary facilities for crossing
the great river, and the rare fertility and
atractiveness of the country surrounding it in every
direction, marks this for of the great manufactur-
ing and commercial centers of the Mississippi Valley.
Already there are more steam mills and iron founderes
within sight here than at any other point above St.
Louis, with two large and excellent Plow Factories
lone at Rock Island, the other at Molnel, Bucket
Factory &c. The natural advantages of this point
are but little if any, inferior to those of Pittsburgh,
which already begins to rival in steam, though not
in smoke. And / have reliable assurances that thou
sands more of capable, energetic industrious, TEN
perate artisans and mechanics would find ready EN-
poymen here at good wages, with food and fuel cheap
and abundant and nothing absolutely dear but house.
room. presume thousand modest dwellings, would
be taken up rext Spring at rents which would pay
iWslve to twenty per cent on their cost Good btu
unous Coal costs usually about 80 per tun; Wheat
low commands ~ and Corn 10 cents per bushel, while
Meat and Vegetables are naturally cheaper here than
in New-York. | am confident that this point land of
course Quincy, Burlington, Galena, Dubuque, and
other points where Railroads touch the Mississippi as
we'll profers ample work and good recompense for 1t
10 almost every department of skilled labof-and to
upskilled also. Almost every class OF iron workers,
coal.miners furnace and fcundery-nen, carpenters.
Lrick-mskers quaIrymeD, masons, joners, sawyers,
choppers. &C can here find ready and satisfactory
employment early in the Spnng In time there most
be great wooer and cotton mills at this point but not
vet A Roo, and Shoe Factory employ inc thousand