, 1861-12-31

H.
The letter Of tile Honorable Isaac n
Arnold, Of Chicago, representative from
the State Of Illinois, TO the President
tile appointment Of Mr. Kellogg, of the same
State, upon the Committee for the establish
ment OF Western Armory, and the memorial
OF the citizens Of Chicago to the Government
setting forth the claims Of that city as tue pro-
rcr site, all show that the Northwest is thor
ouShlJ alive to the Importance Of securing
that armory for the great capital Of that re-
g1on.
The case Of Chicago is very strong one,
and its chief points are the following:
That the arsenal should be aome where in
the Northwest is generally admitted There
are three on the eastern side of the Allcghanv
namely, Wateryliet, West Point, aud Spring
field but the Northwest, whose population
exceeds that Of all loyal Eastern States, has
none. The western and northwestern from
tiers arc the points where arms will be requir~
ed for the next century; and at the beginning
Of the present War there were NO arms Of any
importance in the whole region. In ulippi;
there was the greatest difficulty in getting
even few thousand, and the troops when
posted Us sentrics were for long time COM
PEELED to do duty with clubs instead Of mus
kets.
The great security ct the works at Chicago
is another consideration strongly urged
From the seat Of domestic rebellion Chicago
is separated by hundreds Of miles Of territory
illed with brave and loyal people, From
foreign attack she is vulne5able only through
OF fertilization there, as Mr. Arnold shows,
wonld make the lake inaccessible. The i'm.
mcnse commerce Of the lakes, exceeding in the
whole the entire foreign commerce of the
country, could, in case need, be sheltered in
Lake Michigan, aud by means Of an arsenal
the merchant marine be rapidly converted in
to navy.
The economical view is not less strongly pre-
sentcd. The iron, copper, lead, aud lumber
could bc furnished, according to estimates
more chcaply in Chicago than elsewhere. Pro
visions arc cheaper; mechanical labor abun.
dant. Thirteen trunk lines Of railTay, count
| ing, with their connections, more than five
thousand miles, centre in Chicago. The tutil
| ty of reliance upon one road las been shown
| painfully enough in the Baltimore and Olit
| aud Baltimore and Washington roads. Bui
| besides the railroads, the water communica
| tion BY the great lakes and the Illinois cana
and rivers, al improbable at an expense en-
| tirely dispropOrtionrd to the value Of the re
| suits, is unsurpassed in the West.
I Pittsburgh is tile rival claimant with Chica
| GO. But in regard Of building material, 1un
! ber, iron, copper, lead, coal for smelling, pro
| visions, transportation, and security, the ad
| yantages seem to lean to Chicago. In skilled
labor, the two places are fully equal The ad
vantage OF Pittsburgh seems to be in motiy
| power, in the cost Of bituminons coal. Bn
/ Chicago pluekiy claims that this difference il
the cost Of coal for one purpose is more thai
| countcrbalanced by tic other important con
siderations suggested. And IS the Govern
ment OWLS ground ut Pittsburgh on whicl
The ufmory might be built, Chicago Will will
| linEly furnish ground free Of cost.
| Mr. Arnold's letter contains some very. CD
rious and nterestlngstatements millions,
/ be Eays, "aTe very properly expended annu
| ally in protecting and fostering the foreig:
| commerce Of the nation The expense to th
t national treasury Of the enormous trade o.
the great lakes is merely nominal; few light
houses and single rcyenue-cutter armed vii
q single gun Again he says: "A lin
drawn north and south through Pittsburgh ri
chow majority Of the loyal people Of th
! Union west Of that line. let this vast cour
| try, furnishing fully nc-half Of the soldier
now in the field, is entirely dependent upo
eastern armories for the manufacture Of arn,s
/ A National Azmory at Chicago during the LIS
year would have saved the Government mi
lions Of money, the Ires Of many gallaE
men, aIG would have materially shortened th
war;
E7ery year Of our history will confFm or
striking remark Of afr. ArnoIdFs: ssThe pri
yincial history Of the Northwest terminate
with the census Of 1907