Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-11-14
finc corrs Of men, used to borderlife and
good shooting, whose business it will b
70 harrass the enemy by picking OF
their officers.
The Arsenal Question.

buque neighbors are taking proper
view OF the Arsenal question. The fol-
loving article from the Union, is very
much to the point, and we hope TO see
i, and other papers OF the State, raising
a loud and unanimous voice ia favor Of
locating the Arsenal on the Island Of
Rock Island. Its location at that point
is Of Importance to the State. We Cal!
the attention Of our readers to the Du-
bn4ue Unions article:
LOCATION or A NATIONAL AaMORY.-
We see IN the Chicago Tribune of yes
terday, copy Of a memorial to Congress
by a COMMITTEES Of Chicagoians, recon-
mending that town as the most eligible
location 10 the North West for the new
National Armory, TO replace the one re-
Gently destroyed by the rebels at Har.
per Ferry.
The Chicagoians are vide awake to
their own interests, whether the inter
ests Of the Government and the county
in general will be advanced or not. The
memolialis,s we refer to, seem to think
that Pittsburg is the only rival they
have in securing the location OF the pro-
posed Armory and Arsenal. They ex
hiblt no little shrewdness in ignoring the
claim OF Rock Island in the Mississippi
river, between Davenport in Iowa, and
Rock Island city in Illinois. But to our
mind, being entirely disihterested as to
all the localities, Rock Island is far
more eligible site for the proposed Armo-
ry and Arsenal, than any other place
mentioned, aud for the following reasons:
Rock Island is isolated in The Missis.
sippi river, near the centre Of the great
North Vest, in magnificent coal re-
gion, and accessible north and south by
the river, and east and west by railroad.
II has AL immense and cxhaustiess water
power, enough TO turn ali the machinery
on the continent. But if steam is pre-
ferrcd, it Is right in the region OF coal
where any quantity Can be obtained at
the lowest price.
The transportation Of iron and iron
ore from the iron mines Of Missouri to
Rock Island by the river, would no. cost
over one halt what it would to transport
the same by river and railroad to Chi
cago Coal would also have to be
shipped to Chicago. 10 fact every thing
needed for the works would have to be
shipped and transported there over
hundreds of miles, whereas, at Rock
Island, coal would be at hand and
IRON easily obtaiued, and an immense
water power always available, which in
itself is great consideration.
The Rock Island site would be
preferable, also, because it is away from
the frontier. Chcagois to all intcnts
and purposes. a frontier city. 1t is ca
silly accessible to hostile force from
the British possessions, and for this rea
son alone would be a very improper
place to locate National Armory. The
Chicago memoralists are aware of this
fact, and cndeavor to parry its force BY
saying
s. In case Of a war with England, the
tug-boats, propelers, steamers and
other vessels on the lakes could quickly
be" nhn1fs, Aria armed from our Nation.
al arsenas."
lsn't this rich Place great Nation
al Army in such position that in case
OF war, "the tug boats, propellers, steam
ers and other vessels on the lakes"
would have to be taken by the Govern
ment at enormous prices to the owners,
and armed and fitted out as vessels of
war. to defend an Arsenal which, if To-
Gated at Rock Island, wonld be entirely
inaccessible to foreign foe from any
quarter.
Another consideration in favor of
Rock Island is, that the site is OF ample
room to' all purposes needed BY the
Gove'nmcnt, and already belongs to it.
1t Is so located also that it cannot be
encroached upon by the neighboring
cities. 1t is also more central than Chi.
cago-m"re central to the region TO be
supplied with arms than Chicago.
Let any one look at the map and be will
see 1t at glance
We have mentioned that the Rock
Island site, contain. g over seven hun.
dred acres, already belongs to the Gov
eminent. To purchase this space, or
less, on the sands or in the swamps of
Chicago. would cost more money than
would erect and complete the necessary
torgcs, foundrics, mills and other works
on. Rock Island, and herein would be
great saving.
For the above and other reasons, we
cannot wait now to enumerate, Rock Is.
iand Is To our mind, by far the most
eligible place in every respect for the
proposed Arsenal. But We are sure the
sharp men Of Chicago will make dcs.
pera'c effort to secure il for themselves.
We hope, however, that they will not
succeed. Their success would be q sad
misfortune to the Government and to
the county at large.