Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-11-08

10 the Honorable, the Serdte and til.
House Of Representatives. ofthe Unit
efj %f,,fae

To The Honorable, the Serae and the
House Of Representatives. ofthe Unit
ed States
The undersigned, a committee, ap.
pointed by and acting in behalf Of the
citizens OF the city of Rock Island and
the town OF Moline, in the State Of Ill
nois, and tie city Of Davenport, in the
State OF Iowa, respectfully represent.
That new emory and Arsenal for
the manufacture, safe keep ng and dis
tnbutlun OF arms aud munlti, ms OF war,
are OF pressing natio;al necessity, de
manded alike 10y the present wants and
future requirements OF the G varument !;
an E: that the prepoDderating growth Ct
the Nor,l, West, as we'll as the absence
of any such establishment within its
limit-, Indicate tina: such an Armo,
should be located upon the Upper Mis-
sissippl.
Believing that the Island of Rock Is
land, III the State OF Ilinois-in the cen
trai'ty and safety OF its geographical
position, the facilities il affords TO,
transportation to aud from other parts OF
thecountrv the cheapness and abundance
OF its motive power and the mater ais
used IN the manufacture OF arms, 10 the
supply and cheapness Of labor and food
in the healthtulness, spacionsness aud
general eligibility OF its site, aud the
possession and ownership thereof by the
government free OF cost or expense
enjoys advantages equal, if not superi.
or to those p. .sessed by any other place
in the North West for the location OF
such an est,hliehment-your memorial
lists would respectfully ask your atten-
ton 10 ttief notice of these advan-
tages.
LOCALITY AND HISTORY
Rock Island is situated in the Missis.
sippi river, at the foot of the "Upper
Rapids" in latitude AZ 81 north, and
Longitude l3o 40 west OF w sh,ng,on.
The extreme length Of the Island from
east TO west, which is the direction OF
the river ut this point, is two and seven
eighths miles, aud Its ,verage width bali
mile. Its area embraces nine humid
red acres OF land. OF which seven hun
dted and two acres !; . public lands be-
longing to The United States, and known
as the fort Armstrong Reservation. !"
ln'ts top pgraphy il is sigularly aud 5eau,i
fully marked. Its base il Siiuvian Lime.
stone, which at several points approaches
the surface aud affords superior rock Tor
lime and building materials. The sur.
face 10 gently uudulatlng, and slopes
g'aiusIly, aud more or less regularly to
lis northern aud southern shores. The
SO is 0, rich sandy loan, aud with the
exception OF patch or two of q few
acr IN extent, where the stone reaches
the surface, is susceptible OF the most
profitable cultivation, and is now cover
ed with luxur,ant vegetation and an open
grove OF thrftv forest trees. The high
est stages Of flood in the river never
overflow any portion OF the lands.
The shores, which range from fifteen to
forty feet above low water mark, are
pebbIy and rocky, unusually bold and
sometimes abrupt. At the western en-
tremty especially, and around the old
Fort, : wall Of PERCEPTIONS lodges lines
the shore and gives name to the leland.
Fort Armstrong, which 10 located on
the lowsr end Of the Islsnd, vas built
and occupied in 1915 as military and
trading po~t. The whole, Island ,sss re-
ssfvfdiee 1925 a. Qlelt pSrpoaes,
odfk i.ss1xa II III tnen .n34t'fda susdjfzs