The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-13
UNITED STATES ARSENAL.
THE NEW GOVERNMENT ARSENAL AT ROCK
ISLAND.

The Island Of Roc Isldnd-The Nep Location OF the Hir
pn's Ferry Arseaal, dc.
having been ordained by the powers at Washington
that the United States Arsenal at Harpers Ferry be re-
moved 10 Rock Island, deem 1t not mpertnent that
your numerous readers be informed somewhat of its
condition well of the country in the immediate vi
cnity.
The island o. Ror Island situated In the Mississippi
river Isl miles west OF Chicago and between the cities
Of davenport, in Iowa, and Rock Island in Illinois, is
about three miles long and contains 200 acres OF land,
three fourths Of which is covered with a beautiful
growth Of oak walnut hickory ash and elm timber Of
various sizes, mostly Of sapling growth, however In
some portions the soil s adapted to farming and is cult
waited portion Of it also arabic on account of
the the surface Of the limestone rock which
underlies the entire island.
~ this island about hundred and sixty belongs
10 Geo. L. Davenport, Esq of this city it having been
purchased OF government by his father late government
agent On this there are improvements in the way OF
fences buildings, &c. This purchase lies on the Iowa
side Al the head OF the island there thirty
ave acres which given by government TO Mr. Sears
IN consideration Of certain improvements made by him
on the rapids. The balance of the tract belongs 10
Uncle sam.
Al the extreme lower end, which presents perpen.
dcuM wall OF limestone twenty five feet high, i
the loEhion OF Fort Armstrong, u place OF Some
no,orieiy during the Black Hawk war 1t built Of
hewn logs 1916 evacuated by government
troops until June 1885 II the headquarters of Gen.
Scott 1892 AT the time he made tho first treaty with
the Indians for the first anis purchased in Iowa. The
remains Of this extreme Northwestern fortress
slsl Ct few biockhoIses pierced for and mus
kets, and the stone magazine. II Is Of the most
beautiful points IN the United states Indeed know OF
very few superior 10 IT, Standing at that point gets
view Of the entire city Of Davenport place of Is 900
inhabitants; the city OF Rock Island, with its
5000 people, and long range of noble bluffs
both the Iowa and Illinois sides covered with bcaut
fu groves and dotted here and there with the elegant
residences Of the city people
The main channel OF the Mississippi tho Iowa
side and spanncd by the massive bridge of the Mil
waukoe and Mississippi Railroad Company, the track Of
which the lower portion of the island and
the sousb bridge" as Is Called into the city of Rock
Island The eastern channel or slough" was
vigabe and is damned at the upper end of the island
at Moline anording water power, sufficient
TO turn all the machinery in the State. Moline is
o city of some 5000 population, and is busy
manufacturing point, very much resembling those neat
little manufacturing hamlets in New England. The dam
sinded to belongs 70 company Of Syracuse men, be.
spring rise, but will be replaced soon
This not the first time this island has been looked
commission, consisting Of Colonel Long, Of United
states Typographical Engineers, General Armsead and
view of establishing arinory. They left the mat
ter in the hands of an engineer named Ogilvie,
who reported in full to the War Department,
regard to the matter The principal objection was that
communication cut OF for too long period during
the year There railroad communication then
now. The objection has now disappeared We have
abundant railroad communication, and prospect OF more.
The climate at this point is unsurpassed in the health
mel. fhn nro1 nphn lad
Both water and steam can be used as a motive power
at comparatively small expense. The finest banks of bi
luminous coal in the country are within few miles,
with which there is communication by rail
There certainly wisdom In the projected change and
we hope to see il contaminated at no distant day Much
Of interesting nature might be said concerning
the matter but let this suffice for the present.
THE GOVERNMENT ARSENAL AT ST. LOUIS.
OUR st. LOUIS CORRESPONDENTS.
UNITED STATES ARSENAL
ST. Louis, May s. 1851
The wcy tie arsenal Rclieued and the Illinois Leg
lr,,ve-De,crirton Of the Arsenat-hs Inrreg,abily--
Hs Covrsso~-7zo Missouri Quotc Of Too1s-77e Hon
Guard--Soeaig IN and Armin9 IF tie Soldiers, dc &c.
desire to add to the copious reports in your pape
OF military movements throughout the country, a word
relating TO the position OF affairs in this most loya
Union city Our own slow going journals do not give
what is Transporting about them in ineligible shape
and popers in other cities have been grossly deceive
removal Of large quantity Of muske,s cannon and
tr5gos on the government chartered steamer City o
Alton The work OF removing the arms was done
wholly by the otce.s in garrison here aided by the
lun,eer regiments now encamped within the Arsenal
wals The boat had secession batteries to pass and
the gates were not beleagured by a secession mob-se
ctssonsts indeed are 50 few with that they would
no, dare raise finger opposition to any movement, the
federal authorities care to make.
our Arsenal is by long odds the largest aud finest in
the United States and upasses other public repositories
Of arms far Fortress Monroe excels all other or
fed posts. It's walls ten feet high and three
feet thick, of massive limestone, and enclose
thirty eight or forty acres OF beautifully
sopng land, extending from Carondelet avenue
to the Mississippi In grass and trees, and nicely ar
ranged paths and walks il equals any gentleman's park
have ever The foundres and storehouses soldiers
barracks hospital and prison house. powder magazine,
dragon stables and officers dwellings, with their hand
some yards and gardens, make up perfect village in
size These buildings OF elegant architectural de-
signs and proportions and even the sentry boxes
constructed in tasteful aud Ornamental manner The
grounds drained by egers running 10 the river aud
abound In wells ~ Gear pure wn,er. The whole Arsenal
urcperty is worth to tho government n the least ctc
atiou tnTte millions Of doarp and IL Is now 10 sucn
Missouri could not take it, and would no. dare attack IT,
AZ nearly all available points earth forks have been thrown
up and mounted with c0lumblads and mortars huge
new building lust outside OF the main gate on Carondc
let avenue occupied by two companies of regulars,
who have constructed strong earthwork, topped with
Serd bags and mounted with Formidable pieces or ord
nance other elevated position some OF them quar-
ter Of mile from the Arsenal occupied By voun.
teers outposs and N need be, will be enirenhed and
mounted with cannon.
Gov. jackson, you recoect, refused tho Presidents
reauisition for volunteers, but more than Assour
quota has been made up 10 this city and are nov under
arms Their organization Is as follows
Nm
First regiment Hon r. r. Blair, Colonel ........ 900
Second regiment, Henry bernstein, Colonel 90
Third regiment franz slgel, Colonel ......... 200
Fourth regiment, Nicholas Schuttncr, Coonel... SO
Fifth regiment now forming ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 500
Artillery corps, Major Schaefier. ,............ 100
United States regulars, infantry aud Artillery. 400
-
T,tal ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $50
Ths exclusive Of 40 regulars ut Jefferson barracks
nearly the largest barracks In the Union They are IN
sght al the Arsenal and within I've minutes distance oy
tbs iron Mountain Railroad Colonel Blsirs regiment
has haen removed TO the barracks. II compsed o.