The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-12-14


by ard acting in behalf Of the citizens Of the
city of Rock Island, and town of Moline. in
the State Of Illinois, and the CITY of Dayen-
port, in the State of Iowa, respectfully rep
resent:
That new Armory and Arsenal for the
mauufacture, safe keeping and distribution
| of arms and munitions Of war, are of press
ing national necessity, demanded alike by
| the present wants and future reauiremcu,e
Of the government !; and that the prepon-
| derating growth Of the North West, as well
as the absence Of any such establishment
within it's Hmits, Indicate that such an Ar
mory should be located upon the Upper
Mississippi.
Believing tha. the Island Of Rock Island,
in the State OF Illinois, in ths centraii,y and
safety Of it's geographical position, the facil
ities il affords for transportation to and from
other parts of the country, the chenpness and
abundance Of its motive power and the ma
terials used in the manufacture of arms, in
the supply and cheapness Of labor and food, +,
in the healthfulness, spaoiousness and gen
eral eligibility Of its site, and the possession
and ownership thereof by the government
free Of cost or axpense-enjoys advantages
equal, il not superior to those possessed by
any other place in the North West for the
location OF such an estabishment-your
memorialists would respectfully ask your
attention to brief notice Of these advan.
| tages.
LOCALITY AND HISTORY.
Rock Island is situated in the Mississippi
River, at the foot Of the supper Rapids, !"
10 latitude Al deg. 81 min. north, and long
nd -
The extreme length of the Island from cast
TO west, which is the direction Of the river
| ut this points two and seven eighths miles,
and its average width half mile. Its area
embraces nine hundred acres Of land, of
| which seven hundred and two acres are pub
lie lands belonging to the United States,
and known as the % For, Armstrong Res
ervatlon." In its topography it 10 singu-
lsrly and beautifully marked. Its base is
Si!uvian Limestone, which at several points
approaches the surface and affords superior
rock for lime and building materials. Ike
surface is gently uudulatlng, and slopes
gradually, and more or less regularly to its
northern and southern shores. The soil is
Of rich sandy loam, snd with the excop-
ton Of q patch or two Of Few acres in ex-
tent, where the stone reaches the surface, is
susceptible Of the most profitable cuitiva-
ton, and is now covered with luxuriant
vegetation, and an open grove OF thrifty
forest trees. The highest stages OF food iu
the river never overflow any rortion Of the
lands. The shores, which range from thirty
to forty feet above low water mark, are
pebbiy and rocky, unusually bold and some
times abrupt. AT the western extremity,
especially, and around the Old Fort, wall
OF prec,pi,ous ledges lines the shore and
gives name 60 the leland.
Fort Armstrong, which is located on the
lower end Of the Island, was built and oc-
cupied in 1916 a. . military and trading
post. The whole Island was reserved IN
ls25 for government purposes. 10 1886 IL
Was evacuated by the lroops, and Kept as .
depot for arms and military stores. In Is
80 i, w.s made the objecs Of special sur
vey and the subject OF report 10 the War
Department BY Major Bell, Of the Ordnance
Deparsmen,, as feasible and desirsble
site for Western Armory, and again, in
lsi3, its advantages for that purpose we're
reported TO Congress BY Commissioners ap-
pointed BY the President, under the pro-
visions Of "a act Of Congress OF Sept, 3,
1881. And again, siece that da,e,it has been
the suhjecs Of recommendation to the gov.
ernmeni for the same public use. IL is now.
a. il has bees since Is ceased 70 be Q depot
fer arms and army stores, in charge Of the
QuartermAster's Department, and under
the special keeping Of as agent appointed
for that purpose.
Afeu year. since some squstters entered
uc.p portions Of the leland aud claimed
rights ~ pre- r,ors ef public lands, but
beng psosesated aod convicted IN the
United States Court fer irsspass, the claims
and possession we're abandoned. Ice gov
srsnsas lands ass nou unsocuPisd, savs by