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

~ we'll Is many OF the luxuries, than We
oaas coaeeoe. Thousaeds OF Ae1lase'
worth Of provisions are annually ship
ped BY siver end rail to the larger cities.
Our market IL constantly stocked With
everything desirable 10 the way Of sub
sistsnce. Fuel, % item Of great impor-
lance 10 western community, 10 cheap
er than At any point in the western
country without any exception. The
inexhaustible supply OF coal in Rock Is
iaod County, with the fine quality and
large quantity OF wood, readily accounts
for this.
A favorable location for health is also
an important consideration where
large number Of persons are to be en-
pIoyed on the public works. Rock Is
land is believed TO be ~ healthy as any
point in the West. Resting upon bed
Of limestone and elevated high above
the clear waters OF the Mississippi, ex
posed to no marshes, stagnant pools or
sluggish streams, and surrounded BY
highly cultivated prairies aud open
woodlands, it possesses all the requisites
to health and enjoy ment.
The exceedl heallhfulness of this
point is clearly shown by the mortuary
statis:ics Of the cities aud towns in its
immediate vicinity, as also by like statis-
tics OF the Island itself, 10 the possession
Of the Government.
On this point the board Of officers ap
pointed 10 select a site for Western
Armory in their report to Congress IN
| l643, say:
1.-THE site is remarkably healthy as
cvinced by the reports now on file 10 the
office Of the United States Surgeon Gen
eral, 10 relation to the health Of the
Troops at tie various Military Posts OF
the United States, and covering period
of more than twenty years, during which
the number upon the sick list At Fort
Armstrong was proportionably less than
any other Post in the " estern county,"
Indeed, so widely known and sppre-
ciated are the purity aud salubrity OF the
atmo, pherc and climatic elements Of
his vicinity, that it has become favor
ite resort and retreat from the epidemics
and periodic sickness to which residents
of the crowded cities of the west are
subject during the sumner aud fail
months.
SECURITY OF LOCATION.
BY reference to the accompanying
map it will be observed that the Island
OF Rock Island is most eligibly located
as to security from instruction or for
eign attack. Surrounded by popula
ton which is noted for its intelligence
energy and loyalty, mobs which SO ire
: quently arise IN our larger cities endan
gering the lives and property Of citizens
; would never be originated here. Ii
times of great excitement, when TIT
wild passions of men cannot easily b,
; restrained, An Armory or Arsenal con
!, tanning large deposits Of instruments o
war.are, is usually the first object t
D which the mob dire cts its attention
And as to foreign attack, no fear neet
! ever be appreheuded. The distance from
Chicago, the nearest point foreign TO-
y can possibly reach, is l8l miles. la th
J. present complicated condition of GU
domestic and foreign relations, the secu
u rty Of location is subject which wi
) doubtless receive, AS it deserves to, tn
most careful attention QfyGppggGss. n .ll1l
Respectfully Submit that no one consid
Grafton surmounts this in magnitude.
CONCLUSION.
In connection with the advantage
. which We think belong to Rock Islam
; as site for an Armory, because Of it
= safety during torci On wars and interna
= rebellion, its position az a central poin
Tor the West, aud rapidly increasing
4 population OF the Northwest, shout,
a receive attention. BY reference to th,
. map hereto attached, it will be seen tina
h Rock Island is in the very heart of tn
NoItl west, both as to its biographies
> position and population. Taking
Rock Islaud) as a cen re, and sweeping
circle around t, with radius OF thre
q hundred and thirty miles, and we TAX
. in the whole Of Indiana with popula
ton of 100000; Illinois, 100000
Missouri, 100000 Wisconsin, 500,
- 000; Iowa, $4,000; Minnesota, 10,
600 the western half Of Michigan, 300,
900, aud nearly the entire settled por
:. tons of Kansas and Nebraska, 100000
:. Thus it will be perceived, that it is tn,
= geographical centre Of eight States ant
one Territory, already containing ovel
! six millions Of people and rap dy in
creasing. On the direct route from New
York to California aud Oregon vi,
:, Council Bluffs, Omaha City aud Fo,
= kearney, which has been selected al
the shortest and best one practicable b,
The thousands who, during the las
twelve years have sought homes upor
the Pacific coast, the route over which
the great overland daily mail for Cal,
: 'ornia now travels, and by which tn.
: telegrapbic wires are laid which bring.
the Atlantic and Pacific together; til.
only point on the Upper Mississippi
where, by reason of the railroad bridge
the interruption of transit either by tn
: formation 10 the fall, or the breaking ul
OF the ice in the spring, is avoided.
These facts taken 10 connection will
; lis facilities for transportation and man
ufacturlng, the chcapness, abundance
and accessibility oimotive power and the
materials essential 10 the construction Of
the works and the manufacture of arms
the price, supply and skill Of labor. the