The New York herald., 1862-03-19
ARSENAL AND ARNORY AT QUINCY, ILL.


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As the establishment of Western arsenal and armory
contemplated by the Congress of the United States to
oet the increased requirements of the country and
the claims and advantages possessed by many Western
cities and towns for the location Of such establish
ment being ndstiousy pressed upon Congress and
the public, it is perhaps we'll that the place which pre-
ssnts in eminent degree advantages superior
of any other whose claims being urged upon Con-
gress and the public should be wholly overlooked
and forgotten.
Quincy is the geographical centre Of the three great
Western States of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri (Sce map
Of government survey herewith.)
By describing circle Of which Quincy is tho centre
and the circumference touching Chicago 1t also touches
Cairo and embraces within the whole of Illinois, Iowa
and Missouri the great lumber por in tho West south
of wisconsin. the only settled portion Of Kansas and
parts Of Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Nebraska and
Minnesota. Within this circle the diameter of which s
five hundred miles and the centre OF which Quincy Is
| embraced moro agricultural and mineral wealth aud
sources and better means for distribution by anspor
tation by river and rail- in every direction than
found in any other tract OF country Of the same diane
| ter on this continent.
Quincy is the bank Of tho Mississippi .vsr and
the farshest west of any city on tho east sde Of that
river for its whole length from Gscna New Orleans
being sxtyf miles farther west than ST. Louis. and
| forty-fvc miles farther west than Rock Island
In population Quincy has about sixteen thousand and
| is in size tho second city in Illinois.
II is located on high bluff, about one hundred and
sixty above the the river and the highest
point on the east bank Of the river fora distance OF
hundred miles, there being point within thirty mes
above Quincy or seventy miles below at which the blum
comes to the river.
atmosphere is dry, the winters mild, the navigation OF
the Mississippi a, this place rarely mpeded BY Ice for
| tcrrupted during tho entire year.
Quincy below all obstructions which exist to the
yisation Of the Mississippi II is forty miles below tho
steamers can land, load and depart from the levee.
The best boat harbor on the river is at Quincy 1t
bay about four miles In length which Is formed by long
peninsula dividing portion Of the river from the main
land In the bay many large from 81 Louis are
from the heavy ice brought down from the Upper Mis-
sissppi river by the winter aud sDring rcshets.
safe keeping and repairing or building
! mont boats this bay Is unequaled and invaluabo'
Quincy s situated directly at the crossing the two
great thoroughares OF the countrywide Mississippi river
and the longest limo OF railroad this c ntnent. Tho
first furnishes means for transportation north
south for the whole length Of the United States the last
commences at the Atlantic Ocean and, passing westward
the Mississippi river Quincy continues to
the western State this side Of the Rocky Mountains
Within twelve hours Of Quincy, by cheap rivertrans
poration, are the lead mines of Gaen. and dubuque on
the north and within about the distance south and
inexhausble deposits Of the best the world that
OF Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob, in Missouri In the i'm
mediate vicinity OF Quincy are immense for sts Of black
walnut and white oak timber. Much Of the black walnut
used for gun stocks in Eastern armores Ii sawed and
| shipped from the vicinity OF Quincy.
For quality and cheapness OF building materials Quincy
Is second place in tho Union The finest building
stone be obtained in any quantity directly upon the
| spot for simply the cost Of lusrryng
Brick Of the best quality s manufactured here In i'm
menss quantities, and can be had delivered at 81 per
| thousand.
any other place in the West For example large
quantity OF lumber was recently advertised for by the
government agent for the purpose Of building barracks
at Camp Butler, near Springfield. Bids receive
from parties nj Chicago and many other places; the
lowest bidders from Quincy who took the contract
shipped the lumber from Quincy, and delivered it at
Camp Butler-transportrg 1t by rail one hundred and
| sixteen miles-at SAC per thousand.
Inexhaustble mines OF coal Of the best quality arc In
the immediate vicinity OF Quincy, and this place is the
coang depot & for steamers plying between the upper
| be had, delivered, at 81 por ton.
A national arn,ory aud arsenal located at Quincy
| would be perfectly safe from q foreign foe,
and would bo placed on high ground, with
every advantage for defence, where, II necessary
IL can easily be protected from domestic Invasion II
| no other points Of advantage EXISTED these alone
fer beating such works than chicago ''rSs The
chain II lakes the shore OF which is situa.
ted Chicago arc on another side the shore OF TO-
reign nation. largo expenditure in building national
much larger expenditure in building fortifcatons nj
Mscknaw, AMI lcet OF government, vessels protect
the armory from foreign Invasion and which might aiter
| oil lrovc Intellectual fof iis protection
Chicago claims as one reason why tho location Of these
works saouId be at that point the fact tht Chicago is
ihe great grain Gcpst OF tho Northwest True but
glance at To, map H show Quincy bc the ccntro OF
that great circle OF agricultural country wi ch produces
the gram, only snall portion of which, sfter all
sent 10 Chicago Chcago.is great commercial city
Quincy is The r1ltro great producing ntry rich
D agricultural and nncral wealth ts great ntcrcts
| aLd pufsui are man recurring.
great cOnac tial cy j. not often tho best place for
locating large man lacl1rCs and among tire many rca-
s"s not the least he ct imt In large commercial
city operatives ~ manufactures rarely able from
fac hh prices uf Icil estate, TO purchase homes but
| mast, ~ high rates rer' ~ and uncomfortable ieus
mons for then.-svc ana i'Di os THIS point may SO m
usip to stnlc, bet % large manuricnrcs will retdiy
uudeistsnd and o. ...r increased value q men
who own aud I've 81 sUmlo ,.ts h9ml For this, and
many oihcr rcaions whici .iv 9nd eroat ma
uliactFur cstabli-tia"n either pubic private TO-
Gated n great comm Ditios. An lnit u.es Arsenal
located in Srrn old Mass ON the Connect river
Why hot have 1t Heated ut losony Another was placed
- Waterv"t, on be liuds,n river. Why not have
placed it at Eew ors or Albany2 AnOtlo or was built
at Harper Ecrty, the POcm3o river Why not have
built II a. Blltiinorc or PhlsdcphiaY
Another Is 10 be cccd. and thoo is no doubt that "
should have Western location and with reference the
rapid present and prospective development OF the
Try IN that direction, the most point otherwise
suitable and aordn ocessary facilities would, on that
account alone have scular CLAIMS 10 the attention o
those charged with .t@ location. quincy has that posi-
ton, and will be founf possess advantages which ore
| combined 10 the extent VI no other point.
| JOHN WOOD,
g,is; gssi. sssSs5sr, !sssyR' op@2soo e q.
g. W h'sfho, Citlzeus of ouncy