The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-07-08

the Senator from Illinois to the extreme
northwestern position of Rock Island az
the situation for this arsenal does not ap-
ply of course to Keokuk as position for
the same institution. btcause that is In
the extreme southeastern corner OF the
State of iowa. II is therefore ftiDre c;n-
tral in its position 1t would be more
contiguous, and more tributary as 4 mat
Ter Of convenience in the supply for all
that great region of country, both west
and eas, OF the Mississippi river. His
other formidable objection, that efofc you
can reach Rock Island you have 10 pass
the falls above theDesMoines river, would
be obvated by making Keokuk the loca-
ton. As the honorable Senator saws.
there is fall there of about fourteen feet
in some twelve miles in the Mississippi
river. This fall constitutes very src.t
and available water power and b. prlf5ef
appliances 10 the Nay of blasting, &C.,
wasee fower might be obttined at that
point S4lleleht to drive all Hire machinery
that would be necessary in connection
with such an institution.
As | before stated, ii rs in the very
center of the finest agricultural region, ]
suppose, upon the face of the earth. Here
is the State Of Iowa. VIII the honorable
Senator be kind enough to inform me OF
the number Of square miles in the State
of Iowa 7 have forgotten.
Mr.Griines. About iifty-six thousand.
Alr. Davis. venture to affirm that
there is in no community ON this con-
tinent an eqna' amount Of as fertile land
as there is contained in the boundaries of
the State of Iowa. There is no State in
the Union, according to inforpation and
researches, that has ii less quantity or SO
small quantity Of refuse la,4d In point
OF saiubrity Of climate, fertility of soil,
and rolling face Of country that 1ra;ns
well, aud supply Of springs and forn-
tainS for the use OF man. Of the most
salHbrious water, there Is no State in the
Northwest or anywhere in the United
States that can compete with Iowa IF
you take the county in the angle between
the Des Moines river aHd Northern Mis-
sonri bordering upon her line, they con-
stltute a very na@niiicient and most ex-
pansive region uf the finest agricul.
tnra! country npon the continent -
The water communication that exists to
that point, and the railroad eommunica
,ions that have already been constructed
and are III operation, and others that are
designed and are in the course Of con-
struction, Will give it facilities Of access
that will not be surpassed Is tF paint
upon the continent AMI every #a.sg4ssf
necessary for such manntseagos rs would
be entered upon al a U..cd States arse
nal, and every facility Tor those manufac-
lures could be obtained there with as much
facility and as much cheapness, and in as
hieh degree OF excellence there as they
could be obtained anywhere. I ala no
rnachinist, and / know very little Of ma
chinery or Of the power necessary FOR dri-
wing machinery; but presume that where
water power can be obtained, ii is tie
best, il is the cheapest, and i. is the most
uniform in its action. All the water pow
er that is necessary for any purposes of
machinery connected with an arsenal, can
be obtained there at very moderate ex-
pcnsc.
Ii seems to ne that that position is en-
inentIy the one which invites the location
of an arsenal, and / sill hope that the
Senator from Iowa will withdraw his sup
port and advocacy from Rock Island, and
that he will unite with me and give his
effective and almost controlling assistance
in this body in favor Of Keokuk as the
site for this arsenal.
Mr. Grimes. | have only one word
to say. | appreciate the sentiment by
which the Senator was actuated when he
offered this amendment, and 1 know it
will BE- gratifying to him for me to tell
him that the people Of my State have set
tied this question for themselves, and have
instructed their members in this body to
go for Rock Island. They have decided
il upon national principles, and We have.
been twice instructed to vote for Rock
Island in preference to any other point.
/ have no doubt that will be exceedingly
gratifying to the Senator from kentucky.
Mr.. Davis. IL is not very gratifying; J.
but it is satisfying
HuMMELL'S EXTRACT COFFEE,