The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-13
r o OK ISL AN D.
Visit to the Old Prison and tho New Arsenal
site on the Mississippi Rive.
REBEL AND UNION PRISONS CoNTRASTE1.



Our Rock Island Correspondence.
ROCK islAsp, H., August q, 1865
mB rLaSD Rocg lstAyD
tasted IN the Mississippi rver between the cit,es Of
RsSk Island, Ill, and Davenport, Iowa, has become
psse sf considerable general interest from the fact Of
~ having been during the war one or the depots where
r6ei prisoners Of war confined and also the site
ssiaesed by the government for the erection of new
Acy and arsenal In place Of that destroyed at Harpera
Ferry. M
me siand which is some three miles long, contains
sssus nine hundred acres ~ The property OF the
Unssed States government moro convenient health
- q beautiful location could have been selected by
~ gsvernnent for either Of the above purposes than
NJ Island It's accessible during the whole year by
vAlsr from 81. Louis or st. Paul, and by rail- from
cataso The celebrated Rock Island Railroad bridge,
unach has been Tho cause OF SO much litigation and
SUsSe to steamboat men, crosses the lower end oil II.
M island is covered with 6ne growth OF timber, and
VIZ doubtless eventually when It's merits become fully
known, be entirely occupied by government workshops
azA factories
AND UNION PRISON HOUSES coNrRAsrEp
Having recently visited the prisons at Salisbury, An
tessonvle Columbia and other places at the South,
who're many of our bravo soldiers were murdered,
aad also having experienced personally nearly year Of
AAk hospitality at Richmond, have taken derablo
Interest and pains in examining the prison here and
o.seaning how rebel soldiers by our prison
snthorities
ne spot selected FOR the prison about the centre
8 the island in beautiful grove and contained forty
anrea This enclosed with high board fence, with
platform aroung the top for the guard Tho barracks
wssc built Of wood, measuring about one hundred BY
osy feet, handsomely laid out streets and nicely
yshkewasbed. There comfortable accommodation
~ something over ten thousand prisoners
In add ton TO the barra ks comfortable hospital build
- we're erected provided with every convenience and
THE WATER SUPPLY
considerable difficulty was at first experienced Oh
snng supply OF water, and It was 70 ind necessary to
build reservoir and force water from the river This
va accomplished at heavy expense, but the supply
wss ample building was Also apart for q bath
aose, which was constantly supplied with hot and cold
water and where from to two hundred could battle
siosore were macadamzsd and kent scrupuously neat
- we're open at all hours FOR exercise or games In
- shs whole arrangement was as comiorasis
vensont as money and skill could make It,
~ -' TEE PRISON KEEPER
1Ae prison under the control Of Colonel johnson
- 1he Fourth Veteran Reserve corps erU DISH 90 H'
colonel Johnson severely wounded 10 one Of tho
nies on the peninsula 80 that he united for field
took charge or the island when II rst selected as
pson Sepo and has proved 70 be the right in the
n grxpnovrxrx,s on TEE ,.r..rp.
n ADDITION TO his prison duties he has caused to he
I'm splendid adamized roads, equal II not superior
ed breadth Of the island making il one OF The most
Seanfu drives in the country During the whole OF the
s: he has had charge Of tho prison. about two years.
during which time thousands Of rebels have been under
~ charge only about forty have made their escape
NJ rations issued to the prisoners were OF the same
qoAny s were given to soldiers in the neld and
ample in quantity No imaginary ssead line, encrcied
ne GROUNDS an excuse for shooting in cold blood the
sn.ounats inmates as was the ease in many Of the
Seosnern prisons; but all were treated with kindnees
and allowed every liberty which could In safety be given
osm Even their copperhead friends from Rock Island
nnp4 .llns~v~
0sn, and furnishithem with books and luxurea
rHE MORTALITY DrRixc THE WHOLE rns
sAis and Andersonvc wher. thirteen thousand Of our
oeadors out or twice that number oured The prison
nov vacant tho last rsS.l having received his dis
large amount including the prison buildlnes and th4
nsosss erected for officers quarters is be sold By auc
% business Aud expecting 10 be daily relieved
=" rHE ARSENAL, D1.a9 r9f
esr the erection Of which, it will be remembered an ap
cpd e a. Is!s9s sad whom finished win b hne
las.ead Of facing down tho river which would srord
ashltect, Major Kingsbury has faced IL tsrS pavep.
q e. Z; ns SI s 1Ss r. ss.d
y events, whatever may have bsen the cause great
l.s.ke has been made The building ono story Of
em the quarries at lie Claire few mics p the river
- 70 be one hundred and eighty feet long BY sixty
Ss and . -four s ss hh with tower one end
lhorosgh and substantial MANNER under the Supervision
8 government engineer and whom completed will DO
Tho whole cost Of the building, including the
eMcers qusrters which also Of stone and loca
80 q either end OF the main building, estimated
ehfee hundred thousand dollars II expected that by
Iee LIST Of January the main building will be completed.
hlrty five workmeu, under tbs employ Of the contrac
together with twenty employed BY the government,
Major Kingsbury, the original engineer in charge OF
~ snaneer ~ ths rssnsr av
nndnan--of tho Rodman gun notosiety recently
bssn ordered ore In CHARGE but Major Crest liz also 70
semain-
E. WATER PowvR HANDY
Should the government proper ut time 70 cut
sAs world could Dc obtancd The fall water would bo
smcent to carry any number OF mills and there is room
=. the island for all the works the governments viii 30
oa1ied on to build In hundred years.
s GGNs LIPr
After my recent trip through the interior Of the South
pslnt IL s refreshing to get into country where tho
sgns OF life business and prosperity are visible. No
where on the river have seen any place where there
1sslness prospects - In the cities o. Rock Island and
There no reason In ths world why Rock Island should
- be one Of the largest manufacturing cities this
eonnent Everything wanted for the purpose Is found
hs.: IN abunS aace Coal in nexhaustibe quantities az
I've miles Of the city Two railroads already running
sm different MINIS and bringing in coal enough sup
~ Dc considered nominal ,fhs G n fur
nsbss water power superior 10 any In the country and
timber Of The Snss qualify and Of all varieties ssn
- obtained easily and at low figures.
ROCK ISLAND CIT.
The city has already taken stop In this direction
fwo large plough factories In successful operation
Uanufaclurng ploughs and other agricultural nipple
des these foundres where the largest kind OF
onstngs made SASH door and window factorics dis
nllsges and other nanfactores. are in full blast The
Uota i'm Init fa hail. h,t