Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-06-21
GOVERNMENT MILITARY ESTAB-
LlSnMEMTS 1T ROCK ISLAND.
ILLINOIS.

irrcn The Ohicdso Journal.

q
on Rocx Island, Ill, on the Mississippi, il
losing its antique features, ID slrcady begin
ming 10 assume an sspset more adapted to
the present order Of things. No longer. .
frontier post Ct block>houscs. frcwnipg de>
fsncc on the dusky savages and gathering
under the folds Of the same honored Tag the
motley array Of half brceds, Indian traders,
md he pacnlIef tsibc Of "lsa.hes-esock>
tngs," i now BIDS fair TO furnish spot
whore
''s,sern- visagcd war may smooth it, wrinkled
'front.'"
So, st least, thought your correspondent,
a., passing the watchful sentry, he wendell
his way towards his quarters, afmrd With .
letter Of introduction TO the eonnAndiag 81.
ficer, General T. w. Rodman. Here, in On
unpretending frame blouse, cncircled By q
delightful grove u nalivs forest trees, set
of BY . sward OF the richest verdure, We en-
ccuntered the genius who presidcs over the
transformations now IN progress. Not be-
ing required here TO encounter the stiff rc>
serve Of military dignity. = pleasant chat on
the shaded porch, followed BY stroll over
the adjoining grounds and through the tenn
porary officers quarters, afforded, in short
!
down for the benefit Of your readers. It is
Il at TO be noted, that all the improvements
now in progress, or in contemplation, con-
stitusc pnrts Of one plan, and arc designed
with direct reference TO actual topography
Of tho ground. q exhibited on tho map pre-
pared from the survey Of w. d. Clark,
Esq, of Davenport. From this source Of
information we learn that tho main island
c lntai0s ~ AREA OF 900 acres. having an ex-
,rcmc length of 10. $50 feet, and 400 feet
At its greatest width. The highest elevation
Ia 4s feet shove low water mark. The shore
line is mostly rockbound, exhibiting at scv-
oral points high natural cliffs composed Of
white shaley limestone.
The plan OF improvements contemplates
The following principle items: LIST. The
completion OF the present stone structure,
on the lower end Of the island, designed for
a receiving and distributing srsenal. Cd.
Tho improvement Of the water power at the
head OF the island, and Sd. The constru,-
ton Of tho different road.ways, including
the removal OF tho present railroad bridge.
! have only time at present TO specify a few
principal items under each Of these heads
Tho present arsenal building, located on
the lower end Of the island, Of which the
corner stone was laid on the 2lst Of April,
1864, is now approaching completion, and
will ready for occupancy some time during
the coming winter. Il 10 built Of cut stone,
OF the peculiar crcam>colored rock qusrried
at tho head Of the upper rapids; though
rather soft, and porous in texture. II hard
ems considerably on exposure, and prclcnts
in the wall, massive, substantial structure,
all a.
simply as n receiving and distributing
depot. In durability and strength,
however, II is much inferior 70 the
we'll known Joliet limestone, which will
probably DO adopted hereafter for future
stone buildings, at least for the outside face
wall. Tho size Of the building is $50 by 90
feet, three stories in height above the base.
mcnt, including in the original plan Gen.
trail tower. rising " feet above tho ground
floor. Its main front faces little north Of
west, looking towards the channel Of the
Mississippi. A convenient steamboat land
ing will be constructed . short distance
above, for which there is ample depth Of
water, and convenient. natural grade to
the general level Of the islapd Tho build,
ing will also be connected with the system
Of roadways aud railrnad tracks, which arr
designed 10 penetrate the whole island.
By sudden jump now to the upper end
Of the island, your attention is directed to
the projected improvements in tho matter
ofa permanent water power, including IN
extcnsiO' and enlargement Of the present
dams, thus very materially increasing their
capacity. The water power thus created
IN the north side Of tho island, will be used
exclusively for Government purposes
while, on the Illinois shore, it will be- used
jointly by the mills at Moline, a. we'll ~ thu
works on the island The design o
the improvement, rs regards the arscna
and armo.y, does not have reference to :
water power for manufacturing purposes
but TO a system IT water works, by which
water will be conveyed to all parts Of tn
island, supplying reservoirs and fountains
and carrying out thorough system o
drainage II It will also be used for COM
pressing air, to be conveyed 10 the differen
blast furnaces. For all direct manufactur
ing p rposcs, steam power will be used n,
most economical and convenient
In the system ofroadways, it is the de
sisa 10 make every building used for stor
age or manufacturing purpose, accessible
by railroad track, with ample convene nc,
Of switches, turn>outs, etc, 40 that cacI
separate part is readily accessible 10 ever,
other. One Of the principal improvement
in the matter Of roads and avenues will re
suit from The removal Of the present rail
road bridge, TO be relocated on the cxtrem
lower point Of the island. The structur
thus designed, intended both for railroa,
and wagon transportation, will be, in al
/ IN law. u
Commencing at a point on tho Ilinoi.
shore no, far from the location of the pres
cnt railroad bridge, it will extend in
direct line, just resting on the OK
tremc point of the island, to the low
shore. The structure over the main navi
gablo channel will consist Of two spans, 37s
feet in width, resting on piers 80 feet abov
high water mark, thus offering no obstruc'
ton to steamboat navigation, and requiring
no draws or turntables. To reach thi
elevation, the structure will be about 9
feet above the level Of the island At tn
point Of crossing, and in order to accom-
nodate wagon travel, . raising grade vii
be made necessary from the island to rcac
the uain elevation, which, after crossin,
the navlgablc channel, can be again lower
ed to give easy acccss to the Iowa shorc.-
The difficulties Of connecting the elevate,
railroad grade with the system Of track
running through tine island has not W
been fully solved, though several plans ar
suggested, tho most feasible Of which 10 t
retain the present slough rsilroad bride
for the exclusive use Of the Governmen
works on the islsnd.
Il will thus b seen that The contsmnla,
| t0d isnnrovemonea insrlva ls.~o ..>~.aa