Daily Davenport Democrat., 1866-01-02

the ce ntre Of Island, then, where the land
is high aud dry, he has located tae impor.
tant building first to be constructed. These
plans show ten large buildings in the form
Of letter U, aud 22o feet front by 800 feet
deep. These are to front . street running
straight through the Island from south to
north. five On each side. and occupy space
Of land, yards and railroad track included,
800 feet long by 1900 broad. These
buildings..are to be so constructed as to be
used ~ workshops, should the extensive
manufacture Of arms be At any time de-
manded. and until then, as warehouses for
storing Government arms. Connected there
with are plans for An extensive Powder
Magazine TO be located on the Illinois side
of the Island, also gas works, and other &C.
cesories to the main works.
Gen. Rodman's plan for procuring power
for these works, is novel in this country,
though perfectly feasible, and 10 simply by
atmospheric pressure. by using the inn
mense water power At the head of the Island
air can be forced through iron tubes down
to the works, with n pressure Of sixty
pounds to the square inch. This power
can easily be distributed through the works
no doubts entertained ofits perfect availi-
hility. 10 winter, this compressed air, be-
- $4,000, .I-~..-L- sAsnsc~ eos Sei'S 70
warm the buildings, while in summer it is
cooled BY its passage under ground, and
being let into the work shops, will serve to
reduce the temperature and make them
airy and comfortable We believe this plan
Of opera ing machinery is now in perfectly
successful operation in the Mount Cents
tunnel works under the Alps, where for
good reasons no steam power could be used
Now, = glance at the proposed railroad
and bridge improvements. Gen. Rodman
finds the present railroad track across the
Island greatly in conflict with his plans. He
therefore proposes-ell parties being first
agreed thereon, to start a railroad and car
riagc bridge from point on the Illinois side
near where the wagon bridge is started
thence running straight across tie lower
end Of the Island sixty feet from its cx
tre'ne lower line-thence straight across TO
point near or just above the Gas Works
on this side, with the draw bridge in the
eddy one span west of the Island. Such
structure would be of great Importance in
point Of convenience to Government opera.
tions on the lsland-afford = perfectly safe
passage for boats, and furnish complete ia-
accommodation by wagon. These plans
will DO submitted to the War Department
at IN early day. No one can question the
desirability Of such change.
Thus we have hinted, in rough way. at
Gen. Rodman's plans-not having time or
space to give them in minute detail. Those
conversant with the lay Of the land, and
having proper conception Of the probable
magnitude Of the future operations Of the
Government on the Island, will q. once con-
cede that the General has made his plans
wisely.
In the matter of the proposed change in
the railroad bridge and track, unquestion
ably our citizens will at once fall in with
the idea, and with voice and material aid
further the change.
From the track, then, At the lower end
OF the Island, Gen. Rodman proposes 10
build track for Government use, straight
up through the Island, running betwee the
buildings above mentioned, also two switch.
ss-one on either side Of the work shors.
leaving the main track below the main
buildings and striking it again, 1000 feet
from the place Of departure, thus afFording
oil desired facilities in handling heavy ma
ter;al. Another switch would lead to the
powder magazines, and still farther down
to the steamboat landing proposed to b
made just below the present r. r. Bridge.
It must not Be supposed thall I'll this i'm
msnss work is to be the labor Of year or
ten years-or perhaps . generation; but
with proper effort it will all b brought
about, ~ We verify believe, and right here
in the heart Of the greatest nation Of the
world, win be system Of arssnals, armo-
ries, Etc., sumcient 70 meet The possible ne.
esssities Of country numbering popula>
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