The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-24
ON THE ISLAND.

is now under the command of Major Edison,
during the temporary absence of Gen. Rod
man at Washington. The loss Of the wagon
bridge by the recent food, is pretty effeetu-
ally remedied by fiat boat ferry, being run
between the main shore and the dyke which
formerly lead down to the bridge. By means
Of cable, pulleys, and several workmen,
the trip across is made in q very expedite
GUS manner. The boat was constructed by
the hands of the government carpenter
shop. The completed arsenal building at
the foot of the island is well filed with
arms, principally boxed, and being kept
constantly closed, creates no activity in the
vicinity. To the left of the wagon road
which leads from the dyke to this building,
we noticed a few graves where were once
buried q considerable number of the
garrison of old Fort Armstrong. But one
tomb stone is standing, and this has been
hacked up by visitors. All vestiges of this
former burial place are being rapidly oolit-
Grated, and without doubt, many graves have
been levelled with the ground, so that iden-
LITIGATION would be difficult. We can dis
tinctly remember when this plat of ground
was surrounded by neat picket fence, and
from the indications Of many interments,
was an object of great interest TO visitors
We are far from intimatiug that any of these
ravages can be attributed to the inattention
RI a. IL & ~
ton of them were enacted before the gov
eminent had decided upon its present i'm
provenents. AS the wagon road passes
most profanely near this old resting place,
it is to be hoped that the memories of "Auld
Lang Syne" will not be disregarded, and
that with proper respect for the dead some
disposition may be made of these remains,
which date as far back as the days when
Winfield Scott had his headquarters on the
island.
On approaching the vicinity of the present
scene of building operations, everything
betokens activity and improvement
Squads of stone cutters are distributed
through the woods, busily engaged in plying
their occupation. On inquiry at headquar-
tiers, however, we learned that very little was
being done, in comparison with the compre
hensive plans laid out by General Rodman.
His absence has occasioned temporary
suspension of work, as he prefers to super
wise his own designs. He is expected to re-
turn in the course of month, when heav-
Ter force will be employed. At present, the
erection of the stone machine shop, previ-
ously referred to in the ARGUS, is slowly
progressing. About fifty cutters are now
engaged, but the number will be largely in
creased as soon as expected shipments of
Joliet stone arrive. This building, located
on the principal thoroughfare leading from
the river to Sylvan Water, and at about the
geographical centre of the island, will be an
imposing structure, if we are allowed to
Judge from the dimensions of its foundation.
This has front of two hundred and ten
feet, width of sixty feet, and two wings,
each three hundred feet deep. The build
ing will be two and half stories in height.
We took stroll through the present machine
works, under the control of Messrs A. F.
Fleming and T. Talbot. Twenty-Five me-
chanics are constantly employed here, doing
considerable job work, repairing, and fitting
up of tools. Some of the best of the num-
Der are now engaged in manufacturing two
Rodman pressure guages, one of these being
intended for the arsenal at the City of Wash
ington, and the other for the naval academy
at Annapolis. Large quantities of brass
castings are also being prepared for future
use. About six thousand of these articles
are now on hand. The iron work on the
building now being erected, will be an item
of consequence. All the old gun carriages
unit for service are being broken up, the
iron fixtures being stored, and the wood
consumed for fuel. About sixty q month
are thus disposed of. We were shown an
interesting and ponderous relic of the late
rebellion, and of the generous neutrality of
our British cousins, in the shape of punch
ing machine, calculated to pierce iron three
quarters of an inch thick. This was re-
eeived last week from Augusta, Georgia, and
was captured from rebel blockade runner
during the war. It is valued at about three
thousand dollars. 1t is needless to state
that ii was manufactured in England. Mr..
fieming assured us that it was valuable
addition to the establishment, and would be
appreciated none the less on account of the
great distance it had travelled, and the wor-
thy motive which had prompted its ship
ment. Last September, splendid shaping
machine or compound planer was received
from the Springfield Mass, Arsenal, which
is now doing excellent service. The smith
ing department is now employed in repair
ing all field carriages susceptible of recon
struction. In the carpenter shop, twenty.
five experienced hands, assisted by eighteen
laborers, are engaged in manufacturing sash
and other frame work for the new building.
Mr.. William Channon is master mechanic
in this line.
The damage to government property by
the food, amounts to about fifteen thousand
dollars. It has been decided upon to con-
struct a bridge across to Moline, and one to
this city, but as no determination has been
arrived at in regard to the style of architec-
ture to be adopted, no estimates can, of
course, be given. A force of workmen are
now engaged at the old Moline bridge