The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-09-22
THE PROSPECTS OF ROCK ISLAND.
Thev Were Mover Better.

ed up tbesod TO mark where the avenues Oh
the future city should be, its prospects we're
never more calculated TO induce hope and
encouragement on the part Of it's people, or
more indictive of ultimate greatness. In the
history Of every city there are times wheh
doubt and dependency settle down upon IT,
auenching its most promising enterprises.
There are times when men are lead to hest.
tate in pushing forward projects of the great
90. consequence TO themselves and fellow.
citizens, simply from want Of confidence
in the final progress of the place. Perhaps
the very schemes they mediate are those
which tho town most needs to build 1t up,
and vet they hesitate to put them in e1ecu'
ton. Happily Rock Island has passed that
parilous epoch and in the race for position,
wealth, and influence, is rapidly coming
down the home stretch, with the grand prize
almost within its reach.
At times our city has deserved the reputa'
ton Of being place Of slow growth, but as
the mills Of the gods grind slow but
exceeding fine, 80 has Rock Island grown
slowly, but most substantially. There is not
a city in the west which stands upon better
footing. We are out Of debt, and pushing
forward with rapidly which strangers COM
prehend better than We do ourselves. From
81. Paul to the blue waters ofthe Gulf, there
is not single city Of our size, or OF twice
our size, which can boast one quarter the
advantages. Do our citizens ever mediate
upon the possible magnitude of the metrop'
oils growing up around them? Do they ev'
or think of what Rock Island may be IN the
far distant future? DO they ever think that
,hev have laid the ground work for one ofthe
greatest man ufsc.uring points in the United
States? Ifauy Of them do not, let them rub
their eyes open, aud see what is going on
! around them.
Moline, Camden, and Rock Island, are to
, ali inteuts aud purposes, one and the same
city. Their interests are IDENTICAL they are
moving in the same direction; they are each
q supper, TO the other; they are each grow
ing rapidly; and the limits Of each is press
r ing hard upon those Of the other. 1t will
soon be difficult to discern the dividing line
between them. In fact, We have but one
city here, and the smoke Of its mills and
factories extends from the eastern end OF the
r Governments Island, clear along the MIS-
sissippi to the mouth Of Rock River, and
around the foot of the beautiful Tower where
forty years ago Black Hawk mourned the
fallen destines OF his unhappy race With
Moline we have for a year past been united by
+ street car line which was at first regarded al
t ahazardous experiment, but which Is now one
Of the best paying investments 10 the county
The same will be extended to Camden be
Il fore the SHOWS of winter set in. Thus will
the three cities be united into one, which TO
3 population, resources, wealth, Influence
,, and future prospects will excel any one OF
h the western line of the state from DunleitI
n to Cairo.
Neither should We forget the splendi
Capital of arms and manufactures which tn
munifcence and ssgacity OF the Governmen
., is erecting on its Island in front Of us
Here will soon tower the finest and MOI
extensive arsenals and workshops which tn
III civilized world can boast. RareI y does thi
idea ever cross our minds. We have grow
40 accustomed to the sound of the worl
mans hammer, and so natural has it bt
come to seem to see the huge walls rlsin
AS slowly before US, that we forget the fact the
the most powerful despotism on earth neve
planned such gigantic series Of arsent
\ works as are now being reared at our yer
doors. We scarcely ever think of the untol
millions of treasure which are being expent
E. ed here-a greater compliment to the &C
o. vantages OF our location than a thousan
volumes could produce. Do our people eve
think that when the present plans of tn
United States Government, projected tc
r this point, have been completed, that Their
will have been expended right here at on
70 ! doors almost great u sum 1C money u" 'No
ever expended at the National Capitol {
of Washington. Cities and states are stru
70 Cling for the relocation of the capital
=. their limits, and offering millions to secul
or it, and yet we are quietly reaping as great
benefit. Soon magnificent governmer
railroad and wagon bridge will span tn
e waters of the Mississippi, uniting us wit
IT Davenport, and exceeding in architecture
8, beauty anything of the kind on wester
10 waters. And yet these vast expenditure
t, are not the results of extravaganza, but c
a sober and careful estimate of our unparal
IL leed advantages. No point in the Unite
States can compete with US in the requisite
for great central point for the manufacture
and storage of arms. Thirty years ago thi
10 WAS conceded by military authorities, an
the beautiful island in front of US reserve
r. for these purposes. Time will only confrr
=, the wisdom of those who so decided. Br
is why expand upon subject on which a
h are familiar. There is not school boy i
IN the county who cannot tell why these gran
10 improvements were located here.
To the improvements of the rive
for fifteen miles above us we need ne
!" refer. They are vast and comprehensive
q and are calling forth the greatest skill, il
IN geuuity, and ability of the engineers of tt
y army. They will soon be completed, and
10 the historic words OF Abraham Lincol