The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-11-01

w iooe Nv top, mith cuppoithuB Uuttcp-
ses Of three 3 feet, at intervals of 10 feet.
This wall is set in the bed rock Of the
river, along its entire length.
While this work was progressing the
Water Power company deepened the
channel for carrying of the tail water
and put in bulk-head. The manufac-
facturers located on the Power set their
wheels, all Of which are now in operation.
A permanent head of Z feet is secured,
which can be increased, il ever found
necessary, by means mentioned above.
The work which remains to be done
and which is now in progress by the gov
ernment, is an addition Of 1,400 feet to
the longitudinal WALL and the excavation
of a canal across projecting point Of
land 2, 100 feet in length. to carry off the
tail water and dischage it below the Pow.
er.
1t is located at the foot of decline Of
l8 feet in the channel Of the Mississippi
With its present development there is a
head of 7 feet. The immense reservoir
from which the power is drawn, with its
ample and constant supply, secures it
against any perceptible reduction Of tbs
head.
All the work done by the Govern.
ment is of the most substantial character.
The wall is Il massive piece piece of ma.
sonry, imbedded in the base rock, beyond
the power of food or ice ever to affect.
The adjoining bank is heavily riprapped
with rock.so as to secure it against wash.
ing.
Moline is situated on the line of the G.
Il. l. Il P. railroad. the great through
line connecting Chicago and the East
with the Union Pacific. The Western
Union gives it an Independent route to
the Lakes, at Milwaukee. The Rockford
Rock Island d st. Louis connects it di.
rectly with St Louis, while the Peoria e.
Rock Island gives it new and short line
to the East. The north aud south roads
give it ready access to the Northwestern
and the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy,
two more of the great trunk lines cross
ing the heart Of tho continent. From
within this iron net work every part Of
country can be speedily reached, and the
competition of so many independent lines
assures low rates of freight and travel.
During nine months Of tho year, Mo.
line manufactures have, besides the bene.
fit of the low rates by River. About
equally distant from st. Louis and s
Paul, and $50 miles from Chicago, nc
point in the west is more conveniently 10.
Gated both for receiving raw material and
sending the manufactured products to the
very doors Of consumers. The govern.
ment and the G. R. I. l. p. X. K. com.
pany are now jointly building an iror
bridge across the Mississippi at this point
tor railroad purposes and free Wagon
bridge combined. This will further faci
litate local intercourse with Daverpor
and adjacent towns.
There are now located gu the Moline
Water Power and driven by it, two larg,
plow works, paper mill, woe!en mil
water wheels. These establishments rep
resent capital of about one and quar-
ter millions; consuming raw materia
worth 100000 annually; turning ou
products worth about one million, ant
employing 600 men.
There are in the city besides, two lum
beriug establishments, one tub and pal
factory, pump factory, mill machinery
works, furniture factory, engine and ma
chine works, malleable iron works, and I
number of smaller manufacturing estab
lishments. The city thus gives constan
employment to from 1900 to $500 skill
ed mechanics.
There are also large workshops Of va
rious kinds in the cities of Rock Islam,
and Davenport, near by, engaging tn
services of as many more operatives.
Summing all these together, with tn
men now and hereafter to be- employee
by the government in its shops on the Is
land, it will be seen thst there is alread
at hand large force Of skilled laborer
to be drawn upon by new enterprises a
they spring up.
Moline is settled by thrifty, enter
prisipg people, mostly from New Eng
land. The pioneers transplanted to thi
virgin soil Of the west, their primitiv
ideas of education and intelligent mora
ity. The city is amply supplied wit
churches, and her system of free schoo
education is liberal and thorough.
A fertile farming country surrounds i
producing all the fruits and cereals CON
mon to this latitude. so abundantly ths
the cost Of living is comparatively cheaI
The rugged yet beautiful line of bluff
in its rear, mostly covered with fores
trees; the river laving its feet, with ii
Island sleeping on its bosom the low
shore opposite the bridges, the factorie
the elegant residences, the churches {
three cities all ia one view, make up
picture of rare and charming beauty.
, variety and general attractiveness it
equaled by few on the continent.