The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-12-17
[To BIZ CONTINUED.
Sketch CT Rock Island. Ill.


This town is fayorably located near what
are called the Upper rapids and the mouth
Of the. Rock river. The locality enjoys pc
culiar advantages as the site of city, and
must in time concentrate around il a large
population Already there is a cluster Of
towns here which have grown up from the
same cause, and may he considered really
as the same city. Davenport, upon the
west side Of tue river, is a beautiful and
growing place, numbering over twenty
thousand people, and is the largest city in
Iowa. Rock Island, upon tn vest bank,
contains some nine thousand people. Three
miles above the water power furnished BY
damning one OF the channels of the river
has been largely used in various branches
Of manufacturing, and the town Of Moline,
containing nearly five thousand people, has
grown up around the place. The Rock
River is here separated FROM the Mississippi
by ridge of land known as Black Hawks
tower Crossing this narrow peninsula in
diagonal direction, ri@o OF four miles
bring you to the village of Camden upon
the Rock River. Here is a large river di.
vided by three islands, and having about
ten fest of a tall, afording one of the most
capaeIo1s ater powers in the whole coun-
try. Several lOurisbing saw-mills are erect
Ell here.
The capacity for running mills here is
almost unlimited. The advantages offered
in the locality were early seen by the set
tiers. But there never has been sufficient
capital attracted 70 the spot to use 1.-THE
Of the power afforded. The location Of
large government arsenal upon the island
after wblcl this tOSn is named, has inspired
considerable hope in the minds Of The peo.
pie, and givenA spur to enterprise, which
has been made apparent 10 q large amount
OF building in the town. A Mr.. Harper
Is Just completing large 6ve-story brick
building, designed for first class hotel.
Quite number e. respectable residences
are being erected by the prosperous citi
Gems OF the place, and corner lots are being
covered with commOdious and neat stores.
The town was started very soon after the
close OF the famous Black Hawk war. and
for some years grew with that rapiditv
which characterized many new places. But
the disasters which fell 50 heavily upon the
West in lS43 told with special emphas;s
upon this town. For many years All pro.
gress ceased, and the citizens were NM >.
their trumps to make both ends meet
Many who thought themselves wealthy
were ruined, and all owners of real estate
were made land poor. But those who had
stamina enough to weather the financial
storm came out at length into clear sun
shine and reaped a rich reward for ,ha;r
perseverance,. The place eraduallv recr.
Perated, and more prosperous times were
experienced. The deragemeuts Of the late
war again cast deep shadow over the for
tunes Of the place. The designation Of the
island as prison for tie confinement If
Confederate soldiers restored the falling
fortune Of the locality. As many = ta0
thousand prisoners were confined here N
once; but unless Madam Rumor does oraa,
injustice to the COmnissary Department
the purchase Of their supplies Tould not
have exhausted very abundant excbe ouer
and~tbe legitimate fortunes accruipp from
that source would not be very large. Never
tbeless the government disbursed large
sums Of money here, and some persons OBJ
tanned them. After the conclusion Of the
war, the government designated the island
as On arsenal or armcry, and have proceed
ed % expend large amounts in making i'm
provemeuts and erecting the necessary
buildings. A large three story stone house.
with an imposing tower, has been built upon
the west end near the rocky cliff which
gave name to the island. This ID built Of
beautiful yellow stone, which 10 quarried a