The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-12-05

OFFICIAL CITY g. COUNTY PAPER
ROCK ISLAND SEEN BY ANEW YORKER.

The following which we copy from the
Globe, published in New York City, will be
read with interest BY our citizens, showing
that the Importance of this point Is fast
becoming known to Eastern men:
SKETCH OF ROCK ISLAND, ILL.
This town is favorsbly located near what
are called the Upper Rapids and the mouth
of the Rock River. The locality enjoys
peculiar advantages as the site Of city and
must in time concentrate around it large
population. Already there is a cluster of
towns here which have grown up from the
same cause and may be considered as really
the same city Davenport. upon the ives.
side of the river, 10 . beautiful and growing
place, numbering over twenty thousand
people, and is the largest city in Iowa
Rock Island, upon the east bank, contains
some nine thousand people. Three miles
above the water power furnished by dam
ming one Of the channels of the river has
been largely used in various branches of
manufacturing, and the town Of Moline con
tanning nearly five thousand people, has
grown up around the place. The Rock
R.vsr IS here separated from the Mississipp i
By ridge of land known as Black Hawks
tower. Crossing the narrow peninsula in .
diagonal direction q ride of four miles
brings you to the village of Camden upon
the Rock River. Here is large river
divided by three islands, and having abou.
ten feet Of fall, affording one of the most
cspsoious water powers in the whole coun
try. Several hourishing saw mills are erected
The capacity fer running mills here is
almost unlimited. The advantages offered
In 1npRiItv II ~ L.
tisrs. But there never has been suff cient
capital attracted to the spot to use q tithe
OF the power afforded. The location of
large Government arsenal upon the island
after which this town is named, he's inspired
considerable hope in the minds Of the people,
aud given . spur to enterprise, which has
been made apparent in . large amount of
building la the town. A Mr.. Harper is jus.
completing q large 6ve-s,ory brick building
designed for first class hotel. Quite q
number of respectable residences are being
erected by the prosperous citizens of the
place, and corner lots are being covered
with comm odious and neat stores. The town
was started very soon after the close of the
famous Black Hawk wsF, and for some years
grew with that rapidity which characterized
nsay new places. But the disasters which
fell so heavily upon the vest in ls43 told
with special emphasis upon this town. Fer
many years ell progress ceased, and the
citizens were put to their trumps to make
both ends meet. Many who thought them
selves wealthy we're ruined, and all owners
Of real estate were made land poor. But
those who had stamina enough to weather
the hnancial storm came out at length into
clear sunshine aud reaped . rich reward for
shsir perseverance. The place gradually
recuperated, and more prosperous times
were experienced. The arrangements of
the late war again cast deep shadow over
the fortunes of the place. The designation
OF tbs island as q prison for the confinement
of Confederate soldiers restored the falling
fortune OF the locality. As many ss ten
thousand prisoners were confined here al
once but unless Madame Rumor does great
I'M ussice to the Com miss ary Department.
the purchase of their supplies would
no. have exhausted very
abundant sxchequer, and the legitimate
fortunes accruing from that source would
q OF bs very large Nevertheless the govern
m ens disbursed large sums of money here,
and some persons obtained them. After
ths conclusion Of the war the government
de ignated the island a. an arsenal or
ar N Dry, aud have procseded to expend large
amounts in making improvements and erect
ing the necessary buildings A large three
s.ory stone house, with an imposing tower,
has been built upon the west end near the
rocky cliff which gave nsme to the island
This is bull, of ., AeAutiful yellow stone
which is qusrried at .e Claire, some fifteen
miles up the river. The material, however,
is TOO soft to be durable. Great numbers of
worknen are engaged in preparing the stone
aud erecting Q railroad and wagon bridge |
below the island for the joint use of the Gov |
ernment and the Rock Island road. Two |
immense stone buildings are nearly comple.
sd for manufacturing purposes. The ulti-
mate intention to erect ten such buildings, |
making this arsenal and Armory sufficient to !
supply all the emergencies of the Govern
nent in the interior States. They are also |
an immense water power n |
the upper end of the island which will equal
Eve thousand horses, and exceed that of
many of the leading Eastern manufacturing |
cities combined. The canal viii be two
miles long, seven hundred feet wide, and |
ifteen feet deep. This power, added to that
already possessed, will give this locality |
great advantages, which will concentrate
here large manufacturing capital, and
gather ultimately q large population at this |
point Rock Island has long been distin- |
zuished for her excellent school system |
Her High School hss enjoyed . reputation |
~h ich many more pretentious institutions |
mig ght we'll envy. Within the last year the |
town has aided another immense edi6ce to |