The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-11-29
ISLAND OF ROcK ISLAND.
Armor.es, Arsenal ETC., etc.
RAoTs AND FIeUR1s.


The first building erected with this view
was the large arsenal .t the west end of the
Island, commenced under charge OF Major
C. P. Kinesbury, and is one of the largest
a,sensls in the country, being lso feet in
length by 60 feet 10 breadth, four stories
high with projection on the south and
| north fronts Of 33x33 feet the latter rising
in tower l35 feet high. 1t is built Of
dressed LeClsire stone, and i, the receptacle
of guns. pistols, and other light army ac-
| coutrements.
In August, 1865, Gen. Rodmsn was sent
ont by the War Department to "spy OUT
the land. His report was endorsed by the
authorities, and he Vas ordered to make his
headquarters upon the Island, and superin-
tend the improvement thereof. He determ
ined to make this the grand center depot of
the country for ell time to come, and also
to locate upon the center of the Island, ten
large stone and iron buildings in two equal
rows, facing q main avenue, which was to
be 800 feet wide, the buildings to be 100
feet apart.
The armories are to be of uniform extent,
and are to be 2l0 feet in the main front, or
235 feet counting side projections for stair
ways by 800 feet deep. The interior width
of the wings to be so feet, and each story
round three sides of Q court 90x240 feet,
all to be built of Joliet stone. The build
ings to be three stories high heated by
steam throughout. Two of these immense
buildings are under way, and nearly finish
ed. The cost of each building when
completed to be 100000
The power to drive these immense works
next came under consideration, and
arrangements were satisfactorily made
| with Mr.. Sears for the purchase
| of his dam, and for the improvement of the
water privileges of the Moline Water Power
Co. By means of an immense Golfer the
| main channel was thrown into one large
dam The Golfer is a model of its kind ar
| is abou, mile in length. The southern side
| of the Island was then strongly dyked and
rip raped on the outer side to prevent the
immense head of water breaking through
and covering the Island. This dyke has a
base of so feet with . water base of twenty.
five feet; the top and inner surface wall is
neatly sodded and is about a mile in length
An immense canal was then devised to
| carry off the tail water. This canal is to be
cut across a neck of land Al bend of the
river, is to be 1000 feet long, Is feet deep,
IFS feet wide at the bottom, and 200 feet at
the top, with 8 surface of 81 acres. 1t will
probably take another year to finish it.
When completed the dam will have ca
facity of about 5000 horse power, which
will be conveyed to the v.irous buildings by
| means of a system of pusleys and drums,
the most feasible of all plans proposed.
The estimates for appropriations to be
used next year, amount to over million OF
| dollars, and contemplate the erection of two
more Of the proposed srmories, one destined
to be used as blacksmith shop, the other
as rolling mill. They are to stand on the
south aide of the Main Avenue, and east OF
the one now IN process OF completion; office
| for the use of officers; to be 90x40 feet, in
which the business of the various officers
stationed there will be transacted, also a
guard house of about tie same size, aud the
completion OF work now in hand.
| The numerous drives around and through
| the Island have received considerable
attention from the commAndsnt. and as a
result are frequented At ali times and seasons
! BY numerous parties of strangers and resi-
dents. The views to be obtained, and the
pleasures Of q drive on the Island can be
testified to. by almost every one in the
neigh boring cities.
| The headquarters of the commandsn. is
one Of the most imposing and elegant build
ings in the West; it is built of dressed Jolie,
stone, and is two stories in highth built in
the Italian Villa style.
The bridges are another part Of the i'm
provement scheme. The entrance from this
side of the river is by an elegant carriage
bridge from Moline by another bridge, 81
which the piers and Abutments are complet
ed from Davenport by the government,
bridge, over which will probably Re run o
horse railway, connecting the three cities
more closely. The c., r /. & P. company
are also building bridge on this eide OF
the Island, to connect their trick with
| the government bridge, thus afordipg
convenient facilities for visiting the works,
At almost all points of the compass
With ell these grand schemes of improve
ment Gen. Rodman has been associated.
I He had been first and foremost in urging
upon the government the necessity of i'm
proving the natural facilities which this
Island, above all others and above all other
spots in the United States, possessed. He
foresaw the benefits to be derived by this
vicinity from such course OF procedure
on the par. of the government, and also the
ample returns such Improvements would
bessow upon the government, and to him
personally, ought the thanks Of the people
of the United States, and more especially of
this vicinity, be rendered. Our Island will
be the Eden OF the whole Union, and
though his united and determined spirit and
action was it brought about. May be live
to see all his designs carried out, and to see
his grand children married is our wish
| Cur THIS OUT.-From Mr. Carter, Super
intendent Of the Glass Works, We have OBJ.
tanned the following routine of work at that
place, and as We have several times been