The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-12-08
From the Rock Island Argus, Nov. 20

many OF our readers know. about on
Thousand acreszof fine land, about equally
divided into cleared land and live timber,
and al elevated above high water mark
1t rs government properly, and in conse
queuce Of location, 1T was determined
some years ago to make it great centrai
armory and arsenal depot of the United
g States
he first builing erected with this view
Was the large arsenal at the west end Of
The island, commenced under charge OF
Major g. p Kingshury, and IS one OF the
largest arsenals in the country, being IL
feet in length 10y 90 feet IN breadth, four
stories high, with projection on the south
and north fronts Of 33x33 feet-tht
latter rising in a tower 1875 feet high 1t
is built OF dressed LeClaire stone, and is
tie receptacle Of guns, pistols, and other
light army accoutrementS.
In August 1865 Gen. Rodman was
SEN out by the WarDepartment to spy
gu the land His report was endors, d
bv he authorities and he was ordered to
make hs headquarters upon the island,
and superintend the lmprov, ment there
Of lie determined 10 make this the
grand center depot Of the country for al
time 70 comeS and also to locate upon the
center of the island ten large stone and
iron buildings in two equal rows, facing
main avenue, which is to be 800 feet
wide, the buildings to be 100 feet apart.
The armories are to be of uniform eX-
tent, and are to be 210 feet in the main
from or 235 feet counting side projections
for stairways, by 300 feet deep. The In
terror width of the wings t@ he 90 feet,
and each story making room 60x300 it.,
extending around three sides of a court
S0x240 feet, all to be built of Joliet Some
The buildings are to be three stories high ;;
hCated by steam throughout. Two of
these immense buildings are under way
and nearly finished. The cost o. each
building when completed to be $400, 600
The power 10 drive these immense
works next came under consideration and
arrangements were satisfactorily made
with MIR. Sears for the purchase of his
dam, and for the improvement of the
water privileges of the Moline Water
Power Company. BY means of an lin
mense Golfer the main channel was thrown
into one large dam. The Golfer is a model
of its kind, and is about mile in length
The souths IN side of the island was then
strongly dyked and rip.rapped on the
outer side 10 prevent the immense head
Of water breaking through and covering
the island. This dyke has base of so
feet, with a water base of 25 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 at a bend of
the river, is to be 1900 feet long, Is feet
deep, 175 feet wide at the bottom, and
900 feet at the t p, with surface of 81
acres 1t will probably take another
year to finish it. When completed, the
dam viii have a capacity of 5000 horse
power, which will be conveyed To the
various build ngs by means OF system
of pulleys and drums, the most feasible
of all the plans proposed.
The estimates for appropriations to be
used next year, amount to over million
of doIlarsand contemplate the erection of
two more of the proposed armories, one
destined to be used as 2 blacksmith shop,
the other as rolling mill. They are TO
stand ON the south side of the main ave
nue., 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 sta Toned there will be
same size, and the completion Of work
now In hand.
The numerous drives around and
through the island have received consid-
cradle attention from the commandment,
and as result are frequented at all
times and seasons by numerous parties Of
strangers and residents The views to
be obtained, and the pleasures of a drive
IL.
almost every one in the neighboring
cities.
The headquarters of the commandment is
one of the most imposing and elegant
buildings in the West; it is built of
dressed Joliet stone, and is two stories in
height built in the Italian villa style
The bridges are another part of the
improvement scheme. The entrance from
this side of the river is by an elegant car
riage bridge; from Moline by another
bridge, of which the piers and abutments
are completed; from Davenport by the
government bridge, over which will prob
ably be run horse railway connecting
the three cities more closely The G. f.
/. and P. Company are also building al
bridge on this side of the island, to con
meet their track with the government
bridge, thus affording convenient tacili-
ties for visiting the works, at almost all
points of the compass.
With all these grand schemes Of i'm.
provement General Rodman has been as
soclated He has been first and foremost
in urging upon the government the neces
sity OF improving 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