Rock Island Argus., 1872-03-09
ROCK ISLAND.
soMETHINa or ITS PROSPECTS.
Another new Enterprise.

~ Another new Rntsrpriss.
htcok years of steady perseverance for
few quiet hard-working msn-workipg un-
der the heavy load of isolation from neigh
borly settlements, the almost total absence
Of cssh receipts for their labor and its pro-
ducts, and the scsnt assistance they we're
able to procure--to start Rock Island as
man ufacsuring city. This was many years
ago. Those men who started our older
manufacturing concerns, have grown rich
and in many instances, left their work to be
carried on BY younger hands, trained care
fully for the superinteudence and conduct
Of establishments already very large and
growing more rapidly now than ct any pre-
viOus time in their history. As time wen,
on persevering appeal to the common sense
of the nation brough, Us the location Of the
Arsenal here, for the government saw that we
are the great central point, and to mark the
fact determiued to stamp Us as being cen
tral. In 1854, the Chicago, Rock lslaod
& Pacific Railroad came to us from the
East, and connected Us with all the princi-
pal points between here aud New York.
Next the Mississippi & Missouri road, join
ing with the former in = bridge at this
point, stretched out West to Iowa City
A Toia-;ne, tba.a o.-a .ba p RaoJ Tsts
4 Peoria, the Western Union, the Rookie
l. Rock Island, the North Western branch
of the Rock Island 4 Pacific, and the Dsv,
export & st. Paul Railroads, with all thsil
numerous arteries aud branches stretching
in every direction, recognizing US as sgrea
center. Manufactures and commerce in
creased with long stride; the buyers of tn,
West came to us to procure goods &
Wholesale for their supply, becaus,
they found the same goods here at Chicago
aud St. Louis prices, and 50 we're enabled
TO save distance of travel, time which i
money, aud cost OF freight, This so i'm
portAnt consequence was brought about b
the fsciiiIies afforded to osr merchants 10
laying in their heavy stocks. via the gres
Pennsylvania Road direct to us from tn
Atlantic coast, thus placing Us, in that re
spect, on precisely the came footing a
Chicago. As il in recognition Of our in
portsnt fu,urs-thst future now so speedil
becoming present-the enterprise Of one {
our citizens erected for our city g hots
which in its proportions, design and cap.
city in every way msy be ssid to be nonr
mental, and would be source of pride I
any city 10 the country. 0sher iuportSr
undertakings multiplied and progressed
, buildings went up on every side, aud ever
available spot OF land was covered.
sono instances, however. in many instance
= We may say, valuable sites IN the best PAL
Of the city are at present occupied by III
small buildings Of our original date, wal
Ibg for the hand OF the ski.lful architeC
and builder, set in motion BY tho though
fol csp1isliSi, to sweep them away and raj.
in their stead building, OF more i'm posin
and suitable appearance. Even at this nc
ment news reaches us which seals the door
OF some of the landmarks Of tie tim
We are 30 fast leaving behind u,
Negotiations are nc" pending with = vie
TO the immediate erection Of a splendi
block OF Eve new stores-opposte the HA
per House block-S0 feet from, by 100 fe,
deep, three stories high with basement, an
built IN fret class style, of brick with stou
fscIngs. Mr.. Taylor yesterday ieased
Field Bros. bis building on Washington S
which be proposes TO extend from Wssl
ington St back to the alley, lao feet. with
frontsge of 2s feet Field Bros occupy th
6rst story and basement for their wholesa
trade, which has increased to such propo
tlons ss TO nece siiae tew quarters. Thss
evidences OF and preparations for progre,
and improvement; show the aninus Of ID
people, aud especially the capitalists
spirit already e,inced by the steps recent
taken to inIuce men to come and local
here, because II will be TO their Advsntag,
BY getting up pamphlet which is to civ
q con prehensve view oe the facilities "
offer to enterprise and capital.