Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-03-02
Bailey Davenport'S Record
On the Island I'm
pr0yementS.
The Goose Pasture Arguments
Considered.
How Mr.. Davenport is At Present
Selling Real Estate.
Old ISLANDERS Dishsd Up and He
futed.

The linton mas Ooen In tne heolt. LOT sew
eral years past, of calling Mr.. Davenport an
cold land shark Of rsnting at length
about his goose pastures" of denouneing
him for re.ardiug the growth Of Rock
Island; of calling him "behind the age
and Ofrepresenling him Is being 40 incubus
on our municipal prosperity, and the NOR
tai enemy of poor men. The facts prove
thai no man in the city has doLe more for
the advancement Of Rock Island than Mr..
Davenport. He has been misjudged
simply because his manners and his deeds
are quiet and unobtrusive.
Yesterday morning that sheet called upon
us for his record in regard TO the improve
ments on the Island. We will cbeerfully
give il. Mr.. Davenport was our Mayor in
the summer OF 1861, when the subject Of
the Island Improvements was 6r,t agitsted
Being so largely interested in real estate at
this point, he took lively interest 10 the
matter, aad was ore Of the most prominent
of the gentlemen who gave the scheme
promise Of success. Lengthy articles were
published in the ARGUS advocating the use
Of the Island for It's presen, purposes. Major
Connolly was sent to every leading
city Of the states Of Missouri, Wisconsin
Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, to secure the
republication of these articles in the most
influential journals Of these states, in order
to fAvorsbly concentrate public opinion on
this poiot. 10 the early part Of 1862. Mr..
Davenport induced the City Council to sp-
propriste the sum of 5 500 for the publIcs-
ZION of q pamphlet setting forth the mill
tsry advantages of the Island, and for the
purpose Of paying various necessary eK-
Penses incident to securing the
hshment near our city. This money was
placed 10 Mr.. DavenpOr,'s hands, to be dis
bursed as he saw it, The result can be
seen in the towering arseusls that rise just
across Sylvan Water. A committee was
spPoiated TO visit Washington, consisting
of Mr.. Davenport. Gen. Buford, Major
Con nelly, and Judge Wilkinson. A por-
ton Of the committee visited the national
capital at oree. In December, 1862. q bill
was introduced into Congress BY Senator
Grimes, of Iowa, calling for the
location Of al srmory on the Isl
aud. 10 January, 1868, Mr.. DsveB
port went to Washington, accom- panied By
Judge Wilkinson, to work the Projec
through. Finding a strong opposition man
ifesting itself, Mr.. Davenport induced the
bill to be changed, so that il would reaC
"for the location of an arsenal on the lslsnC
ysrded more favorably, in view Of the fac
that there was then some talk Of rebuildir
the arsenAls at Harper's Ferry. Mr.. Dsv
export found much TO contend with. Chi
csgo, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Peoria, an
other large cities came into the geld, t
a urge the claims of their respective point
-, for the proposed improvement. A deiegs
:. ton Of forty Of the Ablest men Of Chicago
with vast sums OF money at their command
tough. reSolUsely against Rock Island A
parties had e hearing before committe
appointed by Congress for thst purpose, an
!. Rock Island carried the day. 1t was main
: y through the perseverance and infuenc
8 of Nr. Davenport that this grand rssuI
\ was obiained-A result which vastly ou
2 wsirhs ell the improvements which hAv
been made here in the past twenty year
In securing it, Mr.. Davenport expended
# considerable amount Of his own pryat
) fuods, Uhich he has neuer asked the city I
e repay.
When the prison for captured rebel SO
J diers was established on the Island, Mr.. DA'
export, then Mayor, secured bridge to b
built across Sylvan Water at an outlay {
$4,000, in order to obtain the trade Of ii
Island, which has ever since remained wi,
us. The money was placed in bis hand
\, aud carefully aud economically disburseC
- 10 1864, We bslisve it was, Mr.. Dsver
port, then Mayor, rebuilt the bridge acro'
the main stream of Rock River, BY CONTRA
is With Boomer & Co., alta cost of $3.50
n. which was considered the second beat wage
10 bridge in the state at the time i. Wa
ID finished.
Of In the following year, Mr.. DAvenpol
built three bridges across the slough, wit
stone piers and abutments. at cost of { {
At 500. The frs, offer Of the contractors vi
$, SIS 500, but Mr.. d. secured the rsjuctic
Or Of the sum to $4,000.
" 10 regard TO his landed property, NJ
70 Davenport has sold 60 lots within the la
eight months, all TO poor me
giving them four years in which to pay {
= them, and requiring no money down. II
a. prices of these lots have ranged from 81
. 90 $500 spiscs. Mr.. Davenport is al
selling lots on these terms at this very tim
ed al the rate of one day. When he ge
ng through selling of this addition, he propos
to lay of another addition of sixty or eig
ty more lots. He considers it his intert
to sell of property 10 this manner as fast
- possibly. In all this he has made no moi
or display.
~ In the last seven months he has expeI
" ed over IS, 900 for labor, lumber, hardwa
- and teaming, in putting up buildings
y The two acres Mr.. Frysingsr wished
purchase, complained of in the Union, 4
now occupied BY Kahlke's boat yard, e
Kit ploying seventy-6ve men.
The The land Cham berlin & Reynolds want
/ if to lease, COMP planned of in the Union,is N
vas occupied by Keator & Wilson's saw m
&C. employing large force of hands.
aid Mr.. Davenport. has given employment
twelve or fifteen men ell winter at bis CT
mine, furnishing our markets with an arti
of fuel that takes the place of Blossbu
coal.
The statement Of the Union that !
DAvsupors has not paid his taxes is fal
as almost everything else that sheet So