The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-08-07
.How Gentleman Looks at Rock Island :.

H. 4. nun, from Culd"hteI' 'hOii''
this city, and one of them wrote TWO
column letter to the Coldwater Republican,
giving his impressions in regard to our
locality, and from which we clip the loi-
! lowing 81
We are now enjoying the hospitality OF
our I'D townsman and jolly trlenu tienrS
/ p Hull ana MS pleasant ana agreeaoN
/ lady He has one of the most tNSY
of the many pleasant homes IN hocK Isl,
and-a home in the true sense OF the Woru
situated midway between the heaft OIL
that city and the thriving city OF Moline,
which, by the way, in few years Will
he consolidated with Rock Island, making
n citv of 10000. The view from the bal
cow where am writing is as picturesque
and romantic as any on the Hudson river,
10 the left can be seen the city of payen-
mort. ouposite is East Davenport, to the
right the city of Moline, and far beyond
up the Mississippi, and across INTO Iowa
we can see a distance of 10 miles III
front, hundred rods distant, Is kocE lslahu,
an isle Of 900 acres upon which the great
arsenals, magazines and workshops OF the
Government are being erected UVer
800 workmen are employed, and mliilohS
of dollars are 10 be expended; n large
unoccupied building, bearing date ioo2'
stands at the south end OF the Island
\ which goes by the name OF the condemn,
ed building condemned ON account OF
Iocotion. Three massive buildings, the
flooring in each covering an area OF toul
4 acres are already built, one is partially
; constructed while the acres of stone, upOI
which the ne-cutters are busily engaged
: give promise of what more is to be done
Congressional appropriations do not CIV
out. Ten more smaller buildings are to 2
up before the work is done The stone /
a brought from Joliet We counted owe
y 500 cannon lying beside one of the carriag
e drives. The island is being laid out wit
q beautiful drives, and is already connecte
s by wire. bridges with Moline at the cas-
: end and Rock Island and Davenport at tn
west end. The plans were made unde
the supervision Of General Rodman, forme
commander of the post. Tie died at tn
Officers Mansion, on the island, and
buried at a spot selected by himself, nea
70 the east end, about twenty rods from tn
70 National Cemetery \ neat iron fence Ell
closes his grave, and plain Keystone graz
tie monument. costing $1,000, upon whic
&c is inscribed the words, "R 'dman. BJr
no July 81. 1916. Died June Is, 49,
nd Efe,sized statue, by Chicago sculptor,
r. 10 be placed there The General name
the river on the Illinois side "Sylva
Water" The Water Power Company
OF formed by the owners of property trontiT
h. the Sylvan Water giving 100000 al
N. the Government S2Ou,UOO, has put da
Il. 4 ha sd ~
" the water is used tn propel most
Is the machinery in the great shops and ia
he tories at Moline. We counted 81 CAT
On for Turbine wheels opposite Moline me
-, Of them in use. Forty-two Turbine whet
are Ia he used by the government at TIA
rs short distance below Moline.
his Rock island can boast of having one
the largest and finest hotels in the Mort
west-the Harper House--ereeted a
old furnished throughout by Mr. Harper, o
ar. OF the enterpriSiug citizens Of that pla'
m All the cooking heating and washing
ted done bv steam. There are > employees
the the house 4S rooms for guests, all turni'
rad ed with elegant walnut furniture aud b
lies spiral springs and mattresses. The Wa
ere of every room in the house are adorr
I'M with beautiful chromoS, and a bible IN Z,
st room. 0uartu size Mr.. Harper, a man
ris large wealth has spared no expense
for make it a model house in every particul
and for once we could say visit to
kitchen and cook room Of a hotel did
take away our appetite. The parlors c
and tain some choice aud costly paintings, ,
nb, Mr. Harper showed Us portrait OF h
self when - years of age, painted by
heu Buchanan Read, when II years OF age