The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-04-02
ARsENAI. MArTrRs.

Inc Ionowing petition has Just peen
printed for circulation in Rock Island, Mo
fne and Davenport, and we have been re-
quested to publish it and to ask the Union
and the Moline Rerie,o and all the papers
in Davenport to copy it, in order that the
people may have an opportunity to read
and consider it before it shall be presented
for their signatures
/ To the Hon. John b. Hawley and the Hon.
/ Aylett X. Cotton, members OF Congress
/ from the Rock Island, Ills, and the Dav-
export, Iowa, Districts
/ GENTLEMEN The undersigned, citizens
/ of Rock Island, Moline and Davenport, re
! specially represent to you that large num-
bers of families of permanent residents of
! these cities have become in measure, de
pendent upon Government employment at
Rock Island Arsenal that their services
are necessary i'm order TO enable the Gov
eminent to carry forward its contemplated
Improvements at the Arsenal; that many
traders, business men and mechanics are
largely interested in furnishing supplies
for these families but that, as the appro-
priatiOns have lately been expended, these
resident artiZans and laborers at the Arse
nal receive employment only about five
months in the year, from July to Decem-
Der, leaving them to shift for themselves
as best they can during the other seven
mOnths-the most inclement months in the
year and that portion Of the year in which
1t Is the most expensive 10 live. They also
represent that the merchants, traders and
mechanics of these cities, who furnish sup
plies for these families lose very consid.
cradle portion of their income because of
the irregularity and uncertainty of work at
the Arsenal, in consequence Of the tran
silent men employed, which transient men
for lack Of steady work. are discharged
and obliged to leave for other points, with
out the means to pay their Indebtedness.
Ii is also represented that considerable
numbers Of transient single men, or stray
glers, from various parts of the country,
come here and live in camps on the bluffs
or wherever they can find unoccupied
timber land near us in the summer. oh.
tanning employment at the Arsenal, and on
the strength of being employed by the
government, get credit for groceries, meats
and other other supplies. and, when paid
on, leave without liquilating their indebt
ednesS, thus injuring the business men Of
these towns, and depriying deserving resi-
dent laborers Of needed employment.
For these, and many other reasons which
viii naturally suggest themselves To your
minds, we respectfully represent that the
interests of these towns. and of this vicini
ty, could be advantageously consulted and
looked after iii the expenditure of ammo
1VhnY,t la.vt,,nnt u l.
service. y very considerable portion ot
the work could be done in winter lust as
well as in Summer-Such as stone cutting
carpenter work, breaking stone for macad-
amizing, grading, when frost is not in the
grOundE &c., &c. The work of the wear
at the Arsenal is nearly all performed be-
tween July lst and Dec LIST. At least
during one-half of the other seven months
there Is no better season in the wear eS-
Pecla!ly the months Of April, Nav and
> June for outdoor work of all kinds-while
during the balance Of the time men could
be pr1htably employed in sheds and shopS.
at stone cutting, stone breaking. and car
pentering
What we ask Is that, if not inconsistent
with the interests Of the Government. the
expenditure OF money should be so arranged
a. u give employment to permanent resi-
dents during the entire year. And this we
think can be done We believe it is verv
important and necessary To the interests Of
the Government to secure and encourage
permanent resident hell 10 carry forward
its great undertaking here-but this can
not be done if transient help is employed
IN such large numbers from July u De
cember as to use up the money appropri-
ated, and leave the resident help idle the
other seven months. liable TO all the ills /
which befal families having irregular and
uncertain employment And we ask vuu, /
Gentlemen, 70 try and make such a repre- I
sentatlon of the case Of your petitioners
as will, without iDiuring the Government
service, promote the interests of the per I
manent resident employees at the Arsenal.
and the prosperity OF this locality generally .
Dated April ID. lS73