The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-06-07
THE ENGINEERS.
Their removal from this City
to st. Paul.
A telegram from the SEQ
rotary of War.

AS the c0ntempfatea move VI tiio 0nG IN
eer department. of the river Improvement
work first appeared in the ARGUS, so the
information, that the order has temporarily
been reseinded, win also be given to the
public for the first time in this issue of the
ARGUS
As before noted, few energetict citi-
Gems, on learning that there was prospect
that the engineers head quarters would be
removed to St. Paul, went to work to
reach Secretary Lincoln, of the War De-
partment by telegraph. The same citizens
also communicated with Senator Logan,
and the result of those labors was that last
night
TELEGRAM
was received from the Secretary of War
10 the effect that the order removing the
head Quarters of the engineer corps to ST.
Paul would be suspended until an investiga-
tion could be made. This is a victory forRock
Island. as when allowed an opportunity
to represent the situation there is no doubt
hut that the order of removal will be total
ly resclnded
IF RUMoR
can be believed, the reason assigned asking
for removal was that Rock Island was
not healthy city, and in view of that fact
it becomes everyone interested in the well
fare of this city to interest themselves in
nroying the assertion to be without founda-
ton in fact.
The great drawback, apparently, to the
city's health has been the unfortunate loca-
ton of the water works. Whether there is
reason to fear impure water from receiving
the supply from point below the city or
not does not matter, but there can be no
doubt that on this account the city has sus-
tanned an unenviable reputation. 1t does
not sound sanitary to state that the water
supply comes from below where the sewer
age of the city empties into the river.
NO LONGER A REASON.
But even if this was a cause for sickness
it will no longer enter as factor in the
calculation; for through the liberality of
Mr.. P L. Gable the city is now enabled to
construct permanent water works in the
central part of the city, receiving its water
supply from the rapids where the purest
water in the whole river can be obtained.
When these facts become known there is
no reason to doubt the determination of
the secretary of war, who, being native
of this state, could have no reason to in
jure one of its cities by publishing to the
world the fact that few engineers were
removed because it was unhealthy.
A STATEMENT.
The Board of Health has prepared the
following, which viii be sent on to the sec
rotary of war at once.
DEAR sIR;-The undersigned constituting the
Board of Health of the city Of Rock Island, illinois,
represent that they have been inform
ed that an order has been issued by your depart
,attA ting rh Of
corpsof the United States stationed at this place to
move. his headquarters from Rock Island. n, to
upon representations to the effect that maiariai dis
eases prevailed to such extent in this city and
this locality unhealthy TO render the work
of the engineer corps located in said city inefficient
and defective. If there are other and sufficient
learn and therefore protest against such removal
account of the reason above assigned, believing
that the cause for such removal above stated do
not exist and that such removal would infiict upon
the citizens of this city not only very great wrong
but also pecuniary loss AS PROOF on the correct
ness of our Judgment thus beg leave TO
re-er you to the records OF your department during
the last fifty years which viii prove, We believe,
thai the island OF Rock Island during the time II has
been occupied military post has as good Il not
better health record than any other military post in
the United States. We frankly admit that malarial
diseases have always prevailed in this city else
where, varying in extent in different years, but TO
no greater ent believe than in other cities of
the size throughout the Mississippi valley. We
further represent that this city has always been
cep, onaby free from other diseases of all kinds I'M
when citizens have suffered from diarrhoea, or
what is known in the northwest as winter cholera
the has prevailed in the city of Cheago dTi
ring the same time. large proportion OF our citi-
believe that this has been caused by the of
impure water supplied by the city water works which
located in the lower portion of the city. AIDE
quate means have already been provided, and the /
mayor and council have already decided to remove
the city water works to point where the city viii be
supplied with water pure can be procured from
the waters of the Mississippi river There has oc
cured during the past few months mild epidemic |
of eerebro-spnal fever, which has temporarily in
subsidized and prevalence I'm many other cities
In the Mississippi valley leads believe that the
cause such disease not merely local. nor con-
fined alone to this city system OF sewage through
out the city is being rapidly perfected, and be-
eye the sanitary condition of the city will compare
favorabfy with that Of any other city of the
size In the North west and that examination viii show
years last past has been below the average of cities
of tie size. From experience in this city
we believe that an investigation viii prove beyond
any question that those OF the engineer corps and
their attaches who have suffered from malaria dis
eases have not contracted the in about This
city. but while engaged In active service at other
points along the river, both above and below the
health of the engineer corps attaches while
tualy in the city constrained TO believe that
the cause of the application for the removal of the
of the engineer corps from this city is
based upon misrepresentation of the facts. We |
therefore earnestly request that you take such
Ton viii prevent the infection of so great a
wrong and injury upon the citizens of this city
such removal under the circumstances would in |
iict.