Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-11
COMEDIES THE CLAIMS.

| A Chicago Paper Thinks the Capitol
ofthe U. =. Belongs on Hfock ISL.
and.
The ARGUS has from time to time noted
the efforts that have been made in vari-
GUS parts OF the country, not emanating
from this community alone, to bring
about discussion of the subject OF the
removal of the capitol of the United
States from the Potomac to the Missis-
sippi, the site most favored being the ISL
and of Rock Island, the universal fitness
of which none west of the Alleghanies
will question. The location of Rock
Island being as it is in the centre of the
country, of wealth, of population. of ag-
ricultural as well as its geographical
adaptabilitY has all been detailed at
length. The Davenport Democrat, Gazette,
as has also been noted, has been publish.
ing an interesting series of articles on
the subject of the transfer of the capitol,
urging, OF course, the claims of Daven-
port.
Now comes the Chicago Times conced-
ing the claims of this community. la its
issue of yesterday it contained the fol>
lowing editorial in reference to the mat
ter:
MIR. Reaves, the glorifier of St. Louis
as the future great" has gone to the
realm where capital cities, SO far as we
are advised, are of no account. He lived
to see the future great the merest
shadow OF Chicago and Washington still
the capital, growing in beauty on the
banks of the Potomac, Notwithstanding
his demand that il be transferred to the
banks of the Mississippi for the glorifica-
ton of St. Louis. But because Reaves
Is dead and the colossal goddess of liberty
stands content, because she has to, on the
dome CT the capitol at Washington. shall
there be no agitation for the removal of
the seat of national government to the
valley OF the Mississippi. st. Louis, of
course, isincapable OF further effort. II
is lost in the laziness of content. But a
more vigorous and imaginative peo-
pie live up stream. In Illinois they
are Rock Islanders. In Iowa they
are denizens of Davenport. Be-
tween them is the government reser-
walton upon an island where republic
which hopes never to 60 to war is con-
tinuslly engaged in gun making 1t is
beautiful island. The people of Dav-
export and the residents of Rock Island
declare that no such spot is to be found
elsewhere on the republic. There is the
very spot upon which the Goddess of Lib
erty aforesaid should take up her abode.
There congressman should get their pay
There the wheels of government should
revOlve by water power. No malaria
in the atmosphere of Rock Island; no
Potomac flats breathing death>dealing
eftuvia. There model white house
may be erected into which Mrs. Harri-
son may move confident that with
ordinary prudence she will be free
from Illness. There Russell Harrison,
the first born, Russell, the prince and
heir apparent, may resort without
danger to a health precious to the
republic. There, both war and navy
will be at home, the treasury will be
safe. and agriculture, nourished in the
very centre of the corn belt, NAV laugh
IL uio It's vi lntEt
the department of the interior will be in
the interior in fact as in name.
1t is the very place, breasting the
Father of Waters between the great
states of Illinois and Iowa A local
journal modestly declares; I'VE could
enumerate many excellent. reasons why
Davenport should be so highly honored,
but as the movement has come from out.
side the state we prefer to have others
discuss the situation and simply wish the
movement gOdspeed."
This is proper recognition of the fact
that the nation must settle the mOmen-
tous question. but, merely in way of pre-
caution, 1t may be asked: will Davenport
be ready Hospitality to entertain congress
at the December session in case the re-
moval should suddenly be decided uponi