Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-30
THE PROPER PLACE.

Where the Seat OF Govern ment OF the
Nation should Be-Practlcsl Rea-
sons Why 1t should be Moved
Here.
The Davenport Tribune of yesterday
contains lengthy article on the subject
of the removal of the national capitol
from tile Potomac to tho Mississippi,
and reechoes the many good reasons
why the change is desirable. The
ARGUS. as its readers know, has alluded
very extensively to this matter on many
occasions. but the Tribune says:
To many. the idea of removing the
capital at all. was at first absurd, and
therefore ridiculed. But after they be-
gan to reflect, next came, why not3"
And then, if it be removed, why not be-
fore all other localities, to Davenport,
or the Rock Island locality. where there
are three thriving cities within a radius
OF as many miles, in one of the healthiest
as well as most beautiful localities in the
west or in the whole country, and the
great Rock Island arsenal planted on an
island between them. owned by the
government, with its many unoccupied
acres upon which could be erected many
department buildings2 The ridicule ex-
pc cted came only to small extent. but
it is so over-balanced by the serious at
tention it has drawn to the subject it,
self. of a removal of the national capital
to some more central point. say on the
banks of the Mississippi river. whether
at Dave nport or not, that the Tribune
feels the suggestion was good, and not
one to be laughed away or laughed
down however much it may be opposed.
The fact simply island Gen. Scnofield
on recent visit here admitted il, that
when the west determines the national
capital shall he removed to central To-
cality. and is solid or united in designat-
ing the point, the capital will be removed.
Four new states will be added to the
strength of the west in few months,
and fifth. Wyoming, must soon follow.
With the great preponderance of legisla-
tive power belonging to the west, and the
population and wealth and enterprise
thus represented in congress. the west
will not many years longer consent to the
national capital remaining where it is, in
the extreme east. The question of its
removal was several times agitated when
the west was weak in all the elements of
its statehood or of population. Then
the ques ton might have been ridiculed as
it was. but not now.
The Peoria Transcript, in referring to
this revival of the subject says that many
years ago the claims of Nauvoo, ILL.,, on
the Mississippi, were strongly urged. and
very good reasons given why the removal
should be made. Afterwards, the ques>
tion again came up, and DR.. Beardsley,
of Burlington. in the Iowa legislature,
advocated the removal to KeOkuk.
Sill later, we all recollect the Ravis agita
ton to have the capital removed to St.
Louis. The Transcript says that serlous>
ly, the removal of the capitol to some
western point is a matter worth consider
alton. II would be best not only because
il is demanded on account of being
nearer tie center of our population. but
because here is the center of commercial
and industrial activities. The mighty
Mississippi is the main artery of the ma
ton. Above all, it is demanded by con-
siderations of health. Washington is
confessedly the most unhealthy city in
the United States. The malaria from the
Potomac flats has shortened the lives of
some OF the most illustrious figures in
American history. During a portion of
the year the population fees from it as
they would from a pestilence. By and
by these facts will procolate through the
minds of our statesmen. and they will
lift the national capital from its effete
and malsrial surroundings and set it down
in the great. growing and practically
boundless west.