Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-29
THIS is PROPER.
The Project for the Removal OF tho
National Capital from Washington
70 this Locality d God ikeasOns.

The Project for the Removal OF the
National Capital from Washington
TO this Locality. Good ifeasOns.
The Davenport Democ, at Gazette has
been agitating the matter of removing
the national capital from Washington to
this locality. proposition which, of
course. will receive the hearty endorse
ment of every soul in Rock Island. This
is not a new idea; it has been discussed
with increasing favor from time to time
for years, and will eventually receive the
approval OF congress. 1t will be re
membered that the subject was ably
discussed recently ut a meeting of the
South Rock Island debating society, and
some excellent reasons then brought out
were published in the ARGUS at the
time, the strongest and most convincing
of which being the geographical and
climatic ad vantages, and the fact that it
would be away from any point of naval
attack from the sea, and under the pro-
lection of the largest arsenal in the
world in the event OF war. The Henne-
pin canal. too, would be of immense
benefit to the capital if located at this
point. Our esteemed Iowa contemporary
figures IL that If the seat of government
were removed it would be located at
Davenport. OF course il would be placed
at Rock Island as the national arsenal is
here, but this fact does not detract from
the logical arguments advanced by the
Davenport paper, as to why the change
should be made. Read them:
This and nothing less is the object
sought for. IL has come to our notice
that for some time secret, but powerful
movement has been going on actively,
both here and In other states, having in
view the removal of the capital to Iowa,
and we are proud to learn that our city of
Davenport has been selected as the most
desirable location from every standpoint.
From what we can CLEAN at this time,
chiefly through our exchanges, the pro-
Ject emanated from prominent parties re-
ciothS ia OuiO, w anu Quiet states,
with whom few of our active citizens
have been quietly working in harmony.
Owing to the illness of Mrs Harrison,
ana other members of the white house,
through the fever-tainted atmosphere of
that Demonstrated, ill-ventilated build
ing, the necessity of new buildings has
been again forced upon the attention o.
the public. and naturally the question
arises Why spend more money on our
capitol buildings in Washington? For
many years the desirability of more CEN
tral location, where valuable government
property, and still more valuable archives,
would be safe from danger of destruction
by q hostile navy, has been patent to all.
We therefore hail with satisfaction the
proposed change, not from mere selfish
reasons, but a patriotic desire for the good
OF the many. From the arguments ad-
vanced the movement has at least the
semblance of successful result. 1t
has been pointed out that this is the
geographical centre, and almost the
centre of populations situated on the
grand old Mississippi in the very heart
OF the finest part OF America. The gov
eminent owns some acres of land, part
or which is used by the finest arsenal on
the continent. upon which ten millions
Of dollars have been already ex
pended. and where free site for govern
ment buildings can be had. The eli
mate is remarkably healthy and agrees
able. Davenport IS in the centre of all
the great cities of the central states.
which might aspire to the honor of hav-
ing the capitol within their limits, and
on that account largely, though by no
means only, it is regarded as happy
compromise, more acceptable to the
many. than any other. We could enum-
crate many excellent reasans why Daven-
port sh ould be so highly honored. but as
the movement has come from outside the
state, we prefer to have others discuss
the situation, and simply wish the move
ment God speed.