Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-15
TIE PUBLIC BUILDING.
The Bill that is to Give us System
attic Federal Quarters.
The Matter ~ IL at Present Stands
Before Copgress and an Interesttng
Report or Rock Island's Advantages.

Hne n utter - ~ ~ EreBcmt Ssoou'
Before Congress and an Interestins
Report OF Rock Islands Advantage
Congressman Gest has sent the ARGUS
a copy of his bill for q public building
at Rock Island, which on Dec. 90 last
was read twice. referred to the COMMITTEES
on public grounds and buildings and or,
dered printed, and from which 1t came
March 8 with amendments that the ap-
preparation be $75, 900 instead Of $500.
600 with recommendation that it be 90
adopted. The bill as favorably reported.
is as follows:
Be it enacted by the senate and house
Of representatives of the United States of
America in congress assembled. That the
secretary Of the treasury, be. and he is
hereby authorized and directed to pur-
chase q site for and cause to be erected
thereon a suitable building. with fire
proof vaults therein, for the accommoda-
ton of the internal revenue Office, post
Office, United States engineer Office and
other government Offices. at the city of
Rock Island. Ill. The plans. specifics-
tions, and full estimates for said building
shall be previously made and approved
according to law, and shall not exceed,
for the site and building complete, the
sum of $4,000; provided. that the site
shall leave the building unexposed to
danger from fire in adjacent buildings by
an open space o! not less than forty feet.
including streets and alleys; and that no
money appropriated for this purpose
shall be available until valid title TO the
ste for said building shall be vested Ia
the United States. nor until the state of
Illinois shall have ceded to the United
States exclusive jurisdiction over the
same, during the time the United States
shall be or remain the owner thereof, for
all purposes except the administration of
the criminal laws of state and the service
of civil process therein. For the pur-
poses Of this act the sum of So. 900 is
hereby appropriated, out OF any money in
the treasury not otherwise appropriated,
the same to be expended under the drec.
ton Of the secretary of the treasury.
In reporting to the house upon the bill,
Congressman Post, of the committee on
public grounds and buildings. submitted
the following:
The committee on public buildings and
grounds. to whom was referred the bill
providing for the erection of q public
building at Rock Island. H. having had
the same under consideration, report it
back and recommend its passage with
amendments
The name of the city of Rock Island
is known throughout the entire country
1t is situated on the Mississippi river. at
the foot of the Upper or Rock Island
rapids. II has now q population of H.
600 and upwards, which is steadily in
creasing. II was the original terminus of
what is known as the Great Rock Island
Route" 1t is now a railroad center. The
Chicago s. Rock Island. the Chicago,
Milw aukee & St. Paul, the Chicsgo,
Burlington & Quincy, the Rock Island &
Peoria, and several short>line roads Gen.
ter at Rock Island. For forty years it
has been a large shipping point ON the
Mississippi river, having an excellent
harbor and great producing and manu-
featuring interest in and about it, not ex-
ceeded on the Mississippi river between
st. Louis and st. Paul.
The entire city is lighted by electricity
and supplied with water by the Holly
system. 1t has several lines of street
cars leading to the adjoining cities of
Moline and Milan. and as fine hotels as
are to be found west of Chicago. It's
of lumber. plows, stoves,
glass. knives and scissors. plated work.
carriages and wagons, furniture and the
like industries have for years been in
large, and many hundreds of
laboring people are employed therein
The Rock Island arsenal is sit
uated on the island Of Rock
Island and connected with the
city Of Rock Island BY bridges. This is
the largest arsenal in the country. It'll
supplies more than two thirds of our
army. The government interests at Rock
Island are the postoffice. the United
States engineers Office in charge of the
on the upper Mississippi,
and the deputy collector of internal reve-
nue.. The present quarters for these offs
ces are inadequate and for them the gov
eminent pays large amount for rental.
Gross receipts Of the postof1e at Rock
Island for the wear ending June so, 1889,
were $2S. 376. rs. showing a steady in
crease from year 10 year. Suitable
ground for building can be obtained at
a reasonable cost. 1t is the opinion of
the committee that the interests of the
government would be subserved and q |
saving of money be made by the erection
of public building at Rock Island, and
they recommend the passage of the bill
with the following amendments
In line eleven strike out two hundred"
and insert 'seventy-f1ve."
In line twenty-five strike out 1.-TWO
hundred" and insert seventy five"
At the meeting of the Citizens Inn
prevement association Thursday night
the sentiment was expressed that Rock
Island had not Jared as well proportions
ately on the amount Of the appropriation
as Galesburg. Burlington. Davenport and
other cities, and some expressed them
selves as favoring asking congress for an
increase In the amount. This would not
he the part of policy. Rock Island ought
to have better building, but it would
not better its chances for the sue.
cess OF bill TO raise any objections
as coming direct from Rock Island
now. There are outside congfessmen
who believe that Rock Island should
have had larger appropriation
and may SO express themselves when
the bill comes up on its passage. Rock
Island win be grateful for any assistance
that may be rendered In increasing the
amount there. but 1t Is too late for any>
one hare to ask q change. That should
have been looked after before the COM