Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-10-28


tatives and by Local Citizens-The Wood
men Building Inspected-The Island
| Trp-Maj. III. c. Connolly Revives Inter-
| esting RecoIIections.
| After the iaunt over to Rock Island
arsenal and the return trip through
Moline, the congressional delegation
which composed Rock Islands guests
Yesterday, dined al the Harper, and
the visitors. with the exception of Con-
| gresham G. w. Prince, who was
obliged to leave the city on the
evening Burlington train, were then
taken in hand by Maj. G. w. Halves,
head clerk. and escorted to the Wood
men head office, and shown through
the magnificent building of the order.
The distinguished gentlemen were all
| much i'm pressed with the magnitude
of the society and listened attentively
and with much interest to the ex-
plantations on the part of Maj. Halves
of the workings of the society, it's
objects, benefits and beauties as the
inspection proceeded.
The congressman were then taken
to the Rock Island Club. where they
were heartily greeted by the members
who were in the building headed by
President Bahnsen, who had been out
of town during the day. An evening
of social enjoyment followed. during
which President Bahnsen made a
short address, in which he spoke of
the honor the club. as well as the cit
liens generally, felt in the visit of
the distinguished gentlemen and the
opportunity to entertain them. Cor
dial and happy responses were
made by Congressman X. r.
Hit, Walter Reeves and V.
Warner, each of whom in his own
way spoke of the impression he had
gained during the day, of the gratiii-
cation with which he had viewed Rock
Island arsenal and the Hennepin
canal, and of the realization which
they all felt of the Importance of each
and of the increased interest that
they would feel in both hereafter.
The gentlemen also spoke of the
warmth of Rock Islands welcome and
their appreciation of the social fea
lures provided for their enjoyment
while here by the club and other
wise. There were also remarks
by Judge w. Ii. Gest, who was
colleague in congress with Congress
man Hit, and by A 4. Dart
The Trip to the Island.
The trip to Rock Island arsenal and
Moline in the afternoon proved in
every sense most pleasant and profit
able affair. 1t was arranged by W. Ii.
Marshall, vice president of the Rock
Island Club, in the absence of Presi-
dent Bahnsen, and the party, which
went to the island in carriages, num-
bered altogether about thirty, includ-
ing the four congressman and Editor
Eaton, of Rockford, and the escort of
citizens from Rock Island and Moline.
Mai. Blunt and staff met the visitors
on the steps of the officers quarters
builning, and welcomed them heartily,
and after leading the way TO his oflils
Msj. Blunt made a snort address,
speaking of his qualification at the
opportunity to address congress,
and then he put in convincing, eff
fective plea for the appropriations
that are necessary to make the arsenal
what congress has contemplated that
it should be. He referred IN detail to
the action of the last congress in
making provision for the establish
ment of small arms plant at the
arsenal, and of the $500, 900 necessary
to install the same. He compared the |
crowded, cramped condition of SPRING |
field arsenal with that of Rock Island |
arsenal, where seveu-tenths of the |
space of expensive and costly |
buildings erected TO last for
ever is going to waste. He called |
attention to the requirements for a |
new hospital of pressed Milwaukee |
brick to cost about $17 900 to |
take the place of the present dilaPi-
dated ana disgraceful building. The |
ma jor's explanation of the arsenal |
was comprehensive and the readi-
ness with which he ans wered all ques-
tions put to himby the congressman to-
gether with the earnestness with which
he presented the case of the arsenal
made a splendid impression on the
visitors A tour of the arsenal shops
was then made, after which Maj.
Blunt directed that the carriages
he driven to his residence,
where the party was entertained by
the commandant, and returning to
the carriages the trip was resumed
the island to Moline, where,
at the invitation of G. ii. Deere, the
great shops of the famous pillow fac
tory which he controls were visited,
and then the return was made to Rock
Island.
Congressman Hit and Warner left
for their respective homes this morn
ing. and Congressman Reeves re-
manned over. the guest of Mr.. and
Mrs. +. G. Allen, of Moline.