Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-20


CIass-CoI. Burlington Congratulated.
j. L. Stafford, secretary of the Rock
Island Club, has received the follow
ing communication from Secretary of
the Navy John ID. Long, in reply to
the joint petition of the city council
and club in regard to the naming of a
war vessel in honor of the city of
Rock Island:
Navy Department, Washington.
May 17.-Sir: The department is in re-
ceipt of your letter of the 18th instant
enclosing copy of petition signed by
the mem bers of a joint committee of
the city council of Rock Island and the
Rock Island Club, urging that one of
| the future vessels OF the navy be
named the Rock Island" This COM
munication. with enclosure, has been
placed on file for future consideration
| in the selection of names for vessels of
the appropriate class.
(Signed,) j. ID. LONG, Secretary.
The communications forwarded to
the secretary of the navy are APP
pended:
To the Hon. John D. Long, Secre-
rotary of the Navy, Washington, ID.
C.-On behalf of the city of Rock ISL
and. ILL.,, the undersigned, in their
respective capacity, most respectfully
ask that in the future naming of .the
various projected additions to our
national navy, the city of Rock Island
be favorably remem bered by bestow
ing upon some suitable craft, the
name of the City of Rock Island or
Rock Island.n
While we flatter ourselves that the
name of our fair city is not I'M
known to the honored secretary of
the navy, nevertheless we beg to
briefly fortify our modest request with
following:
Some Arguments Made.
AS public spirited citizens we own
TO pardonable pride in the name of
Rock Island-situated on the east
bank of the most magnificent water
way of our continent, we do not con-
slider ourselves purely ''land-lubbers."
Our city is one of the most flourish
ing and beautiful along the Mississippi
river. Geographically, we are mid
way between the city of St. Louis and
the cities of St. Paul and Mime
apolis. no city on the Mississippi
river between said named points, a
distance of about one thousand miles.
having a namesake in our navy. Dur
ing the war with Spain, Rock Island
furnished more than her quota of
Naval Reserves, aside from our local
company of volunteers taking part in
the Porto Rican campaign, we having
our representatives even at the de-
struction of Cervera's fleet. One di-
vision of the. Naval Reserves is located
at this point.
We are near the mouth of the I'LL
nois and Mississippi canal, popularity
known as the Hennepin canal, event |
ually connecting the great lakes with
the Gulf of Mexico. We are at the
foot of the Rock Island rapids, Ia |
miles in length, with their latent en-
ergy fraught with marvellous posi- |
billities. We are port of entry es-
tablished by act of congress. One of |
the greatest railway systems of this |
entire globe bears the name Rock ISL |
and. But what possibly may ap-I
peal most strongly in behalf of our
prayer is the magnificent arsenal at
this place-the greatest in the United |
States. Is it not fitting that the navy |
should remember by an act of grace
full courtesy, the powerful and eff |
cient aid extended by the army,
Rock Island arsenal, in which |
our local pride is infinitesimal when
with the pride so Justly |
felt by the nation at large. The ar
senal, as is well known, is located on
one of the most beautiful islands
within the confines of our continent,
its name also being Rock Island. In the
history of our government
the name of Rock Island takes a
prominent place
We beg to indulge the hope, there
fore, that our city, our state and our
nation, may feel an added pride in the
addition Of Rock Island" to our
navy, and to the end that these our
petitions may be duly considered at the
proper time, we beg that they may be
placed on file for future reference with
other arguments submitted to YOU in
behalf of Rock Island prior to the re-
cent naming of war craft. Most re-
spectfully.
T. J. MEDILI- ia. H p. SIMPSON.
G. AIBsRTJoHNsoN, B. d CcTSEILY,
d. D. EL"ELT W G Ms GI9HGE T. PRICE
Joint Committee of City Council and Rock
Island Cluo.
Secretary Stsford's Letter.
Rock Island, ILL.,, May IL. 1899
Hon. John ID. Long, Secretary of the
Navy, Washington, ID. Gear Sir:
It is my honor and pleasure to sub
nit herewith memorial adopted at
he last meeting of the Rock Island
Club. an organization formed for the
of the commercial and
social welfare of the city of Rock Isl
md
In this connection beg to say that
he resolutions thus adopted were |
prepared by joint committee of the
lub and the city council. and of
which committee Hon. T. j. Medill,
mayor of the city. was member
The resolutions were also formally /.