Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-07-12
SECOND ONLY TO NIAGARA.


Eastern Newspaper Mems Estimate of Wa
ter observation-disclosures Attracted.
The representatives of the Great
Eastern Newspaper league, who Wis
tied the tri-cities some weeks ago,
have made a report of their observa-
tions here in the papers they are trav-
cling for in the cities of Boston. New
York and Philadelphia. Davenport,
which got the best of it in the write
up, because she paid for it. has al
ready heard from two Connecticut
and New York manufacturing firms
that express a desire to locate in this
vicinity. The development of the
immense water power facilities at this
point seems to be one of the things
that particularly attract their atten-
ton. Both concerns are said to en-
ploy several hundred men.
The letter, which appeared in the
syndicate papers last Saturday, is
dated at Davenport. 1t says: 1T is
a natural site for manufactures and
commerce. Not only is it located on
the Mississippi river at point where
navigation can be conducted eight
months in the year. but just above
its northern boundary are rapids which
would afford. in connection with cleo
trical development. q water power
second only to that of Niagara.
Directly facing it, and located on
the east bank of the Mississippi are
the cities of Rock Island and Moline,
H., and these three communities,
locally known as the tri-cities. are in
such proximity that they practically
81 To
population of at least 80. 900.
''Rock Island arsenal comprises
about $50 acres, and its GREATEST ength
is about two and one-half miles, it
also being at one point three-quarters
of mile wide.
Upon the plant and environs of
the Rock Island arsenal the govern
ment has already expended the sum
of S14. 600, 900. The arsenal comprises
10 large buildings, and during the war
with Spain, when it proved of meal
culable value 10 the country, 900
m. were employed there. and the
pay roll was 100000 month. Now
there are little less than 800 men
at work in the shops, and the pay roll
is in the vicinity of $50. 600. The
commandant is Mai. Stanhope E.
Blunt, L. S. A. Many eminent army
officers have declared Rock Island 10
be the best site for an arsenal in the
United States, and have urged the
war depart ment to enlarge its scope
in every direction. 1t is certainly
one of the most inaccessible points,
considering the possibilities of foreign
invasion. and at the same time can
easily be reached from all parts of
the union. 1t is ISL miles west of
Chicago, 332 miles north of St. Louis
and 397 miles south of St. Paul.
The water power now available for
the arsenal and for Moline, through
government and corporation i'm
provemeut, is estimated at 1000
horse power. Particular agricultural
implement does not by any means
constitute the city's sole manufactur
ing resource. 1t is a busy place in
other lines, aud one of the strongest |
inducements it offers for the location |
of any shop or factory within its |
bordt rs is the success which has at
tended those already esta blished there. !
There is water power available at all |
seasons and there are plenty of good |
sites at hand
The number of newspapers pub
lished in the tri-cities bears witness to |
the intelligence of the population |
There are five dailies in Davenport, |
three in Moline and two in Rock ISL |
and