davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26
STORIES OF FERNANDO JONES.

Jones. He is the best informed man
on the early history of that city now
living, and his knowledge of real es-
tate matters is invaluable. He has
retired from active business. but still
retains an interest i'm the Title Guar
antee and Trust company, into which
his firm was merged some years ago.
There is hardly an organization, so
ciciy or institution i'm the city on the
membership rolls of which his name
does not appear. As the oldest news
paper man of Chicago Mr.. Jones was
elected an honorary member of the
Press Club of Chicago.
As stated before, Mr.. iJones had at
an early date unbounded faith in a
bright future for this locality. To n
representative of The Argus one day
i'm Chicago he said that he still be-
Iieved that this locality was destined
to be the center of great commercial
activity. He talked entertainingly of
several old citizens whose family
names are stiIl well known in Rock
Island and said he was right i'm pick
ing Chicago as winner and still
believed that Rock Islands future
would again demonstrate the wisdom
of his prophecies.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

TO himself no one would know it.
He has the step of man Of 40, the
bright eye of nm eagle and the rosy
cheeks of a school-boy. On the sail
ing boat that brought Fernando
Jones to Illinois was George Sinclair,
another old resident of Chicago. then
4 mere lad. When the small boat
reached the landing Jones picked up
young Sinclair and carried him
ashore. Many years afterward this
fact raised discussion as to whether
Jones or Sinclair was entitled to n
gold medal offered by the Old Set
tiers society of Chicago to the oldest
living male settler i'm Chicago. Sim
clair maintained that he reached the
village first because Jones held him
in front of him. But it was decided
that the medal belonged to Jones, as
he set his feet on land before he put
down Sinclair.
Mr.. Jones was born in Forrestville.
Chautauqua county. y. Y. a short
time after he came to Chicago his
father followed him and started the
first hardware store in the place.
Fernando went to work there. The
family residence was at that time
at the southeast corner of Dearborn
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL

Meeting the island with the Illinois
shore there are four bridges, the two
original wagon bridges, one to this
city and one to Moline. Il railroad
bridge from this city, which was
changed to give the Rock Island road
a double track in 1894, and Il street
car bridge at the foot of Forty-sec-
ond street put, in place last year.
Ordnance Articles Manufactured.
The articles the arsenal is designed
to manufacture include everything
used i'm the equipment of the three
branches of military service. Cannon
are not east here nor are small arms
made as Yet. although the former are
assembled and mounted and the in
stallation of machinery for the manu-
facture of the latter is under way.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

THE history of the society now so
popularity known in Illinois as The
Fraternal Tribunes began in the year
1897. when the supreme office was To-
Gated in Rock Island. From the very
first its insurance plan was very fav-
orably received in this city. and the
names of hundreds of our citizens.
who became charter members and
aided in locating the order here. can
be found upon the membership roll.
The assessment rates of The Fra
ternal Tribunes. based upon mortality
tables, are higher than most orders
in the field. but so rapid has been the
sentiment in favor of high rates, that
today the management finds this SEN
timent overwhelmingly in its favor
A wise provision of the plan was the
of an emergency fund,
and this growing fund, deposited with
the Chicago Title and Trust company.
of Chicago, is safely invested in in
securities. The emer-
gency fund, it should be said, is
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26
The Water Power.

and completed his education in the
academy at Canandaigua. His early
education was received in buffalo in
the public schools where one of his
teachers was Willard Fillmore. who
afterwards became president of the
United states. After Jones had fin
ishcd his college course he returned
To Chicago. On account of i'll health
he went TO Jackson. Mich. in 1870.
and while there started three news
papers.
Two years later he returned To Chi
cago and n few months later came TO
Rock Island, where he engaged in the
real estate business, and subsequent
~ was Instrumental i'm laying out the
Chicago or Lower addition, which
was plated by Jones. Beardsley d
Garnsey. Mr.. Jones had great faith
i'm tho geographical location of Rock
Island and believed that il had Il flu
ture. In 1854 he went back to Chi
cago and in that year began the
publication of set of abstract books
there and the system he adopted then
is practically the same as in use there
today.
There are few newspaper men in
Chicago who do not know Fernando
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26
The FraternaI Tribunes
A Rock Island Order Founded on Popular Principles

created by setting aside 10 per cent
of assessments. to which is also added
the money saved the order through
scaling certificates on what are com
monty known as untimely deaths.
The progress of the society has
been n steady one and it's record for
good work * recognized among all
fraternals. 1t publishes its own of
fetal paper, The Fraternal Tribune,
whose editor is Robert ReXdale, SUI
preme secretary. This paper goes to
the entire membership and its edi-
torials are widely quoted by the fra
ternal press. The order is fortunate
in having a corps of active workers
in the field whose movements are sup
erintended from the supreme office
in this city.
The record of The Fraternal Tri-
Dunes in the payment of every legiti-
mate claim is most excellent. The
total paid To beneficiaries is now S107.-
7O6.41.. The books further show that
soc. 900 of this money has been paid
TO citizens of Rock Island.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26
y tyA

shops is fully equipped with machin-
cry and only about one-fourth of the
floor space is utilized at the present
time.
Future Plans.
The plans for the future of the ar
senal include the erection of addi-
tional buildings, including two large
store houses at a total cost of over
100000. The fitting up of the shops
with Il fun set of machinery will cost
in the neighborhood of $l.000000
more. Machinery for the largest
small arms plant in the United
States. one capable of turning out
about 1000 magazine rifles day. is
now being installed under the auth
GRITTY of an act of congress- passed
two years ago. This work is now de-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

NEARLY every reader of the Chicago
" papers has heard of Fernando
Jones. but very few. If any, know that
this patriarch whom Chicagoans de
light to honor. was. at an early day.
a resident of Rock Island. and large
~ Unidentified with the city's early
growth. No account of Chicago's
early history is written that fails
to include reference 10 Fernando
Jones. He arrived in Chicago May
26th. 1898. which. by the way, was the
fifteenth anniversary of his birth.
coming in sailing vessel from Buff
falo and landing ut old Fort Dear
born after to- of fifteen days.
Like n wondrous dream the dark
swamp mists that met his gaze on
that May morning have long since
unfolded. and now in his eighty-third
year he sees instead the imposing
structures of great modern city
with their towering points against
the sky.
There is but one thing that
bothers me- said this man Jones,
speaking to n newspaper man the
other day, "and that's my birthday
IT keeps coming back on me every
year" But if he would keep his age
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

Lawrence was placed in command
and under his direction old Fort
Armstrong was built and named after
the secretary of war. 1t was located
on the extreme west end, which at
that time was covered with heavy
growth of trees.
Fort Completed.
The fort was completed in 1917 and
two companies of infantry were
regularly stationed there. There
were no important events till the out
break of the Black Hawk war in 1881
When it became evident that the In
dams were about To make their last
hostile stand ON The east bank of he
river Gen. Gaines came up from -.
Louis with reenforcements and held
a council with the chiefs under the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26
GENERAL VIEW OF ARSENAL SHOPS.

The arsenal also constitutes the most
important depot of army supplies in
the United States, articles manufac-
tured elsewhere being brought here
and stored awaiting distribution.
The repairing of ordnance stores that
have seen use. TOO. forms an import
ant line of industry.
Ordinarily about 500 men are en-
ployed in the arsenal shops, but dur
ing the war of 1898 the number was
increased at short notice to over
1900 and the output of army equip
mcntS was increased many fold. Be
fore that war there We're few stores
on hand and the government was able
to fiji out but a small body of men in
addition to the regular army. In the
rush to provide equipment the local
arsenal became the main dependence
of the nation and under he able man
agement of the present commandment,
Maj. Stanhope +. Blunt, all demands
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26
MAJOR sTANHOPE f. BLUNT.

seven feet, but it can be increased at
any time by merely extending the
water tight dam further above the
island and making it higher below.
As now arranged the government
can secure about 1000 horse power
and the Moline Water Power company
1000 at all times of the year. Ma
chinery has been installed recently
to make use of the greater part of
the power at the disposal of the gov
eminent. IL will he converted into
electricity and distributed to the
various shops i'm this form.
The Chicago, Rock Island g. Pacific
railroad is the only corporation, be
sides the Tri-City Railway company.
which has any admitted rights on
Rock Island. The railway company
built across the island during the
years 1S54-1s56. when civil agent
was looking after the government in
terests there. The first bridge 10 the
Iowa shore was completed so that
the first train passed over il April 81,
1886. This bridge was located some
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

OF the Tri-City Railway company. is
now entirely under the control of the
military authorities.
Reserved for Military.
The first act looking TO the reser-
walton of Rock Island for military
purposes was an instruction given by
the secretary of war to the commits
sioner of the general land office in
1925 to reserve it from sale. I'm 1895
several western sites suitable for ar
senal purposes were examined and in
1910 Il special order was given for the
examination of the island by Capt
William Bell. who was AT that time
stationed ut ST. Louis. Capt. Bell i'm
his report praised the island for its
advantages and laid particular stress
upon the facilities for the develop
ment of water power. feature which
was later Investigated i'm more detail
and ultimately had Il great deal of
weight i'm determining the nature of
the arsenal that has been established.
\ more complete examination of the
possible SITES for an armorv in the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

After the act OF congress in 1862
locating national arsenal on Rock
Island, preparations were begun to
make permanent improvements. The
first building erected was the store
house at the west end of the island,
which alone of all the arsenal build
ings can be plainly seen from Rock
Island and Davenport, and which was
begun i'm 1868. This building is now
useless for the purpose for which it
was designed on account of struc-
tural weakness and is not used. The
10 shops, each covering about an acre
of ground. with the barracks, COM
mandant's quarters and other minor
buildings. were constructed during
the course of the 30 years after the
arsenal was established, at a total
cost of about S6.5OO.O0o. The shops
are located five on each side of the
main driveway in about the center of
the island. Those south of the ave
nue. are for the arsenal and those
north for the armory. All are built
on the same plan. U-shaped with the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

will mount up close to S2,OOO,OOO. The
power plant, as now constructed, is
very substantial in all its details and
should last with very little additional
cost for several decades. A pool is
formed in front of the city of Moline
by means of the dam situated in the
slough about midway of the island.
An additional head is secured by a
dam extending up the river from the
point of the island a mile or more.
The head of water is ordinarily about
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

Drum. J. II. Danforth and H. Y. Stay
maker successfully acting in that ca
paeity.. During that period there
were frequent attempts on the part
of squatters and promoters of various
enterprises to take possession of por-
tions of the island. All. with the eN-
ception of the Chicago q Rock Island
Railroad company, were finally driven
off or bought out and every foot of
ground save that occupied by the
tracks of the Rock Island road and
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

federal prison. Accordingly bar
racks of sufficient capacity to accom-
modate $4,000 prisoners We're con-
structed. From Nov. IL. 1863, when
the prison was opened till July, 1865.
there were 12,2s6 confederate prison
ers confined there. They were, on
the whole, well treated, but there was
Il time when smallpox ragged and
.G9l victims of this and other dis
eases died and were buried ON the is
land. in separate graveyard.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

walls of the fort i'm an effort to avert
trouble. After it had become evil
dent that this could not he accom-
plished the settlers for miles around
were gathered at the fort and kept
there while the soldiers pursued the
Indians. Among the men afterwar d
famous who were on the island dur
ing or about that time were Abraham
Lincoln. then captain of company
of volunteers from the southern par
of the state; Col. Ia chary Taylor, Gen.
Winfield Scott. jefferson Davis. and
{. y. Finley. surgeon general of the
United States army during the war of
the rebellion. Soon after the close
of the war the Asiatic cholera.
brought here by troops from the east
sent to reinforce the ones stationed
here. broke out and wrought much
havoc. II was stamped out by divid-
ing the troops into small detachments
and quartering them in isolated
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

west was made under the provisions
of an act passed by congress in 1871
and the island again came in for
favorable report. The healthfulness
of the location and the near abund-
ance of means of subsistence for
troops were commented upon. From
this time tin 1862 nothing was done
by congress, although the 'suita bility
of the island for arsenal purposes
was kept before that body in various
ways,7
During the war of the rebellion il
was seen that the very circumstances
that made Rock Island a favored
place for the location of an ordnance
depot rendered il also desirable as a
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

its north bank about 500 yards from
the Iowa shore. The entire surface
* Wen above high water mark and
the soil * rich, supporting moderate
growth over the greater part of trees
Of the hard wood varieties. The en-
tire island * based with limestone
rock which affords a stable founda-
ton for the heavy buildings erected
upon it by the government.
The first white men to view Rock
Island are supposed to have been
Fathers Marquette and Joliet. who
made a trip down the Mississippi river
in the summer of 1873. 1t became Il
part of the territory for which
France and England battled in the
French and Indian war and by the
treaty made at the close of the war
of the Revolution il was brought I'M
der the jurisdiction of the United
States. although the Sac and Fox
Indians were in possession. The alb
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

layed by a prospective change in the
style of rifle used by the army, trial
lot of Il new type of arm being under
construction at the Springfield ar
mory. When this is settled the re
mainder of the machinery will be put
in place and the arsenal will then be
in position TO carry the brunt of the
burden supplying the army of the
United States with a fighting equip
ment fast enough to meet any ordi
nary emergency.
Rock Island is closed to the public,
visitors being admitted outside of the
driveway at the west end only upon
passes. The rule against disturbing
in any manner the vegetable or ami
NAL life of the island is strictly en-
forced. As the result its natural
beauty has not been married and it
has become a refuge for varieties of
birds and animals that are ruthlesSly
destroyed elsewhere. The force of
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

soiute title became vested i'm the gov
eminent through a treat made with
the tribes nj 81. Louis in 1904. Dur
ing the war of 1912 there was some
fighting in this vicinity and at the
close of that conflict the Indian tribes
that had taken the side of the Eng
lish had the Americans driven out OF
the country. As the result of the war
ne title of the United States to the
present domain east of the Mississippi
river was recognized.
y treaty of peace was made with
the Sac and Fox Indians in Septem-
Der. 1915. and the following year. on
May 10. Gen. Thomas \. Smith landed
an expedition on Rock Island with
the purpose of erecting a fort. Col.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

camps on the west bank Of the river.
In May. 1896, Fort Armstrong was
evacuated. its maintenance being
then considered no longer necessary.
and few months later all the gov
eminent property there was removed.
The island was left in charge of Gen.
Street. an Indian agent. till 1898, when
Col. George Davenport succeeded him.
holding the position till 1915, The
fort was repaired in part in the year
last named and an ordnance depot
established under command of Capt..
W. X. Shoemaker. In 1915 the stores
were taken to St. Louis. From that
time till 1863. when Rock Island ar
senal was established. the island was
in charge of civil agents, Thomas J..
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26
| SASA |
| $40 |

Valley Certainly in few places of
equal size has the hand of man di-
rected with better effect the efforts
of nature 10 attain perfection.
The greatest length of the arsenal
- 2.Gl miles. its greatest width 1.4GJ
yards and its surface comprises about
go acres. Its south bank * about
200 yards from the Illinois shore and
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

)CK ISLAND. which has
given its name to "a city
and county and which
forms the site of the most
extensive manufacturing
arsenal of the United
States government. * one
of the most beautiful spots
in the upper Mississippi
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

distance above the present one. In
the spring of 1853 the ice pushed one
of the piers % feet down the river
and soon afterward the wind blew the
draw span OFF its mounting SO the
structure had to be rebuilt. When
plans for the buildings now erected
were made it became desirable to Sc
sure the removal of the railroad to
the west end of the island, and the
government and the company togeth-
er built the old bridge on the site of
the present one, AT a cost of about
Sl,000,0n0. The bridge now in use,
which is wider and heavier than the
former one, was placed on the old
piers in the winter of 1S94-1S95. Con-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

and Randolph, and on the site of their
old barn. the tall Unity building has
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26

soldiers maintained is merely large
enough TO care for the premises and
to do guard duty. The officers are
selected rather with reference To
their qualifications as masters of the
arts of peace than their proven valor
on the battlefield. The commandants
since the arsenal was founded with
the term of service here are as fol-
lows:
Maj. c. p. Kingsbury. 1s63-1S64.
Gen. r. j. Rodman, 1SG4-1S7I.
Gen. ID. w. FIagler, 1s7l1SsG.
Col. II. G. Baylor, 1SS6-lss9.
Col. }. N. Whittemore. lsS9-1S92.
Col. r. Il. Burlington. 1S92-1S97.
Maj. S. +. Blunt, 1897.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-04
PHILIPPINE COAL.

The future development of the Phil ippines is probably as little to be fore cast now as were the possibilities of California when Daniel Webster was decrying our then new acquisitions from Mexico. How rich the islands are and what can be made of them under the impulse of American enterprise mo- body knows. It is certain that they contain enormous natural wealth which has been neglected The facts that are perfectly established are in themselves sufficient to show the worth of the is- lands; and it is only reasonable to be- lieve that, with the unenterprising Spaniard making such discoveries as have been made while merely scratch ing the surface of things. vastly great CT wealth awaits the exertions of the untring Americans.
 On another page this morning we publish an account of the investiga- tions of Lieutenant Charles Fl. Burritt, In charge of the mining bureau at Ma nila, as to the coal measures of the Philippines. As long ago as 1927 the Spaniards discovered coal in Cebu, and it has since been found in other islands, Analysis of surface coal from measures not properly developed shows that much of it is free burning and of great value for making steam, Lieutenant Burritt declares that there is no reason why it should not compete all through the Orient with the Japanese and Aus tralian coals so largely used there, The samples already taken show coal suitable for many commercial purposes, and there is no doubt that the mines contain vast deposits far superior to anything yet analysed, The previous neglect to develop these measures in no sense reflects on their availab bility, but simply reveals the unprogressiveness of the Spaniards They found coal in 1927 It was not till 1888 that the government appointed an inspector of mines or tried to have the measures adopted. He was not able to secure the adoption of mining code till 1S46 and the first coal cesson was not granted until 1853. The Spaniards took over twenty-five years to get ready to mine coal, and have since proceeded in only a half hearted way The Americans have only just taken possession of the islands, but they are already studying coals, as they are other things, in scientific. busi- ness-like manner Iii a few years the F'ilpinos may be furnishing the bulk of the coal of the Orient, where the use of coal is in it's infancy. If so, under American tutelage their advance in civ ilization is likely to be wonderfully rapid.-New York Tribune