Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-04
CENTER OF NATION.
How o. NJ. Rabcock Figures Out
Re OK Island is to be
Whole Works.
IS INDICATED BY NATURE
Etiience Borne Ont in MAps-Snb-
ject Like a RO-
nance.

OhAiA lhC pdSt btiiCN NNNA@'
of curiosity and interest have been
awakened among local people on ac-
count Of the facts brought into view
and predictions advanced by Prof. o.
NJ Babcock. of Philadelphia, who, by
studying up the natural construction
of North America, with view to fore
casting the career and destiny of the
country. people and nation. has made
discoveries remarkable from the evil
dence they furnish of the inevitable
as indicated in the aspects of ma
ture. as if by creative design this
country is preuestined for remarkable
achievements.
Vague and underlined apprehensions
Oh this kind have often been expressed
by writer's and speakers, but any well
defined and practical view has never
been advanced until the laying down
Of lines by Prof Babcock in his pro-
phecy expressed in books and lee
lures. Illustrated by the original
maps, which appear to indicate with
unerring certainty the future of
America in all relations of sections.
states, cities or localities. and lines of
intercourse each to any and all to
every portion of the globe. They
throw a searchlight on the entire situ-
alton. revealing n great plan Of civil
evolution developing in eoncealment
from remote antiquity and carried
forward with undertaking unity of
purpose to eliminate on this conti-
nent, where from an eminence hithcr-
to unTeached the reader surveys n
scene of coming grandeur surprising
in reality anything recorded in the
shadowy realms Of romance.
The subject is wonderfully beauti-
full. possessing all the charm of
poetry. while evolving deep truths,
profound yet simple and self evident,
easily understood and remembered
as subject lessons portrayed in the
aspect of nature, so as to be seen with
Il clearness and certainty almost
equal TO the eye Of experience.
Center of Population.
1t has a peculiar interest for the
people of this locality, who are shown
to he connected with all the world
in a way most inspiring in every civic
sense. net only as to government, com
merce and industry, but in point of
StltHC6, ART anu cUuCdllbH.
The commercial meridian and com
mercial equator of the continent are
shown to cross each other here just
half way between Hudson Bay and
the Gulf Of Mexico. and as now APP
pears the center of population will
ultimately find its resting place at or
near this point Rock Island, there
fore. according to Prof. Babcock's
theory. seems to have been suspicious
ly placed in the center of scenic sur
roundings. where the Divine Ruler
created the standard for future and
final sway, where the nation shall
cover the continent and be ruled by
this great central section as the polit-
ical center Of the civilized world.
Prof. Babcock prepared his books
and lectures thousand miles from
here for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the
central city of the Atlantic shore.
where the peace purchased by Penn.
the declaration of independence and
the constitution of the United States
were all framed on the fortieth paral-
lei. and are giving east of character to
civilization for all prospective time.
As he compared continents and
countries ana saw now the elements
of all are combined in America his
views expanded from Philadelphia and
the Keystone state, and he looked out
over North America with its wonder
full areas and its arrangement with in
terspersing water courses. mountain
ranges and other features which
gradually assumed forms of artistic
beauty. with plan and purpose evil
denced in every feature. until, as
plant unfolds into central flower.
spot Of beauty bloomed in the great
valley where observation proved the
reality of his waking dream.
Dream is Realized.
Imagination has become realization
and his mission has become verified
in substantial truth Here he thought