Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-23
NO PLACE LIKE ROCK ISLAND.
Gov. Van SAINT Declares skies Are Bluer
md Hills Greener Here.

md Hills Greener Here.
Il cannot find words to express the
great pleasure it gives me to meet with
YOU. and | want TO thank you for the
cordial reception accorded me. Since
meeting and greeting you, | realize as
II never did before that there is no
lplace like home. | have met the play
mates of my youth. the boys with
whom | attended school, my army COM
rades. besides many of my old friends
| and neighbors. To me, there is no
place like Rock Island. Here the sun
shines brighter the skies are bluer the
| hills greener and the music of the
birds sweeter. The most important
event of my life occurred in this place
| i was born in Rock Island. II was
| in this patriotic city that l enlisted and
marched away to war in Company A.
9th Illinois cavalry, with the gallant
Capt Burgh in command; and truer.
better. Drawer soldier never drew
sword in country's defense.
Il have been honored by my fellow
citizens. but the greatest honor that
| ever came to- me was that day in Aug
| ust. 1861. nearly forty-four years ago,
when | signed the roll and entered my
country's service. This city does well
to honor its heroic dead. | stood by
the marble shaft erected by the people
OF Rock Island TO perpetuate their
memory and read the names of your
deathless dead. Nearly every name
was a familiar one The thought came
TO me, while standing under the shad-
ow OF this monument how much we
owe these men and their comrades.
They gave their all. their lives. to save
1.-THE union and TO the cause of freedom.
| We are indebted TO them for every
right and privilege we enjoy. under the
| flag that makes US free. No county in
this state or this nation did its duty
more fully than Rock Island during the
fierce storm of war from 81 to 'G5, all
honor to her heroic sons.
| Faith in Future.
Il have great faith in the future of
your city. Rock Island is fortunately
situated. Do you realize fully the fact
that you are on a great waterway? If
you stop to reflect. YOU will find most
of the important cities of the globe thus
situated.
Il cannot refrain from speaking of
matter of vital interest to your city.
refer TO the proposed Improvement of
| the Mississippi river Deep waterways
| are the greatest conservatOrs of rates
possible You will always find traffic
directed TO water routes when there is
sufficient depth of channel to warrant
| it The people living in the Mississippi
valley should demand in no uncertain
| ~. -, en-,
that when the Panama canal is com
pleted the traffic tributary thereto Will
| be diverted into its proper course
north and south instead of east and
| west Then you will sec great steel
steamers with huge bargcs of the same
material carrying the products of our
| farms and factories to New Orleans.
there to be reshirped 10 all parts of
the world.
| Il want TO make a prediction. In
time the Mississippi river will become
the greatest artery of commerce in the
world. and will be a mighty factor in
regulating rates and correcting the
evils Of transportation. Why not? It
+, is the logic of the situation. Its right
, OF way belongs to tie people and will
remain theirs forever No monopoly
can ever secure its control.
Not Always Beautiful City.
| Since my arrival this morning I
/ have been taking a look backward into
the earlier days This was not always
the beautiful. progressive. prosperous
city IL now Is. Do we. of a younger
/ generation. fully realize the hardships
endured. the sacrifices made by the
early pioneers? Ny father came west
in 1881 and settled in this county. He
came during the summer. The next
spring high water drove him TO higher
| ground" The speaker gave few in
stances OF the struggles of the early
pioneers and told some interesting
stories Of the early settlers.
But pluck always wins. and no more
determined wen and women could be
found than those who came TO this
county in the thirties and forties.
What transformation. Within a radius
of 20 miles of the farm. on which my
father settled. are 10 be found 100 600
happy. contented- prosperous people.
and three as fine cities as can be found
within our national .domain-ROck Isl
and Davenport and Moline If the pres
ent and future generations follow in