The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-08-10
Scenes by the Father ST Waters.

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ED. CT TIzEN-REPUBL.Ctslt;
AS I have ~, .uently read
in your valuable columns the notes of
some of our citizens recording their
journeyings here and there, I thought
4 you might besinterested in some ofthe
scenes have recently visited. The
| first stop we made after leaving Dakota
was Albany, Illinois, village situated
on the banks of the majestic Father of
| Waters To one who has lived by this
! grand old river.its charms can never be
forgotten. There is something in the
mighty and silent flow of water that
makes an indellible impression upon
Fall those who have witnessed it.
| Yesterday morning with a party of
friends / boarded one of the local pack
cts for trip down the river to Rock Is
land, and Davenport, Iowa, which is
Just opposite. The morning was beau
tiful and as we sailed away OH the tran
gull bosom Of the great Mississippi the
quietness and beauty Of the scenery,
broken only by the trail OF black smoke
which issued from the putting CHM
neys, and the occasional whistle, hoarse
and deep, which warned the inhabit-
ants of the villages of our approach, had
q restful and quieting effect that was
| delightful and refreshing.
On either side are the hills, partly
covered with stately trees Of oak and
partly made to yield richly of grain
and corn. The picturesque and quaint
| villages added to the beauty of the scene
and made one forget the turmoil and
strife of the modern world. At various
| points where there are commanding
views Of the river beautiful cottages
| and summer homes have been erected
by those who desire to escape the noise
and heat of the cities, while all along
the shore were the white tents of those
who were enjoying a camping holiday.
Fifteen miles above Rock Island the
Rapids" begin. At this point the
current quickens and the channel be-
comes SO tortuous that only pilots who
are thoroughly familiar with it are per-
mitted to steer the boats through the
rapids The bed of the river here is
solid rock and the government has
force constantly at work building break
waters and deepening and widening
the channel. Every few hundred yards
a stone pier that rises out of the water
some twelve or fifteen feet has been
built for the guidance of the pilots and
on which the government maintains a
light at night during the season of nay
igation. These rapids continue all the
way to Rock Island
Just before reaching the city we
come to an island which gives to the
city its name. This island belongs to
the government and on 1t an arsenal is
located. Small fire arms are made and
repaired here and the government also
maintains factory for manufacturing
leather equipments for the soldiery.
During the Spanish~American war
these factories were run at their fullest
capacity, turning out supplies for the
army. The island is traversed by we'll
kept drives and paths, and is park-like
in it's appearance. The old home Of
Col. Davenport, the first and foremost
citizen of the region and in honor of
whom the City of Davenport was nam
ed, is still standing. In this house in
an early day the colonel met his death
at the hands of Indian robbers and who
in the effort to force him to reveal the
whereabouts of his money so abused
him that he died within few hours
A few miles from the City Of Rock
Island is the historic Black Hawk
Watch Tower. Along the north side
of Rock river which empties into the
Mississippi few miles away, runs a
bluff that is several hundred feet high,
from which the country for miles away
can be seen. At this point the famous
Indian chief, Black Hawk, established
a lockout to guard himself against sur
prise and to observe the movements of
his foes, both white and red. The place
has been turned into an amusement
park with all the accessories of "loop-
ing the loop" and shooting the
schultz variety. 1t is easy to imagine
the grunt Of disgust that would escape
the grim old warrior could he visit the
place his name has made famous.
The three cities that nestle along the
river here, viz. Moline, Rock island
and Davenport, are thriving centers o.
trade and industry Moline and Rock
Island are famous for the manufacture
of various agricultural implements.
After spending the greater part of the
day in sight seeing our party returned
on the interurban electric railway
which skirts the Iowa shore going a.
far as Clinton, Iowa, which is thirty
five miles above Davenport: There WI
embarked in q pasolina launch and II