Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-18

your attention to brief notice of
these advantages.
| Locality and History
Rock Island is situated in the Mis-
sissippi river. at the foot of the upper
rapids" in latitude IL degrees, 81 min
utes north, and longitude Is degrees,
10 minutes west of Washington. The
extreme length of the island from east
to west, which is the direction of the
river at this point. is two and seven
eiShths miles. and its average width
half mile. Its area embraces nine
hundred acres of land of which seven
hundred and two acres are public
lands belonging to the United States,
! and known as the Fort Armstrong
| Reservation In its topography it is
sinsularly and beautifully marked. Its
base is Siluvian limestone which 1T
several points approaches the surface
and affords superior rock for lime and
building materials. The surface is
gently undulating, and slopes gradual
| ly, and more or less regularly to its
northern and southern shores. The
soil is of rich sandy loan. and with
/ the exception of a patch or two of a
few acres in extent, where the stone
reaches the surface, is susceptible of
the most profitable cultivation, and Is
now covered with luXuriant vegetation
and an oren grove o. thrifty forest
trees. The highest stages of food n
the river never overflow any portion
of the lands. The shores, which range
from 10 to 40 feet above law water
mark. are pebbly and rocky, unusually
| bold and sometimes abrupt At the
western extremity especially. and
around the Old Fort. wall of precipi-
tous lodges lines the shore and gives
name to the island.
Fort Armstrong. which is located on
the lower end of the island. was built
and occupied i'll 1916 as a military and
trading post. The whole island was Ie-
iserved in 1925 for government pur-
the troops. and kept as depot for
arms and military stores. In 1899 t
was made the object of Il special sur
.vey and the subject of report to III"
war department by Major Bell, of the
ordnance department .as a feasible and
desirable site for western armory
and again in 1913 its advantages for
that purpose were reported to congress
by a commissioner appointed by the
president under the provisions of an
act of congress of Sept 9. 1S41. And
again. since that date. it has been the
subject of recommendation 10 the gov
eminent for the same public use II
is now, as it has been since it ceased
to be a depot for arms and army
tStores, in charge of the quartermaster's
department and under the specia
keeping of an agent appointed for til,
purpose.
\ few years since some squatter.
entered upon portions of the islan(
and claimed rights as pre-emptors o
| public lands. but being prosecuted anr
convicted in the United States cour
| for trespass. the claims and posses
| SiOns were abandoned. The govern
| ment lands are now unoccupied. saw
by few persons who hold leases Il
| will from the United States.
The site Owned by the Government.
| Another important consideration d
favor of Rock Island. particularly Il
this time when the federal treasury i
necessarily subjected to so many an
heavy drafts for other purposes. is tina
the government owns the site.
l. The requirements of the government
in respect to the extent and characta
of the site, are set forth in the il
| structiOnS of the secretary of war I
the commission above referred to, a
follows:
II For this purpose there should %
sufficient space for suitably arrangin
the necessary work shops, store house
and magazines, and also for erectin
dwellings for the principal officers {
the armory. If circumstances permi
it will be advantageous for the Unite
States to possess such a quantity
ground about the establishment as |
| prevent inconvenient intrusion froI
neighboring settlements"
These advantages are combined
an eminent degree by the site upo
Rock Island. The quantity of Ian
G02 acres) owned by the governme:
is amply sufficient in extent as we
as admirably adapted in its locatiC
for the suitable arrangement of all Il
shops. houses. magazine and stol
rooms required. as also for the dive
lings for the officers and employees
the establishment. Its insulated pos
ton. too, guards it against any und
sirable intrusion. while it's proximi
to the towns which surround it, Civ
to it all the advantages they posse
in markets. manufactures, ccmmcr
and the general transaction of bu
ness.
1t is doubtful whether a site of Ill
spaciousness. convenience and gener
eligibility ito say nothing of other i
vantages) could be procured in any
the cities or larger towns of the we
If procurable at ALL it would be at
rrice more than equal to the amou
of the cost of erecting on Rock Isial
all the buildings and improvemcl
necessary for armory purposes.