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

Presenting total of nine states and
three territories with a present popu-
lation of nearly 100000. and mil
tia force of 100000. all of which are
beyond the reach of convenient or ade-
quate accommodation by any of the
existing armories of the United States.
Facilities for Transportation.
The natural and artificial facilities
for transportation to and from this
point are eQualled by but few places
in the west By the Mississippi river
and its navigable tributaries alone, I
has control of over l2,000 miles of in
land navigation and shipments can he
made direct and without break of bull
to and into 10 states and three terri
tories. including all those above named
The arrivals and departures of steam
erS at this point, have. i'll spite of
many adverse circumstances calculat
ed TO retard the river business
reached the high figure of 1000 PEI
annum. If they should. as in the fu
ture they will, swell to $4,000, the navi
cation would not be overburdened. nol
the capacity of the river be incJn
veniently affected. The obstructio
of the river at this point by ice in th'
winter season is several weeks les
than above the rapids, and some Nv,
months less than in Lake Michigan a
Chicago.
The artificial facilities Tor trauspor
| ton are also extensive. The lowe.
| end of the island is crossed by tho
union railroad tracks of the Chicag'
& Rock Island. and Mississippi & Mis-
souri, railroads. and by means y
brides connecting it on the Illinois
! side with the tracks of the Chicago
& Rock Island railroad" the War
saw & Rockford railroad" the 'Roci
, Island e Sterling railroad" and the
| Rock Island q Peoria railroad, anf
making connections on the Iowa sid,
with the mississippi & Missouri rail
road" and the Davenport e Musca
,tine railroad" and their branches /
is thus brought into direct communi
cation with the extensive net work @
railroads which cover the states ar,
Territories of the northwest, an,
which are yearly throwing out ne"
branches and CXte aiding into new
fields their connections and business
| Facilities.
In its varied and extensive facilitie
for manufacturing. Rock Island pos
sesses advantages greater than cal
be urged in favo" of any other plac
i'll the northwest.
Its water power is unsurpas sed: III
island though at the terminus of.
nevertheless in the rapids the ia
from the head TO the foot of the islam
is nearly seven feet C 96-100) whic
by feasible Improvement and al a
inconsiderabIe expense may be readil
increased to 1919 feet. thus controllin
over one-third OF the volume of tn
,. great river. and at the same tim
greatly improving its navigation.
: 1t has been estimated by an intel
: gent engineer, ard we doubt not co
, rectly. that the hydraulic force prol
crly belonging TO the island capabl
OF. practicable and economical appr'
. NltilouL uSIl ihi''b W "a
navigation of the river is over 200t
, horse power. This power has bee
improved and made available to a CO.
=. siderable extent. by the erection OF
substantial stone dam. reaching trol
the upper end Of the island to Il
Illinois shore. where there are son
= extensive mills and manufacturing e
!. adjustments whose hydraulic pow'
is obtained from this source. TT
workings of this power VIC know