Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-18
ARSENAL AT ROCK ISLAND
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be constant, regular and reliable. ana
exempt from Interruptions from ice,
drouth or high water
Steam power may also he made
available at this point with greater
convenience and at as little expense
as at any other place in the west.
Coal, Lumber. Iron, Copper. Lead. Lime
stone, Sand, Fire Clay, Brick Clay
and Building stone.
Coal.-The supply of coal of the best
quality is inexhaustible The great
coal fields of Illinois and Iowa, extend
within few miles of the island, ana
from which two species of coal are OBJ
tanned. the camel and the bituminous
the former of an inferior and the lat
ter of a very superior quality. for man
ufacturing as well as other purposes
The deposits are in the river bluffs OF
the vicinity, in veins, varying from
three and a half feet to seven feet IN
thickness, and are more accessible -
well as of greater extent than in any
other portions OF the states named
The present draft upon the mines al
ready opened for supplying the wants
If the immediate neighborhood. is
about 100000 tons per annum, of
which $1,000 tons are delivered at and
through this point upon the river.
Railroad tracks connect the island
With all the principal mines.
Lumber and wood used for building
materials are to he had in abundance
n the island and in its Immediate
'icinity The WOOD lands of this sec-
ion occupy about one-fifth of the en-
ire surface. The growth consisting
If white. red and burr oak. black and
white walnut, yellow poplar, vii
berry. sugar tree, maple linden, red
nd white hickory. yellow birch, dog
,ood. etc. Hard wood lumber of the
arious kinds used in building, OF
'hiCh would DC requisite in the con.
trUction of arms. is obtained at prices
bout the same as are pail for pine
amber. The upper Mississippi float
bout by RATS of all the varieties o.
imber indigenous to that vast region
from S0.b0O, 600 to 100000,o 600 feet Oi
| inc timber and lumber are annually
| brought here and pass this point on
| he river for market.
Iron of superior quality is found il
| neXhaustible quantities in convenient
proximity to Rock Island. and attain
| able at reasonable rates The Iroi
| Mountain and Pilot Knob ro gion Il
| Iissour on the one hand ana tn
| aines of Lake Superior on the other
| ;bound III the choicest of mon ores
| .hich are shown by the severest test.
| be superior to any other on tn
ointment and fully equal in tenacit,
nd mallcability to the best Russian
md Swedish iron. From both thes'
egions the facilities for transDorta
ion. by both river and rail. are as al
'eady stated, cheap. certain and con
| renient
Copper abounds in the mines of Mis-
iouri. Wisconsin. Minnesota and Mich
gau. The same region that supple
lie best known iron, is also celebrate
or the quality and quantity of it
copper
Lead is found in abundance in Ill
nois. Iowa and Wisconsin. at less tina
100 miles distance from Rock Islant
Limestone. producing lime of tn
whitest and purest kind. is found i
the immediate neighborhood, and ca
ne procured with as little expense a
1t any point in the country.
a., Building sotne. sand. fire clay an
brick clay are found in ineXhaustibl
quantities and in quality rarely su
passed. on the island. The important
of having these indispensable article
so convenient. in the erection of /
armory. can only be appreciated )
those who know their value.
Price and supply of Labor.
, The present supply of labor in ii
; mechanical and industrial arts in I'll
, towns of Davenport, Rock Island. NJ
line and Gilberttown. is larger. an
: the skill of their artisans equal to tn;
: found in any of the cities of the ives
= In the four places named, either
|. which is not over one-half mile fro
the island and all within radius
2 three miles containing an aggrega
0 population of 10000. there are mo-
4 manufactures than at any other poi
/ in the northwest outside of the lar!
a cities. For the supply of timber al
Il lumber there are saw mills and pla
q ing mills, most of them Of immen
e capacity. that turn out annually III
5, lions of feet of sawed and planed lI.
r Der For the supply of breadstu
. there is nearly a score of flourii
o mills in full operation. There is