Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-19
The Arsenal Pageant and Its Message

is floating over the mouth of a cave
on the bosom of the Father of
Waters" With them goes the beauties
and the joy of life for the great ma
tons of the upper Mississippi valley.
Car 2 is the Coming Of the White
Man" Father Marquette, the Catholic
priest from France, the messenger
of coming civilization bringing in his
canoe, guided by friendly Indians, the
great white cross of belief to the
island shores.
Then the First Flag" The eagle
of American independence as a ship of
state bearing in the prov Columbia
is brought, through the turbulent
waters of war and want-the flag OF
our country, the Is stars and Is
stripes, to our shores AS the COM
mander orders the colors raised upon
the hastily prepared mast or staff, you
see over the miniature blockhouse the
rising sun of civilization and protec-
ton, and before it the spirit OF lib
erty' and her wand of light bringing
with her the dawn of the flag and
dawn of light to this heretofore dis
trict of darkness and strife.
THE Pioneer" car is all that the
| name implies. The new home to which
this restless and progressive family
have brought their few worldly belong
ings in an endeavor to gradually accli-
/ mate and propagate this small begin
ming into plenty Already they have
| their cabin where father, mother, and
! children, as we'll as the chickens, pig,
and even the dog already feel at home,
while the baby donkey is emblematical
of the start of the mule industry, and
| the great bronze wild turkey shows
where the thanksgiving feast came
| from in these early days.
| No one natural resource has done so
much for this section as our forests.
Thus we see the householder recelv-
| ing from the forest nymph the gift
I of forest riches. She is just emerging
from the dense forest through the arch
of success. while at each side stands
| the protective fairies of the deep
woods in their green bronze dressing
and brilliant with light of promise.
Manufacturing, forest riches and ma
tural transportation facilities and
progressive spirit has made this sec
ton the great factor in the industrial
world and the goddess of industry, on
her marble throne at the foot of the
factory-studded hills of progress, pre-
sides over the workers with her bea-
con light ever burning.
Queen of Commerce" with the
wharf as a foundation. and the boxes
and barrels of her calling as a throne
presides over the shipping. while on
I.l. Ii ~,
Antoine LeClaire," is seen crossing
the island, while back of it. which
shows the evolution of time, stands
the clock tower. the old watchful of
the arsenal. and in the waters below
is a passing river boat.
In agriculture" is the backbone or
nucleus of riches. The queen of the
soil, enthroned under the spreading
boughs of the tree of centuries, over
looks the profusion of products spread
below her This tree. her bower. bears
100 lights which buried in green, en-
blematical of the fruit of 100 years of
advancement since the dawn of the
flag All this, through peace, has
brought prosperity and the great
riches we enjoy. This car is sur
I lllouHttu ny OH oHSSl Ms uiC VI uOl OlN
size, Peace and around her winds
the great horn of plenty, pouring forth
unlimited riches which the fairy of
Enterprise with her wand turns to
gold.
America is the car triumph
ant, the final car of the pageant. Upon
the steps of progress stands the god
dess prosperity mounted on the wheels
, and wings of progress, moving ever
!, forward, while as protection and in
SEPARATION, these massive steps are
: draped with the lational colors, two
immense flags studded with lights.
, Over these steps and on the backs of
the great gilded lions. emblematical
of might, white doves are seen
, lowering, dove for each of the 100
: years of the continual progress we
: have made since the first flag flew
over old Fort Armstrong.