railroads from East to
West, and has a roadway for teams and pedestrians.

THE CITY OF ROCK ISLAND

Is located on the bank of the river in Illinois, immediately opposite
to Davenport, and is a large and flourishing city, with a population of
about twelve thousand inhabitants. It has fine public buildings,
elegant churches and residences, substantial business blocks, extensive
manufactories and elegant water works. The city is lighted by electric
lights, from high towers, that cast their refulgent rays over the entire
city, which makes it the finest lighted city in the west. There are two
daily papers, (morning and evening) _The Union_ and _The Argus_, both
enjoying the privilege of Press dispatches, and both issue weeklies.
_The Rock Islander_ is also published weekly, and all have the
appearance of great prosperity. The professions are represented by men
of fine ability, including some of wide reputation. The banking business
is done principally by two National Banks, that have a deservedly high
reputation, and are doing a large business. There are two first-class
hotels--the Harper House and Rock Island House--and several of less
pretentions. The city has large coal fields, in close proximity, with
railroads running daily to and from the banks, by which the three cities
are supplied.

THE CITY OF MOLINE

Is located two miles up the river from Rock Island, but connected with
it by street railways. It has a population of over 8,000 inhabitants,
and is extensively known from its many manufacturing establishments,
which are supplied with water power from a dam across the river from the
Island.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

When the writer first visited this most beautiful Island in the
Mississippi river, then and now known as Rock Island, the ground on
which the triplet cities of Davenport, Rock Island, and Moline now
stands, was covered with prairie grass, and apparently a sterile waste
as regards to the two former, whilst the latter was principally covered
with timber. Now how changed! Then the site of Davenport was claimed to
be the most beautiful on the west bank of the Mississippi, between St.
Paul and St. Louis by Black Hawk and his confreres, who had traveled
up and down the river in canoes, whilst his judgment was confirmed by
thousands of passengers who viewed it from steamboats in after years.

THE TRIPLE CITIES

are widely known as the leading manufacturing cities of the great west,
with railroads