stretching out from ocean to ocean, and although the
Mississippi makes a dividing line, they are united by a magnificent
bridge, which makes their intercourse easier than over paved streets.

Rock Island, at that time, was excluded from settlement by the orders of
Government, as it had been reserved, on the recommendation of Hon. Lewis
Cass, whilst he was in the Senate and Cabinet, as a site for a United
States Arsenal and Armory. Fort Armstrong was situated on the lower end
of the Island, and was then in command of Col. William Davenport. The
Sac and Fox agency (Maj. Davenport, agent,) stood on the bank of the
river about half a mile above the Fort; next came the residence and
office of Antoine Le Clair, United States Interpreter for the Sam
and Foxes, and a little higher up, the residence, store-house and out
buildings of Col. George Davenport, who had by an act of Congress,
preempted a claim of two hundred acres of land running across the Island
from bank to bank of the river. The Island is about two miles long, and
being at the foot of the rapids has the best water power on the river,
capable of running a much greater amount of machinery than is at
present in operation. The entire Island is now owned and occupied by the
Government, (the heirs of Col. Davenport having sold and deeded their
interest), and is now used as an

ARMORY AND ARSENAL

which are destined to be in the near future, the most extensive works of
the kind probably in the world. Indeed, army officers who have traveled
extensively in the Old World, say they have never seen anything to
compare with it, in elegant grounds, water power and buildings, and with
such facilities for moving anything to and from the Arsenal. These works
were commenced under the supervision of Gen. Rodman, the inventor of the
Rodman gun, and since the death of the General, D. W. Flagler, Lieut.
Col. of Ordinance, has been in command, and a more efficient and better
qualified officer for the place could not have been found in the army.

There are already completed ten massive stone buildings, which are used
for work shops, storage, etc., officers' quarters, both durable and
comfortable, and many other buildings. The former residence of Col.
George Davenport, (the House in which he as killed for money many
years ago) built in 1831, of solid hewed timber, and afterwards
weather-boarded, still stands unoccupied.

The Island is mostly covered with trees of different varieties, w