412 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK 



citizens. The city is about midway between Saint 

 Louis and Saint Paul, and immediately opposite the 

 larger city of Davenport, Iowa. The iron bridge 

 owned by the United States Government and connect- 

 ing the two cities is open to the public free of toll. 



Tlie water power produced by the rapids has largely 

 contributed to the growth of E-ock Island City, and 

 also of Moline — a city of factories — witliin an easy 

 walk of its neighbor. In the latter I found many es- 

 tablishments for the manufacture of plows, cultivators 

 and other farming appliances; also wagons and car- 

 riages, together with foundries and machine shops. 



Rock Island City has a commerce and trade second 

 to no city of its size in the Union. The centre of a 

 system of railroads, the city has a busy aspect at all 

 times. The population at the time of my visit was 

 about 16,000. 



Three miles from Rock Island City, inland, is a re- 

 sort frequented by the residents of both sides of the 

 river. Its traditions and associations are romantic. 

 It is known as Black HawTz's Watch Tower, The 

 towe7' consists of a rock and is the summit of the 

 highest hill, overlooking Rock River and affording an 

 extensive picture of the surrounding country. The 

 rock derives its name from its having been used by 

 Black Hawk as a point from which he could survey 

 his lands for many miles. Tradition says it was se- 

 selected by the chiefs father and overlooked the tribe's 

 first village on the banks of Rock River. Black 

 Hawk gave the following account of the place to 

 Antoine Le Claire in 1833: ^'The tower was ray 

 favorite resort and was often visited by me alone, 

 where I could sit and smoke my pipe and look with 



