JOINT RESOLUTIONS OF THE IOWA LEGISLATURE

"Be It Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Iowa,

"That the senators in Congress from this State be requested to use their utmost exertions to procure the establishment at the earliest pos­ sible time, by the Government of the United States, of an Arsenal and Armory, for the distribution of arms to the states of the northwest. on the Island of Rock Island, in the State of Illinois.

"Resolved, That the Secretary of State he requested to forward to each of the Senators and representatives in Congress a copy of these resolutions.

"Approved March 24, 1861."

Governor Yates and other officials of Illinois addressed an urgent letter to the Secretary of "War regarding the necessity of establishing an armory on Rock Island.

CERTIFICATE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AGENT

"I, J. J. Pickett, Government Agent for the Island of Rock Island, hereby certify that the lands owned by the Government are free from claims of squatters, and that the only occupants thereon are eight in number who hold leases under and acknowledge themselves tenants of said Government, in which lease it is specifically agreed that the lessors are to vacate the premises in thirty days from the date of receiving notice requiring them to leave. T. J. Pickett, government agent, Rock Island, Ill., October 25, 1861." The result of a liberal distribution of copies of this pamphlet was an act of congress providing for the arsenal and armory and car­ rying an appropriaton of $100,000 passed July 11, 1862. General C. P. Buckingham in a report to the secretary of war October 24, 1862, said: "The island is without doubt the best place for an armory

 

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Illinois Ancestors

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