PROPOSED SALE OF LAND

In 1830 when Zachary Taylor was president of the United States, G.W. Crawford was secretary of war, and Jefferson Davis was chairman of the military affairs committee of the United States Senate, an effort was made to have the government sell the entire island to the highest bidder, those in favor of this action claiming that otherwise the squatters would eventually get it at prices netting the government only about $1.200. whereas if sold at auction it would bring at least $100,000.

This scheme was promoted by a party of speculators in St. Louis and New York, and came very near being accomplished. An order was issued by the president through the secretary of war to sell the island, and Brig.Gen. R. B. Mason was ordered to conduct the sale after it had been properly advertised. It was not. however, advertised in the region around about Rock Island, and the first intimation the people of this community had of the matter was contained iu a "public sale" notice iu the "Missouri Republican,'' published at St. Louis. When this discovery was made the people of Rock Island began action at once to prevent the proposed sale. Hon. E. D. Baker, then member of Congress from this district and Senators Stephen A. Douglas and James Shields were appealed to in an hurried effort to save the island.

Senator Douglas at once took an active interest, and thoroughly investigated, informing himself in all matters pertaining to the subject. In the mean while General Mason had arrived on the island and was making preparations to conduct the sale according to his orders, when the efforts in Washington resulted in his receiving a telegram to suspend the sale until further notice. It is almost uunecesary to state that the sale was never held.

 

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