Untitled Document

WATER POWER DEVELOPMENT

David B. Sears was probably the originator of the idea of building a dam across the slough from the main land to the island of Rock Island, at least he was the first to act upon the idea. In 1838 he, together with John W. Spencer of Rock Island, and others, obtained a charter from the Legislature of Illinois to build such a dam. A start had been made in 1837, and a saw mill was built at the south end of the dam by Mr. Sears in 1838, but the main construction was in 1841 and 1842. The dam was built of brush and stones, and those interested in it were David B. Sears, John W. Spencer, G. N. Lynde, Calvin Airisworth and Spencer W. White. In 1847 a part of this dam was carried away by a flood, and during the rebuilding Mr. Spencer, one of the owners, was carried down through the break and had a leg broken. Later it had to be amputated to save his life. Mr. Spencer sold his interest in the water power to Mr. Sears, and he in turn disposed of his holdings to Pitts, Gilbert and Pitts New York state.

In 1854 this company sold out to a group of capitalists of Syracuse, N. Y., and in 1865 the moline water power company came into possession of the power rights and property. This company was organized in that year by Moline manufacturers for self protection. They realized that the location possessed natural advantages fitting it to become a great manufacturing center, chief among which was the vast water power available, but care, and a large expenditure of money were necessary to develop and maintain this power.

The eastern owners did not develop it, and it was necessary that some radical move be made to this end, as the manufacturing interests here began to suffer, hence the organiza tion of the local company and its acquiring ownership of the water power rights and property. At about this time the Federal Government became interested in plans for power development. The Government had used the island of Rock Island as a .military prison during the Civil war, and at its close determined to establish a great arsenal at some point in the Mississippi valley. The fact that the Government owned practically the entire island, with im mense water power available, made this the logical location for the new institution. After several conferences between the water power company and representatives of the Government, an agreement was reached whereby the company was to deed its property and rights to the national government and in return was to receive in perpetuity, a certain percentage of the power developed, the Government to take entire charge of such developement and its maintenance.

In 1868 the Government commenced the improvement of the water power under a plan which contemplated the construc tion of a long dam commencing at the foot of the present Fifteenth street in Moline and running down stream to a point near the present powerhouse of the Government on the island of Rock Island. In 1909 the plan was changed so that the dam, after reaching a point near the present, powerhouse of the water power company, was connected to the mainland and a tail- race about 2,100 feet long was in 1870-1871 excavated from that point westerly to connect with the south branch or slough of the river; this tail race affords a discharge for the water from the company's wheels and cuts off from the mainland that tract of land now known as Sylvan Island

Under the changed plan of im provement it was necessary to construct in addition to the long dam, a dam from Sylvan Island to the island of Rock Island for tlie uses of the Government. Power was taken from the long dam for use in the factories along the main shore until 1899, when the tailrace as far down as the plant of the Peoples Power Company was abandoned and filled, and the company's power was concentrated at the head of Sylvan Island. A part of the abandoned tail race is now used for a right of way by the Davenport, Rock Island & Northwestern Railway Company. The officers of the Moline Water Power Company are: president, T. B. Davis; vice-president, William Butterworth; and secretary and treasurer, J. E. Spencer.

In an early day a foundry was established in Moline by M. C. Sherman. It was later sold to David B. Sears, who sold it to James Fergus and N. B. Buford of Rock Island . In 1S49 it was purchased by S. W. Wheel ock. who there established the first paper mill west of St. Charles , 111. This proved a very prosperous enterprise until it was discontinued to make room for other industries. Mr. Fergus removed to Minnesota and founded the town of FergusFalls.

In 1844 David B. Sears built a large flouring mill at Moline which, after being abandoned for that purpose, was used as a warehouse by the Moline Plow Company. The said mill and flour mill industries which brought Moline into prominence for many years gradually died out owing to shortage of raw material and gave place finally to a new era of manufacturing, which is carrying the name of this section far and wide over the earth.

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