Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/232

KOCK ISLAND. 208 BOCKVILLE. bridge, built by the United States Government. A sceond railroad bridge across the Jlississippi connects the western parts of the two cities. An important railway centre, Kock Island also has large eommcreial and industrial interests. The (lam in the Mississippi, constructed by the Fed- eral Government, furnishes extensive water-power for manufacturing. The products of the various establishments include farm implements, stoves, brick, lumber, carriages, soap, beer, oilcloth, sashes, doors, and blinds. The government, under the revised charter of 1879, is vested in a mayor, elected everj' two years, and a unicameral coun- cil, and in administrative officials. Rock Island was settled in 1830, and was first incorporated in 1841. Population, in 1890, 13,634; in 1900, 19,- 493. KOCK'LAND. A city and the county-seat of Knox County, Maine, (30 miles south of Bangor, on an inlet of Penobscot Bay, and on the Maine Central Railroad and the Bangor and Boston steamboat line (Map: Maine, E 7). Among the features of the city are the public library of GOOO volumes, the United States Glovernment building, and the county court-house. A large harbor and excellent shipping facilities contribute to Rockland's importance as a commercial centre. The city is noted for its extensive lime-burning works and shipbuilding yards, and has also manufactures of brick, carriages, and cigars. The granite quarries of the vicinity have fur- nished materials for United States Government buildings. Population, in 1890, 8174; in 1900, 8150. Originally a part of Thomaston and sep- arately incorporated as East Thomaston in 1848, Rockland received its present name in 1850, and was chartered as a city in 1854. Consult Eaton, History of Thomaston. Rockland, and South Thomaston (Ilallowell, 1865). KOCKLAND. A town in Plymouth Count.y, Mass.. 18 miles south-southeast of Boston, on the New York, >?ew Haven and Hartford Railroad (Map: Massachusetts, F 3). It has some manu- factures, of which shoes, tacks, and nails ai'e the most important. There is a public library with 10,000 volumes. Originally a part of the town of Abington of the old Plymouth Colony. Rockland was incorporated as a separate town in 1874. Population, in 1890, 5213; in 1900, 5327. ROCK OF AGES. The title of a celebrated hymn written by Augustus Toplady in 1776. ROCK PLANTS. Plants whose natural habi- tat is associated with areas of rock. With the exception of marine forms (see Benthos), rock plants may be classed generally under the head xerophytes (q.v. ). Some authors hold that the calcareous elements of limestone determine one type of vegetation, and siliceous rocks another. Hence, rock plants have been divided into cal- careous plants and siliceous plants. Biit most authors contend that the differences which arise are more closely connected with the physical structures and properties of the rocks than with their chemical features, since certain considera- tions indicate that neither the chemical nor phys- ical properties directly determine all of the dif- ferences in distribution. ROCK'PORT. A town in Essex County, Mass., four miles northeast of Gloucester, on the At- lantic Ocean, and on the Boston and Maine Rail- road (Map: Massachusetts, F 2). It has the Eoekport and Pigeon Cove public libraries. The village of Pigeon Cove, which comprises the northern part of the town, has some reputation as a summer resort. Kockport is engaged in agriculture and fishing, and is noted for its ex- tensive quarries of granite. Isinglass is the leading manufactured product. The United States Government is constructing a breakwater which will greatly improve the harbor here. Population, in 1890, 4087; in 1900, 4502. First settled in 1697 and incorporated as a parish in 1754, Rockport formed part of Gloucester until 1840. It then became a separate town and re- ceived its present name in place of the former one, Sandy Bay. Consult Marshall, History of the Toirn 'of llockport (Rockport, 1888). ROCKPORT. A port and the county-seat of Aransas County, Texas, 159 miles southeast of San Antonio, on Aransas Bay, the terminus of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad ( Map : Texas, F 6). Rockport has considerable trade in fish, oysters, game, and wool. Excellent bathing facilities give the town some reputation as a summer resort. Population, in 1890, 1069; in 1900, 1153. ROCK PTARMIGAN. See Ptarmigan. ROCK RABBIT. See Hyrax. ROCK SALT. See Salt. ROCK SNIPE. An American gunner's name for the purple sandpiper (q.v.). ROCK SOAP, or S.po>-ite. A soft, clay-like, hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate that is found massive, and is of a white or light gray color. It is greasy to the touch, adheres to the tongue, and is easily cut with a knife. It is used for crayons by painters. ROCK SPRINGS. A city in Sweetwater County, Wyo., 258 miles west of Laramie, on the Union Pacific Railroad (Map: Wyoming, E 5 ) . Coal is extensivelv mined in the vicinity. Population, in 1890, 3406; in 1900, 4363. ROCK'STRO ( properly, Rackstraw ) , William Smyth (1823-95). An English musical writer, born at North Cheam, Surrey. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory under Mendels- sohn, Plaidy, and Hauptmann. In London he taught piano and singing. After 1891 he lived in London, where he gave lectures at the Royal Academy of Music. He wrote a standard Life of Handel, and a biography of Jenny Lind, the Artist, in collaboration with Canon Scott- Holland, and composed a sacred cantata, The Good Shepherd (1886), a ballet. Flora's Path (1891), overtures, and songs. He was an au- thority on ecclesiastical music. ROCK-SWALLO'W. See Crag-Maetin. ROCK TROUT. A family of carnivorous sea- fishes (Hexagrammidie) of the North Pacific. They are mostly of large size, live in kelp about rocks, and furnish good food, although their flesh and bones have a greenish tinge, whence they are sometimes called 'greenlings.' One species of great importance in the Aleutian Islands among several related Alaskan 'greenfish' is the so-called 'Atka mackerel.' which is about 18 inches long, is handsomely colored, exceedingly numerous, and of excellent food qualities. The best known of these fishes, however, is the bodieron (q.v.). ROCK'VILLE. A city in Tolland County, Conn.. 15 miles northeast of Hartford, on the Hockanum River and on the New York, New