Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-07-15
40. THE POOR INDIAN!o

The Editor Of the Peoria Register, in CIV
ing an account Of a journey which he and 9th
ers made from the Upper Mississippi down to
this place, thus speaks of the country unlock
river in the vicinity of Rock lsland.--l Alt. ob.
..,rl,e country around Rock Island is indie
scribably beautiful, and is not excelled, il e.
qualed, by any spot in the United States. To
the beautiful in nature will soon be added all
the attractions of art. The germ oftwo cities,
within hail of each other, is expanding, and
in few years, they will rival in magnitude
any upon the Upper Mississippi. fhey are
Stevenson and Davenport, and to them will
probably in time be added third on Rock ISL
and.
Stevenson was laid of in August 1885, by
the county court Brock Island) as the seat OF
justice. Five houses were erected that year.
1t now contains 35, of which are stores, and
Q are taverns. At the sale in '35, choice rlv-
er-lots brought 220 dollars, and those near the
public or courthouse square $50; at Sale IN
September '36, the same river lots brought
500, and the courthouse lots 35O.---Now, dec.
'36) choice river lots are held at 1000, 1900
having been offered and refused. Fifty hous-
es, it is supposed, will go up next summer.
Davenport, on the Wisconsin side, was laid
off in June 1886, and now contains 10 houses,
3 of which are stores, and large tavern. ki-
yer lots at the first sale, in June, brought from
100 dollars 10 1926; back lois from 100 TO 200.
The site is perfectly level plain one mile
wide, bounded by strip of timber miles
wide, beyond this is prairie miles vide;
then an immense body Of timber. The interl-
or country is represented as splendid, and is
said 10 be rapidly filling up with emlgrants.
Rock Island il miles long and l-2 miles
wide. At Its southern termination, and in view
of Davenport and Stevenson, is Fort Arm
strong. Here are houses, occupied by 3
families, one store, and one grocery. It's the
residence Of Gen. Street. Indian Agent, and
George Davenport, ESQ.,, the latter of whom.
with Mr.. Antoine Laclaire, whose spiendld
farm is opposite Book Island, in Wisconsin,
Lis the owner Of the town below. ~hich bears
his name, very brief description OF which is
riven above. The fort was evacuated in Sep
tember last, the garrison having been ordered
to st. Peters.
At quarter after 7, having slowed away q
"frst-rate" breakfast, (every thing little be.
yond the comparative degree is in this country
called ..frst-rate," we recommended ourJour.
ney, intending to cross at the supper ferry,
two miles above where we failed yesterday
The route was an Indian trail upon and along
the course of the bluffs. The wagner said ne
should follow it also, and leaving three OF the
party and the boy with him, the others with
in advance on foot. We reached the heights
as the sun was rising. The scene was trul,
splendid. Our thoughts turned upon Blacl
Hawks war, and the reflection occurred spon
taneously to all, that if Indians are affected b,
the sublime and beautiful in nature, here wa
another reason for their clingiDg to thes'
grounds with SO much tenacity. The mound
around were also the tombs Of their ancestry
Upon their tops were vaults, filled with bones
Of the dead, which relics, it is said, the sur
vivors, regard with the most superstitious re-
verence. Wo be to the sacrilegious plumber.
Ter, if detected. The threatening, however,
was disregarded by our party, several of whom
very unceremoniously rifed these sanctlarie es
OF such bones as seemed most agreeable 70
their fancy. m.,,
II llnot be thought surprising that BLACK OK
Hawk should have felt disinclined TO give up
the fine lands held by his tribe on Rock Ilvel vel.
when The reader is told that they are now worm
at this spot fifty dollars an acre. Tne INDIANS