Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-06-02
rHr pEs MONIES RIVER.

THE DEs MONIES RIVER.
This stream, though small, is with
few exceptions, one Of the most pictur-
esoue and beautiful water courses west
Of the Mississippi, its banks which a
few years ago were only tenanted by
the rowing Indian, are now covered as
It were. with furnishing villages, and
farm-houses, which have sprung up
almost magically, SO rapid indeed has
been the march Of Improvement, on
this beautiful stream, from the mouth
up to the old Indian line, that in Gid
ing Ger its placid waters in All Indian
canoe, one would almost fancy himself
in an old and long settled country. Our
Pioneers are making rapid strides in
this quarter, and / have no doubt that
ere long this river, with all its advan-
tages will be one Of the garden spots
Of the future State Of Iowa.
OF the many towns, which have had
aspecies Of mushroom origin situated
on the Banks of the Des Moines, taking
into consideration, the advantages Of
the back country, and fine natural scites
for towns" should think from the
slight acquaintance, have Of the SET
fIed portion Of the river, that Far
mington and Rochester, are the most
prominent, the latter situated at the
foot ola great Bend in the river, en-
phatically called the Big has rather
the advantage, as it must necessarily
be some day or other, a thoroughfare,
for those travelling up and down the
river, there are many more towns on
the river above Rochester,, none Of
which has any pretension. There is a
town called Portland situated imme-
diately on the line which separates the
territory from the Sac and Fox lands,
which boasts about 10 houses, and from
its situation, appearance, Sc, it being
on the south west side Of the river,
will never be more than il is at present
There are in fact more towns on this
river, than on any other | have ever
travelled, it is impossible that all should
improve, for do not exaggcra,c when
Iassert that there are at least two towns
for every fifteen miles Of river, from
the Mississippi to the old line.
Some six miles after passing the line,
and further up. on the north east side
Of the river, on beautiful level prai-
RE, which, in summer, is carpeted
with the beautiful blue grass, is Kco,
kuck's village where that chief now
resides, the village is extended up and
down the river on the prairie about
one mile, and contains about sixty bark
houses, or .wc' ki-aps' as they are term
ed by the Sacs, some of which are
very large and commodious. The
Lodge Of Muk-ka-tah-mc-se-Aa-k
better known to the whites as Black
Hawk, can be easily distinguished, by
its oval roof, being the only one Of the
kind in the village. The corn field.
are very extensive, having | should
say several hundred acres under fence
the situation Of the village is very pic.
lures ue, and will no doubt ere many
years be The scitc of a large and -four
ishing town.
About two and half miles above
Keokuck's village and on the opposite
side, Ferreaw river comes in, it is +;
small stream, but possesses many cx
tcnsivc waters privileges, this rivel
will be the boundary, or near it, Of Tho
land lately coded by the Sacs ane
Foxes, TO Government.
ABOVE Ferreaw river, and principal
~ on the east side of the Des Moines
is chain Of bluffs, which possess I'm
exhaustible quantities Of coal, som.
iron and zinc, they approach, boldly I.
the river, and in many places owing Il
the abrasion Of the water, immens,
strata can be seen, the coal is not as gooe
as the Pittsburgh coal, being much
more slaty, these bluffs continue many
miles up the river, and in fact, both thu
quantity and the quality Of the Goa
improves, the furter we 80 up.
About forty miles above Keokuck'
village, and on the opposite side Of III,
stream is situated sAnte-,noi-e'nock
or Perseverance town, being the resi-
dence Of the band Of 'Appen-noos
another chief of the Sacs. The vii
lage is situated on high and leve
prairie, the houses are well built, and
thoughnot SO large atownas Keokuck'
ID much handsomer; the situation Of tn.
town il the most picturesque on thu
Des Moines river, without exception
the prairie, near the upper end ofwhicf
the village is situated extends for sew