The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-05-28

duuHuanuy accomplished. mat this
young city (of but Yesterday has become
a conspicuous point in the estimation of
!, all those who have their attention direct
ed towards our rapidly increasing terri.
tory, there can be no doubt. Without,
however, assuming the gift of prophecy
to fortell its future destinies, / leave the
reader to draw his own deductions.
whether its present unprecedented growth
is ominous Of ultimate evil or good.
will merely state a few facts that came
under my immediate observation, which,
even to people Of our own territory, may
SAVIOR somewhat of the marvellous.-so
recent and suddenly has it merged from
its primitive wildness within the pale of
civilization. Sec
On the first of July last the survey of
the city was commenced under the direc-
ton of the board of commissioners. In
fact the first data of its Improvements
may be considered to have commenced
about the middle oflast September. The
prominent objects kept in view by the
commissioners, in locating the permanent
capitol of Iowa, appeared to be health,
beauty of location, good water, convent
ence to timber and stone for building pur-
poses. In all these requisites I" Iowa
City," presents the most happy combina-
ton. There is no local cause which
should render it unhealthy. Its quarries
are inexhaustible and of the most durable
material, rumor with her hundred tongues
to the contrary notwithstanding. The
clay is of admirable quality for making
good brick, two kilns being already in
operation. The soil in the vicinity, for
all the purposes Of agriculture, is unsur-
passed and for beauty of location and
picturesque scenery, f" Iowa City" may
challenge her competitor in all the beau
tiful west. When we reflect that bu: as
yesterday the council fires were lit up, the
war horse Of Black Hawk snuffed the
battle breeze, and the elk and the deer
sped through the tall grass of capitol
square - and to-day MAY 10th, ls4O,)
a city with her hundred houses has sprung
up! Her halls of justice open; her city
hotel, her merchants, lawyers, doctors,
and artizans presenting all the life and ac-
tivity of a long established and well re-
gulated community. 1t is no wonder that
the skeptical should be incredulous.
Iowa city contains, at the present time,
ten stores, three coffee houses, one drug
store, one saddler's shop, two blacksmiths
shops, one gun smith, four lawyers, two
physicians, three hotels and two spacious
ones erecting, three brick buildings under
contract, one private school and news
paper in contemplation. The scite of the
Capitol is beautiful in the extreme, COM
manding an entire view of the city, its
situation is upon beautiful elevation. or
natural grade, being the second bench
from the river. The design is chaste
specimen of Grecian Doric, with pro-
jecting portico of twelve feet on each
front, supported by futed columns. 1t
is two stories, exclusive of the basement,
and surmounted by dome twenty-eight
feet base and forty feet in height, sup
ported by sixteen corinthian columns.
The symmetry and classic beauty of this
edifice when completed, combined with
its location and the natural beauty of
scenery in the midst of which it is situat-
ed, will produce the most captivating ef-
feet. !. Spending the Sabbath in the new
city, attended divine service. 1t was a
scene deeply calculated to impress the
mind with pleasing anticipations of the
future. To witness congregation of
one hundred and twenty persons brought
together within few months, as from the
four winds, assembled in a neat frame
building. with every appearance of de-
voted piety, in humble worship at the
shrine of the everything God. Here,
thought I, sectarianism has never raised
her party walls. No jarring dissentions
as yet have poisoned the fountains of
pure religion, and like their own peren-
NAL springs, the murky waters of discord
have never yet polluted the crystal foun-
tains of Divine love.
Returning, by way of Bloomington, |
should do my reader injustice did not
Introduce him to my worthy friend De
Moss, of the Wapsenonock, whose boun-
tiful table is always luxuriantly spread
with the choice products of that fertile
r 8