The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-12-19
nnl,,,n,,e IN 1s4o.

AS the business season for the year 1549, is
now drawn to a close, we have thought it not in
appropriate to refer briefly to what has been
done in the way of improvements during the
year, and at the same time attempt to give some
idea Of the present condition Of the town in ref
erence to mercantile and mechanical operations.
Since the commencement Of the present year
from eighty to one hundred brick buildings have
been erected, including dwelling houses and
stores; many Of them large and costly structures,
and all Of them such as to do credit to the pro-
prietors and to form ornaments to the town.
Main street, where the principal business is tran
sacted, has been greatly improved, and made to
assume an appearance totally different from that
presented at the commencement of the season
Many Of the dilapidated wooden structures by
which it was defaced, have given place to ele-
CANT brick buildings, which have been finished
in style appropriate to their location. Among
these may be mentioned the brick Stores erect
ed by Messrs. Powers, Bush, Mangold, Mason,
Hebe, Langworthy, and others, and above all
the commodious C Globe Buildings by Wilson
& Smith. on the corner of Main and Fifth streets.
This building contains three large Store rooms
upon the lower floor, and in the second and third
stories large number of pleasant and commo-
dious rooms for Offices &c. Among the dwell
ings erected upon Main street, may be mention
ed that of the Hon. J. J. Dyer, Judge of the
S. District Court This elegant mansion, finish
ed in style of architecture which does credit to
our city and State, is situated upon an elevation
at the upper part of town, and is seen to great
advantage in approaching from the opposite side
of the river.
The improvements in the other streets are e.
qualy creditable to the enterprise and indicative
of the prosperity, of our citizens.
The Mercantile and Mechanical business of
Dubuque is far more extensive than most towns
of the same size, and may be summed up as fol-
lows
There are twenty Two stores containing gen
eral assortment of Dry Goods, Clothing, Gro
cercs, &c, with stocks varying from ten to eigh-
ty thousand dollars; one large wholesale and re-
tail Hardware Store; two Drug Stores; two Auc-
ton and Commission merchants; one Book Store;
eight Fruit and Provision Stores; one Boot and
Shoe Store; two Tin-ware Manufactures three
Bakeries; one large Mandatory of Connection
cry; seven master Builders; six Plasterers; sew
en- master Bricklayers; four Painters; two mas
ter Stone Masons; one Marble worker; two
Saddle and Harness Manufactures; seven
Boot and Shoe Manufactures; nine Tailor shops;
three Miliners and Dress makers; three Jewel.
ers and Watch makers; six Cabinet and Chair
Manufactures; five Blacksmith's shops three
Carriage and Wagon Manufactures; two Gun
smiths; three Cooper shops; five Butcheries; one
Soap and Candle Factory; two Livery Stables.
There are two large Steam FIGURING Mills
which, when in active operation, are able to make
over two hundred barrels of -four day. There
is also Steam Saw Mill, with two of saws
There are three Newspaper and Job Printing
Offices, from which are issued four weekly news
papers; two Wing and two Democratic; one OF
the latter in the German language.
There are some eight or ten Hotels and pub
lie Boarding Houses, besides large number of
private boarding establishments. Two Of the
Hotels, the "City Hotel and "Waples House,
are large and elegant a story buildings, and af:
ford to the travelling public the most ample and
agreeable Accommodations. "Dickinson's Tenn
perance House, recently opened on Fourth st.
is fitted up in excellent style by the Proprietor
and offers the best of Accommodations to transien
or permanent boarders. The s'Farmer's Home
and the "American," "Washington' and s'New
York Houses worthy of patronage.
The learned Professions are we'll represented
in our city, both as to numbers and ability
There are eleven Physicians, of various systems
of practice; one Dentist; seventeen Lawyers
thirteen Preachers of the Gospel.
The Churches are, Episcopalian, one
Methodist, one Roman Catholic, one Congrega.
tional, one "Christian," one Baptist, one Ger
man Congregational, and one German Metho-
dist.
The Roman Catholics have laid the founda.
ton for a large Cathedral on Main street between
Sixth and Seventh, which, when completed, viii
be one of the most magnificent buildings in the
Western country The cost is estimated at some
thing over 100000 It will probably be fin
ished during the coming year. The Episcopa
lians are now erecting neat brick edifce OF
Locust street It is in the Gothic style of Arch
lecture, and when completed, will be beauti
full ornament to the city. The cost is estimate.
at some $4,000. The Methodist society have
made arrangements to erect, during the coming
year, much larger church than the one theJ
now occupy, to be located on Main street, nea
the upper part of town. It is to be built of bricl
aud in style which will do credit to the city,
The Congregational church editice has beer
very much enlarged during ths past summer, $
as to accommodate a very large auditory, and /
large Lecture Room built IL he rear, and thu
whole furnished in most conforkable and Gle
CANT style. Ell
The Offices of the General Government loca
ted at Dubuque, xe, the Office Of Surveyor &c
neral of the District composed Of the States o
Iowa and Wisconsin, in which some eight Oh
ten clerks are employed, at salaries of from
eight to twelve hundred dollars each, and pa