The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-09-06

ALFRED SANDERS, Enron.
DAVENPORT:
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 6, isls.
AN EXCURSION,


Ann a FEW REFLECTIONS rHEREuPoN
We took little excursion through Scott and
into Clinton county last week and were pleased
with the manifestations Of comfort exhibited in
the improvements we every where witnessed
The erection Of q better class OF dwellings and
thu increased providence for stock during our
severe winters, occasionally greeted our eyes,
but the latter not with that frequency which
one would desire to see. Every farmer, howev-
CT limited his means, can and should provide
himself with ou,buidngs for the shelter Of his
stock during the piercing storms Of winter
Poverty cannot opprcss so to force him to win
ter his cattle without shelter, ns the labor Of q
few spare hours, without any attendant expense,
would construct sod stable with thatched ROOT,
sufficient TO protect the suffering animals from
the keen blasts which sweep our prairies in mid.
winter. The improvidence that many display
IN abridging themselves Of the many little COM
forts which tend TO smooth the rugged way Of
life and are SO easy tobe obtained, is censurable.
Under the plea Of ''we are poor folks" we have
known farmers in the West to stay in houses du-
ring winter, the pores OF which were us open as
those Of their own bodies after a sutry days la
Dor in summer. Perhaps the heavy doctors bill
of the last season may have prevented them de-
voting that attention to their houses which they
required, and yet it would be difficult to con.
vince them that their former negligence upon
that subject was the sole cause Of the doctors
bill. As these hints arc Just in seascn, we hope
those farmers disposed TO overlook personal CON-
forss for the n'igh,ier pursuit.. of money making,
will consider the bearing the former have upon
the latter, and By losscning their priva,ions in
crease their sources of wealth.
We tarried ut De Witt and were entertained
in the best manner By Mr.. Benedict Of the De
Witt House, who provides well 70, those who
stop with him, and judging by those present with
ourself, the number is not few. The town pre-.
scnts much its wontcd appearance, somewha,
grey with age since last we saw il, bu, the add.
sion Of . few houses will compensate for any de-
hciency there. As with mos, other small towns
in the West, the California fever swep, away ma.
ny OF its citizens.
We returned through the town Of lie Claire
and were gratiied in noting the progress thu,
that town has made within the year. New brick
buildings are sPringing up in every quarter and
the materials for others are scattered abou, in
way that plainly tells i, TO be the want Of me-
cLanies which prohibits them being put into i'm.
mediate use. Tho saw mill, erected by Messrs
Davenport & Christie, appears to have given an
impetus 10 the place, which We trust will not
stop with one years rapid progress.
In observing the rapidisy with which our coun-
~ issestling and the many subs,an ,ial brick and
stone buildings being erected, We are convinced
that in fow years we will have one Of the rich
est, as we now have one Of the mos, desirable,
counties in tho State OF Iowa. Laved by the
waters Of the Mississippi on i,s css, and south
and By the Waubesipinecon river on the north,
With numerous smaller streams coursing through
ito interior, and springs in abundance, Scott
county with its medley Of pra,ries and timber
presents locations which the experienced far
mer cannot but appreciate