The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-09-18
BunuouE. Iowa, Aug. %, Is;

late visit to Dubuque we copy from the Utica
Gazette of late date.
BuDuquE, Iowa, Aug %, 1850.
am sitting on the bluff more than two hun
dred feet high, and taking brd's-ey view OF
the city of Dubuque and its vicinity. This bluff,
which stands at the west side of the town, is
owned by Mr.. Kelley, present in your Asy-
lunl, and is supposed to contain lead enough TO
make you and me both rich. The town at my
feet, is about the size of Rome, and contains
some 5000 inhabitants. The streets cross each
other at right angles, in most instances, and
can trace them as readily flooking on map
There are several handsome blocks before me,
or rather beneath me, though half the town
seems built of wood Four churches l notice,
one of which, the Catholic, seems directly below
me; and it strikes curiously, after looking
down upon the roof of this edihce, to observe on
looking over his shoulder, that the burying-
ground, belonging to, and adjoining it, is on
level with himself.
Just beyond the city, the great Mississippi is
moving maestically down the valley-watering
the flowers and shrubs of a dozen islands, that
seem to float on her surface, and washing, with
one swell, the shores oflowa, Illinois, and Wis
cousin. Looking across the river, the shores of
Illinois to the right, and Wisconsin to the left,
rise abruptly before me. But these bluffs are
not so high to intercept my view, and far be-
yond them, thirty miles to the north, the Platte
mounds, Gas blue as Prussans, stand up against
the horizon. TO the east, and distant only some
five or six miles, the Sinsinceca Gan Indian name
signify ing sshighcr ground y attracts my atten-
ton. On the southern side of this mound
stands Catholic college of some note, and
which am told is their principa institution for
this portion of the great valley. Farther to the
south, notice the Galena bluffs, by means Of
which | can trace the of Fcvre river,
eighteen miles distant AS | look down the
valley, notice on this side Of the river, a ra-
vine through which small brook cmpties itself
into the Mississippi. Near the mouth of this
brook, situated one of the largest Indian
buryng- grounds in this region, and here DUBU
QUE was buried. Dubuque was the first white
man who came here to live. He was first to
obtain permission of the Indians to dig on their
grounds, and said to be the only man who sue
ceedcd in making them work the mines. He
acquired such wonderful influence over them,
as TO receive the title of ''The Medicine Man."
which you know with an Indian, means next
them fifteen years, and when che went to see
his brother, the Great Spirit they placed him
in cave, and propped him up in a corner, in
full Dress with his hat on his head MIR. Lang
worthy, one of the most enterprisng men in
Dubuque and who takes deep interest in every
thing connected with the town, or its history,
tells me that when this cave was opened in 1923,
thirteen years after the death of Dubuque, he
saw the skeleton still in the corner, and the hat
on the skull!
The ledge OH which this city stands, at the
lower southern end, is just wide enough for
single street: thence gradually increasing, the
upper portion reaches the width Of mile, when
it very abruptly narrows again. So, when they
get the city done, (D it will be shaped like half
kite, and between three and four miles long.
There is evidently good deal of business done
in this place, aside from the mining trade. One
olo1C L w dplcS, lllN,---"dS
over 100 feet in length, and seemed full of Gus
toners, up stairs and down. Dubuque is labor
ing under one difficulty, which hope may soon
be removed. Their wharf is difficult to approach
nasmuch as vessels are obliged to sail between
islands, where the channels are narrow and
crooked. A bil~appropratng twenty thousand
dollars for the improvement Of navi CATION at this
point, has recently passed the House of Repre-
sentatives, and it is confidently expected it will
also pass the Senate. 1t is thought the expendi-
ture Oft this will open channel between the
islands and the Iowa shore, through which the
main river will evidently flow, and by which
means the passage will be shortened II miles,
even for boats that make no landing here.
l must not forget to say that our former fell
low citizen, DR.. Scott, has located himself here;
and his friends in Utica will be pleased to hear
that he seems to be doing fine business in Du-
buque. But fearing you may tire ofmy medley
picture from this bluff, will "come down." and
ifyou please, will take you straight to Mount
Zion.
A WORD FOR THE LAD1Es.-Mrs. Swisshclm,