The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-09-25
LETTERS FROM THE COUNTRY.
By THE EDITOR
GooDENow HOUSE, (Maquokcta,)

By THE EDITOR
5 GooDENow HOUSE, (Maquokcta) }
, Jackson CO., Iowa, Sept. l2th 1850.
5 This is one of the most delightful villages |
t have visited in the Western Country; and am
sorry that the fatigues of travel and business will
render me incapable of dong justice to its beau
t ties. 1t is situated near the forks of the Maquo-
| keta River, Immediately upon what, in few
years, will be the "great thoroughturc" from
, Dubuque to Davenport, and about midway be
tween the two places, being Sc miles from the
former, and about 40 from the latter. In an
eastery direction from here to the Mississippi
river, it is full twenty miles, that it must from
its very location, not only become an important
stopping place for those who are journeying
north and south, but also trading point for a
5 large scope of country. Already there are two
taverns for the accommodation of the rareliug
public, and three respectable stores for the sup
ply of the trading public; l say already, for it
must be remembered, that it is but comparative
ly few years since the town had even a location
and name, and not more than four years since
it put on its present Mrieiug appearance.
John e. Goodenow, Esq, the proprietor of
the "House' from which date this letter was
one of the orig inal owners Of the ground upon
which the town is built, and himself, one of the
earliest settlers in this portion of the country.
10 the sagaclty, perseverance, and untiring iu-
dustry ofthis gentleman does the town owe much
OF its present prosperity, and factoring prospects
for the future. During the past summer, Mr..
Goodenow has erected most eleg CANT and CON.
modious Hotel, and is now prepared to entertain
the travelling public in 4 style of elegance and
comfort, far surprising many houses Of more ex-
tcnsive celebrity in the older States.
At the recent August election, Mr. Goodenow
was elected by the district composed of Jackson
and Jones counties, of the Representa-
tives in the lower House Of the State Legisla-
ture. In making this selection, cannot but
think tnat the people of the district have done
themselves great credit, and certainly have con-
terrcd a mcrited tribute of honor ani respect up-
on one of their worthest citizens. The State
will come in for her share of the good resulting
from such selections. We need Representatives
who are untrammelled by the mock discipline of
chqucs and unpledged to selfish factions We
need men of practical good sense, who arc cana
bic OF doing their own thinking, and who have
about them that kind of tirmness which Yields
only to convictions of duty, and gives to priuci
pie the prcponderance, when placed in the scale
against chpcdiency. Such believe Mr.. Good
enow to be, and such, believe, will the State
lind him, when put into service in her behalf
But was speaking of the town and not ofthe
State. Maqnoketa Is we'll supplied with me-
chanlcs OF almost every occupation; and what is
better than all, they all have something to do,
and an apparent disposition to do it. If | NAV
be excused the inellegant expression, will saw,
there are no ''loafers'' here. The atmosphere
is too pure for them; and this brings me to a me-
c"<10r feature IN the moral economy, (f NAV
so express it,) of this place. ! say the atmos.
pherc is too purc, for the gemus "loutcr" It's
uncontaminatcd by the ssfumcs of the Alembic p"
They have no "doggeries' here In a town of
some four or five hundred inhabitants. and min
Isterlng to the merchantile wants of some three
to tive thousand people in the surrounding coun-
try, there is only one place where ssliquor' can
' IA my "''AeA 'i"h liieulCdl purposes, uHu
at that ono, only in quantities ola gallon, or ore.
Drunkards are rare birds in this community
This may seem strange, but it is nevertheless
true Domestic happiness is here entirely freed
from its most destructive enemy. Peace and
prosperity seem to dwell in every household No
haggard countenance, with lettering step and
tattered garb, marks the traveller to drunkard's
grave! No forlorn wife, with her hungry babes,
look out from their shattered tenement to watch
the dreaded approach Of him they call husband
and father! No midnight revclry, or bloody
deed tell of the opening course of juvenile dis
spation, or the horrd finale of him who has ar
rived ut the full manhood Of crime! What q Sc
curity is here thrown around the footsteps of the
young! What father or mother would not will
lingly part with son, to dwell in a community
SO free from the ruling vice Of the age we live in!
But should do injustice to the place, were |
to speak merely Of the absence of sensual vices
They have here the active virtues, manifested in
the attention given to the means Of moral and
intellectual culture.
This will bring me to speak of Schools and
Churches, and those auxiliary institutions which
lend such vast influence in guiding the footsteps
of every man along the pathway of virtue.
The Sabbath Is revcrenced here, and almost
imagined myself transferred to my native New