The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-07-24
ANSWER TO QUERIES.
PuLasKl, Oswego CO., N. Y

EULA$ht, OeWeSo co., ". !.
p. N. Davenport, Iowa; I,
DEAR SIR IL take I'll.
liberty Of writing to you, for the purpose of ma
king enquiries relative to the situation and pros
poets of your place.
il would like 60 know il your village is orcgso,r
cd by this grea, flood in the Mississippi aud 9th
err western rivers; or how it is situated in reference
to the river. Please inform me particularly al
TO this. Aud also whether the place is health,
Tor otherwise, and what # any is the partcua,
disease 10 which il is most subject.
/ / have had some idea Of emgra,ing west ant
have looked upon the situation Of Davenport a.
Iii is on The maps Of the best western loca-
Itious. should be glad TO know that it is high
and dry above the ssFather of Waters'' at this
time, aud healthy.
4 have friend here who is an Attorney and
who desires to locate somewhere in the Western
world. Have you plenty OF such characters
l(lawycrs) in Daycnport-or is there room and
business for others.
How is the Mercantile, Dry Goods, Tin and
Sheet iron and Stove, or Shoe and Leather bu-
siness, and does the place need any one ofthese.
/ If not TOO much trouble, please write mo in
Hull, aud if you have paper published there,
please send me . copy, and much oblige yours,
&c. JAMES A. WILLIAMS.
P. SCI have not seen Davenport mentioned
| in the papers as being affected by the flood, and
for this reason would like 10 know how it is.
AS the most speedy and genera! method
Of answering tho above inquiries our p. NJ.
has handed tho letter to Us. In reply we
would state, that our yiIlagc--which, by
the way, is an Incorporated city Of about
$500 suffered probably less
by the flood than any town rs far north Of
ST Louis. Our Front street is low and
consequently permitted the encroachmenl
ofthc water, but no, to the damage Of any
of,he buildings uponi,. From Front street
to the bluff in the rear there is gentle rise.
being from the river bank, or First street.
TO Fifth street, an ascent Of thrty-6se
feet.
a couple ofyears since an enterprisine
citizen cr this place offered TO fill up The
whole Of Eronl street above flood mark for
the sum of $1,000. This unquosiionably
would have been the best investment our
citizens could have made, but other matters
presumed at the time Of more Importance
interfering, the proposition was disregard
ed. Had this improvement, been made, DAY.
export would have been the only city on
the Upper Mississippi entirely above the
unprecedented food that has visited its
towns the present season. So that our
qnerst will perceive that comparatively
slight expense would exclude Us for all time
to come from any participation in the an
tics of The Great Father when he gets on a
cold water spree.
Davenport, for health and beauty, stands
pre- eminent among all the healthy, and
beautiful towns on the Upper Mississippi
Bradford, in bis .Nates on The North. West,n
published in 1916, speaks thus Of our town:
Davenport is on a most beautiful in
clined plane, almost Of a mathematical cx-
lactness, Of a very slight inclination, only
sufficient 10 be perceived By the eye, and
to shed the waters. II is sufficiently sandy
10 become dry Immediately after rain
This plane extends back about half mile,
from The river to the bluff. The banks on
both sides arc high and dry and immedia-
Iiely fronting Davenport is the island Of
Rock Island having rock foundation o.
very unusual character. the islands gener-
ally, in the river, being allayial. The
scenery at this point is very beautiful
Disinteres,ed travellers have since spoken
equally favorable, not only Of the beaut,
but Of the hcalthiness Of Davenport. In
these respects our town challenges a RI
val.
With respect TO emigra,ing hi,her, it is
advisable, we think, always for man chang
ing his place Of abode, il he be so circum-
stanccd,' Ito visit the new home contemplated
and satisfy himself by personal inspection
if il be adapted TO his wants and suited to
his wishes. No man Of family should ever
change his place of residence unless he d.
il with full intention oft being permancn,
and, need we say it, without the consen. Of
the partner Of his joys and cares. Thus
settling down in any one Of the rapidly
growing towns Of the west, the industrious
Nan is bound to achieve a competency.
With regnrd to the location Of Dayen-
port we can only say, in brief, tina, il is
situated at the foo. Of the Upper Rapids OF
the Mississippi river, at the only pon,
where that stream can be bridged, and at
the present western terminus Of the Rock
Island and Chicago Railroad, which will be
completed in two years, when our qucr;si,
| if he choose, can take seat in a car at
Dayenpor, and proceed in direct line to