The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1851-10-15
THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 9.

THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 8.
IxpEPENpENcE.--Wcc call especial attention
to the communication of our friend from Buch
anan county. 1t is an interesting description
Of the road laid out, and we trust, as Dycrsvill
|, and Independence important points on tn
rou.e, and are cml f,atically promising youn.
towns, that they and the country will BE- Benefit
ted by the new enterprise.
Correspondence of the Express
lNDEPENDENcE, BCCnASAS Co.
\ Iowa, Sept. ~, 1851
\ FEfEsb MERRfTr-l have just returned from
surveying State road from this place Du
buqueward and, while recovering from the et
fccts of the journey. have determined to amuse
myself by ssrbbng a few notes concerning it
and send them to you, hoping that, If compass
sion for your readers dctcrs you from publish.
ing, you will merely laugh at the presumption
Of the writer, and light your pipe with the let
! ter.
We left independence on "Wednesday, the
18th inst, armed and EQUIPPED as the Law
directs. with corps, consisting of vicp
crs, charmen- marker, team and teamste
with ourself, and the teeth ache for /" campagnn
du royngc." Our first days labor extendc
over line of sixteen miles, with no accident
break the monotony, save one, which broke bo
that and the pole Of our wagon. An oak sa
ling and hickory withes, however, remedcd Il
defect, and we reached Coffin's Grove, whe
re ~cre well provided for, by our worthy fr;cn
/ Baker and Coffin.
Thursday-The result of the viewers noctu.
nal cogtations was the conviction that chang
is reform; ) therefore, it resolved that
re,rogado six miles, and diverge to the south
west, which, having done, we, l presume
found longer and better route. This night
reached Acresvilc, alias Delaware center,
place on the south fork of the Maquoketa, fiv
miles north of the Delhi road. Here is an ex
cellent ford, and DR.. Acres is making consider
able improvements among others, bridge
promised.
Friday morning, we le1 the south fork, hop
ing to shape cours; direct for Dyersville, OF.
the north fork, but sloughs were numerous, and
ridges stubbornly refused to run in the right di-
rection. After few attempts at straight line,
and being always cordially received in the soft
embraces Of wet ravincs, we abandoned the at
tempt Night found us at Hickory Grove, four
miles north OF the correction line. Here we
encamped all night, and, as my compan MON (the
teeth ache) kept me awake, had the excessive
of1 ttoa Of
somn,ferous companions, and the growing OF
the thunder, as the elements were mastering
| for the morrow $ storm.
Saturday morning, we started early, ad
vanced two miles, and then came down the
storm ON our defencecss heads. A thunder storm
may be very fine to look at and listen tn, when
one IS pcrched on a mountain peak, above the
clouds, or safely slowed away uader cover, but |
imagine that to feel the storm is not quite as plea
SAINT. There is little either Of romance or poe
try in soaked clothes and dripping locks, and
boats filed with rainwater. This time there
was remedy for us, and, making a virtue OF
necessity, we heroically kept on the "even
tenor Of our way making sorry attempts to be
merry, and to crack dry jokes on our wet situa
ton. After travelling through sea Of grass al
day, we arrived about dark within short dis
tance of Dyervilie, forty lone miles from lnde
pendence.
Sabbath we rested from our labors at the
house of Mr.. Mounsey, ono of the viewers
We were plentifully provided tor, and we pre-
sumo Mr.. Mounscy, will willingly certify to oul
character for truth and reraeity. Saturday
night, Sunday and Sunday night, rain fell in
torrents, and by Monday morning there was a
very respectable flood. THIS day we finished
the road to the junction of the Fort Atkinson
and Dehi road, so miles from Independence
and 10 miles from Dubuque. Many and vari.
Gus we,e the opinions entertained by the peo.
pie of Dyerville, as to the route the road
should have taken--and these opinions were all
proffercd gratuitousy to the Commissioners
together with maledictions not few. Every
person seemed to have expected the road ia
run near his own house, and to consider him
self wotully i'll used that it took another route
The people in this settlement appeared to me te
be generally very active, very kind hearted, ant
very gentlemanly. ! return very grateful
and pleasant remembrance Of them and thei
place, increased somewhat by the fact tina
thereafter threatening my most often ding mola
with immediate extraction, smoking desPeratel,
in pipe, belonging to fine old English gen
tleman, (barring the old) tobacco furnished b!
my friend Georges and getting as tipsy as pro
priety would aflow-my companion, the tooth
ache, left me. Tuesday, started for home
Streams all high; tried to float our wagor
across the Maquoketa, but certain laws of for
ces, yet unrepealed, turned over our wagon
and left our baggage floating, and instruments
sunk to the bottom. We succeeded in fishing
most Of them out however, and went on ou
way rejoicing. In two dag, after crossing
streams innumerable, we reached home, com
pletely disguised with surveying in general
and running State roads in particular.
In conclusion, would remark, that if you
ever visit independence, be sure and come the
new road You will find handsome country
around, and an excellent water power at that
place; to say nothing of the inhabitants, who
are, every one OF them, men and gentlemen
unless they are children or ladies'. Judge
Dyer promises to bridge the river this fall
Furthermore, shall be dozen your treasury
for small bill presently, and hope your trca
surer will be dishonest enough to reserve a few
dimes for my especial benefit.
/ Yours with respect,
| O. Il.
! A SAD MIsTAKE.-Some of the English
newspapers having heard OF but one dis'in'
uuished " Douglas in the United States-the
notoriou. Fred have confounded him with the
:. Little Giant" from Illinois; ard have lately
announced gravely, that the Hon. Frederick
Douglas, a colored gentleman, is a prominent
candidat. for the Pres:dency.-Erehnnge.
II the Hon. Frederick" alias negro Doug.
las, is not already candidate for the Pres'.
dency, the time is not far distant when he will