The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-17
Davenport and Rock Island city

We learn from the Rock Island Advertiser that
| these two hourishing young cities are increasing
| with great rapidity II is known that they
situated about three hundred and fifty miles above
ST. Louis, opposite sides of the Mississippi river,
at one of the most picturesque points in the West
| Rock Island now contains 3 500 inhabitants, and
! its public buildings consist of large and commo-
| dious court house, two Presbyterian one Method
| list, one Baptist and one Catholic churches, and
| the Rock Island Seminary. 1t has two extensive
| iron foundries, steam mill, two printing
Offices twenty stores, five hotels and large boat
| yard for building steamboats,, &c. Between the
city and the island of Rock Island, which lies in
| the Mississippi, there is water power uncquaed,
and capable of supplying any number of mills and
| factories.
| Davenport is on the Iowa side of the river and
Immediately opposite Rock leland. II contains
| three thousand inhabitants, and has two large
steam Touring mills three steam aw-Inils, about
twenty stores, two printing offices, five hotels, in
GLIDING the LIE Claire House, which is the largest
and most ma gnificent hotel in Iowa, court house.
one church of each of the following denominations:
Congregational, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian,
| Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal and Disciples.
There is also literary college on the bluffs, back
the town. which isunder the direction Of the Pres
| byteran church.
| The Advertiser gives the following charming
picture of these beautiful towns and the surround
| ing scenery:
These cities are situated at the foot of the upper
| rapids OF the Mississippi, ground selected by
| the Indians on account of its exceeding natural
beauty. The bluffs on the Illinois side about
Hundred to hundred and fifty feot being
crowned with majestic oaks, nterspersed with ma
pie, hickory, cotton wood and sycamore trees. On
the Iowa side the bluffs are much the river
bank, the city of Davenport being partly built
| upon them. On the contrary, Rock Island is
| spread out extensive plain. In many places
| the sod is still unbrokcn by the whites, and the
| corn hills of the aborigines have not yet become
obteratcd by the hand of time.
II was favorite belief of the Sank Indians that
| Rock leland the residence of good spirit
was frequently seen by them in cave on ts south.
ern extremity long before the country settled
| by white men This deity had the form of swan,
though much larger, and covered with softer and
| more beautiful plumage From its actions they
| augured the success or defeat Of their warlikc
petitions, and the Indian lover, while wooing his
dark eyed mate, listened calm and starlight
| evenings 10 its paintve notes, and judged from
| them the termination of his suit.
A stranger upon first visiting these places sees
many things TO attract his attention; flocks OF wild
ducks geese, swans, peicans, and sand hill cranes
are continually moving from one point to another,
| filling the air with their discordant cries. and but
a short distance from town is good shooting, game
| of every kind being abundant, such deer,
coons, quail, cartridges, prairie chickens; and the
Mississippi and Rock rivers are favorite fishing
streams
| The sunsets here are most magnificent. As the
sun sets behind the western bluffs, casting long
lines of mellow ght over the fairy landscape, tip
| ping the spires and woods with golden hues, and
| lighting up the deserted buildings of tho old fort
and rejecting them in the pure waters OF the Mis-
sissipp, the scene has more the appearance of
enc hantment than reality.--St Louis intel