The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-12-29
CkYENPaET:
I.s location, Advantages, Prospects, oto.

leans Daily Delta. 1t is seldom correspon.
dent of southern paper finds his way to
this beautiful and fe9tilc region Of country,
land, it seems from tie beginning Of this let
ter, that the writer sought our young city
| for that which had fled the metropolis he re-
sided in, but which was found in abundance
here--health:--
Davenport is new town, deriving its
name from the Colonel ofthat name who was
murdered ON the island some years ago by
four men.
After the Blackhawk war Of 1884, the
country was purchased Of the Indians, and
people began to cross the Missis ippi and
mark locations on the west side. But i.
would be impossible to make town with
out permanent country population. Soon,
however, the land was put into market BY
Government, and rapidly taken up by emi-
grants or pioneers. consisting of all classes,
who considered they had found new Canaan
and, on sight, determined to make it the spot
Of their future homes. The town grew with
the country, until the population Of the for
lner is about five thousand sonls, more than
half having been added within the last three
years.
Thus Ear has il proceeded without railroads,
or any Of those eytraneous adjuncts to the
rise of cities (sueh as capital manufacto-
ries, dc. } depending wholly on the bye way
commerce Of the river, and the small trade
Of the country. The founders and early set
tiers had great faith in the future OF their
little villa. c. They vegetated through the
years OF its infancy, acquired property By
degrees, and nuw, as it is putting on man
hood, form the giant limbs Of the corporate
body.
| Among these, might name Antoine
| LeCiaife, one Of its founders, and now its
! pride; and Cook & Sargent, bankers. The
! ljberality Of these gentlemen in advancing
the interests OF the town is 4 common topic
among the people. Many others Of means
and enterprise have come in at a later day,
and are making investments aid improve
ments with high and well founded expecta-
| TORS OF the result.
For the last year or two railway has
! been in The course OF construction from Peru
to Rock slmd, the point opposite this place,
and from every appearance and promise, the
cars Will be running through by the first of
| February next. This will complete the
VI
river and Atlantic cites With the aid Of
the people Of New York city, the enterpris-
ing Inhabitants Of this have prof seted liac
from here to Council Bluffs, fifty five niles
Of which arc now under co2tr&ct
Davenport derives its consequence at
Ipresant from it, beautiful! location. There
Is no point between St Authony's Falls and
the Gulf of Mexico that presents better
site for a town, or a more eligible one for a
large city. The river is here bounded on
both sides by rocky shores, with a large
lis!ard oi rock lying above; its lower exit en-
ity (with the ruins q Fort Armstrong; pro.
!ectirg into line drawn between the up
lper verges of Davenport, and its Wis AVIS
Rev Re a9s'6s 6t from hti rhtierf biceefg bicee, fgkklis tbGf
I country a picturesque character seldom I,
be met with.
But the future sources Of It's wealth vii
be derived from its manufacturing power
the agricultural productions Of the neigh
boring country and the commerce of til,
great natural and artificial thoroughiare:
with which it now is, and may BE- hereafter
blessed. Situated at the foot OF the Uppe
Rapids. it possesses all the water privilege
OF Lowell, there being fall OF eighteen fee
rom the head to the foot of the Rapids
Cotton factories situated here, could receiv,
their raw material from our Southern plan
ters by the Mississippi boats, with far les
charges and freight Than are now taxed OF
the material manufactured in the East.
In addition to these facilities for manu-
featuring, there is abundance of coal in tht
region AT town called Sheffield, forty
i've miles east on the Rock Island r. lroad
there are large beds Of Goa! Of the very brs
luaIitv. Machinery is at present carried OF
BY steam made with the coal Of the immedi
4te neighborhood.
/ The soil OF the whole country is nearh
quail in all its parts, aud rich US any al!uvor
yer formed. There is a black vegrtabl
mould covering the face of the entire coun
try. Of one to three feet in depth, except OF
the timber lands. This mould has beer
prmed BY the prairie grass, which. for ages
has annually clothed the country as with ;
lplrment, and rs often burnt, or decayet
l with the decline o! autumn. The tilhng o
4 thousand years will scarcely exhaust thls
upper crust, and even when the cream Is
thus taken off, there lies below it a sol
equal to the best timber lands Of Ohio art
Indiana.
i Ne State in the Union, except Caiiforn'a
has ever received more rapid accessions t
its population; and it is now more eageri,
sought by the tides Of emigrants TO the Yves
than any other portion. Whenever hap
py home is desired by the people, tits search
ed fer and found here. A good farm can b
u brought to as great state of perfection II
three years as it could be in Il timDere,
country in twenty fruit and ornaments
trees excepted The sod may be broken il
the spring, planted in corn or sownin wheat
and the land will produce enough Tn
irst season TO pay the expenses OF breaking
Il Many enl@rants from different German
States have settled heO, both in town am
country, and from their industrious an
thriving character, are destined to becom
an important part OF the population
One OF the greatest works OF the age Il
now decided upon by the people OF D.ren
,ort-tla, is, railway bridge across tins
NJ ssissippi river, 1t is to be constructed Q
stone, aud draw to be made at the mail
channel for steamboats,. Some question
/ he constitutionaiity OF the measure, allcg
ing it to be an Obstruction to the navigation
If the river. Blu, the general opinion seems
to be that il cal b. 50 constructed as u avon
any objection on taat score.
An effort will be made this winter to IL
duce Congress to grant alternate sections
lot land of the usual width on the Mississip
i and Missouri Railroad. The failure q
this measure haa heretofore been attributed