Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-12-30
c5fepoaaence of tho Chicleo Advertiser.
NiuScaliRc:
Hts Pr0spects.--ssnifroa ds---PubIic buildings
-.-Hibrary Association and Literary socie-
ties-.-Lcctures, &c.
MrscArIsE, Iowa, Dec. l, 1853.

MrscArISE, Iowa, Dec. l, 1858.
Mr.. FDIroR: Havirg uotc,d in the Chicago Press
some very hatteribg arlicles upon the rapid growth
and prosperity OF numssr OF the young cities the
Upper Mississippi, take tao librty of Addressing
you article upon tbs future prospects of Muscatiae
hitherto but little noticed in the Chicago papers as
resident OF your own city, and unprejudced in favor
of Gny of the number OF cities III such proximity
to each other upon the river. p-essut for your
ders' consideration scm9 facts conFeetsd with this
young city.
Muscatne, from th, great advantages of its natural
position aud the extent of curatry tributary TO
Its resources, cannot fail impress thu eSndd OTIS
Yer with the fact of its ultimately becoming great
city. Her enterprieing citizens have been labgring
zeaously in railroad pr' ,cs for number of months.
and at length have succeeded in cffecting arrange
mens for the construction of several lines of railroads
north and west, into tic rcbet most productive
portions Of I2wa. They feel assured the olg looked
for day has arrive! when rlilroad, to kuili
having a terminus at Muscatinc.
T'se citizens of NJ 1scape eeuaty hays tad their
proportion of tle lsans necessuy for constructing
railroad fren th9ir city to 0sksoosa dis Of %
miles west through the richest cOuntry in the State.
a corps OF ensineers are making survey with taa
view psrm4ne.ty iocatinF the road eud cutting it
under nrsct immsdiatey In all proba oility ground
viii be broken IN FIVE or SIX weeks aEd from the we'll
knoSn responsibility OF tho company, there is hut
little cou6t that the road will bs push,d thr0ug with
all possible dispatch. Farnham & 20. have displayed
greaS activity and energy in all tnr railroad pref es
in the West and they not likely be itss 80 in
this PROJECT With abundant evidence of its beirg
prthaois nd paying road, tho carly completion of
II road may be glrded q certainty.
KAnother road from Ausca:ino 10 Iowa City ans
Thence to the Big Sioux, IS in the hands cf able
fni en !nt company, comprising portion # the
I2waC trai Rnlroad Company and judging from
the i'm erse force they have upon the sl-oad Lyons
1o2d. may anticipate sgesdy commence ment Of
thew X. | should not be surprised if it wcro the
hrst ad done IN tho State. The capital and energy
rcqu to for such enterprises the company possess and
thei operations sucs the project was EFst contempia
TED lst hes The coac u'ion OF an umcdiate copsruc
ton of the road to Iowa City. II few days the
road to that Font viii be put under con .ract.
4 These rosds, WHEN s1mplated, open a cemmunica
tioa to the I2wa and Cedar rivers, streams IF riding
great ad 7antaes for the mprov Inent Of watsr
and passing through as fine agricultural country as
can be found In the world. These roads will develop
the resources Of this beautiful section Of country,
hitherto laboriug under the dsedv. ntages Of being
TOO far from desirable niagket. Those roads viii
nnd an outlet to tie Il st through the Chicago ard
Rock Island ard ether eass west roads in Illinois,
and to the South by the river and the linUs rJadS
north and south. With sach advantages in position
and such railroad FsciiSies the commercial
of Muscatine in few years scarcely be over est
mated Any personal familiar with the past history
OF Muscatine in visi! it will at encs perceive
that the true elsment OF progress is there, and that
her present Indicates prosperous future Of rspl i'm
pr tyement
THE enterprise Of her citizens has placed her far in
advance Of the other river towns in fine prove
'ments. Seldom do yon see, even in New Eaglsnd
cities of The same population, substantial en
permanent nproyements, fine church edfees public
school houses, and public buildings of every descrip-
hoo that ms sht be deemed credit TO al older az!
more populous city. can r.clll the time when the
Girden CITY, with twice the population, ssd less Of
these improvements than Muscatine and perhaps less
of that rinity of interests and enterprise
whca develop in healthy manner the resources of
country and make her permanently great.
Institutions OF iea-niSg, in all tho various depart
ments of education, being established, and htera
~ soaiets and library associations are already estab
shed. commercial reading is also literally\
parooizei and supported. Much pains hiss been ia
ken to cultivate among the people literary taste,
and especially TO interest young in their library
association, endeavoring by this refine their
tastes, elevate their morals and improve their minds
by this system Of mutual culture. ]
# Lectures are delivered every two weeks before the
Association, and able men engaged TO deliver
them
My visit to Muscatine happened most oppor uueIy,
las had the pleasure Tuesday evening last of lis
tening to the opening lecture of the course, by e. H.
Thayer, O. His subject Webster, Clay, C .houp,''
was admirable one, and the address highly Ia
terestDg. He evidently Thought, from the great care
and study displayed in the address, that pen might
do Justice to the memory ef three such iilusri0us
men, but selecting great subject the ef,rt was a no
bic one or the sutj ct handled with master hand
He spoke of the birth places of each and the peculiar
associations of esch in early life, showing their effect
upon ch aracer in clear and beautiful STYLE He al
luded TO the eminent qualification Of each and the
high positions they had filed with honor themselves
ard credit to the nation with impartiality that I
could not but please even the strongest PARTISAN He
referred in most touching and beautiful manner to
the closing Of their lives, and their fame rem
dered immortal by great and judcious legislative pol
icy which sheud live in the naticrs annals forever.
His closing remarks addressed to young men, was |
brilliant and able appeal to those whom the future
might call to like positions with like duties ard re-
sponsibilities to discharge them in manner creaita-
bic TO themselves and their country. The address
a most ase one, and have seldom listened 10 a lee
ture emboiying nsre beautiful conception OF thought
and, judging from the opening address, predict for
the Association very success ful course of lectures
Such are soms of tn, advantages of this young and
growing city, and such the character of its enterpr
ing citizens. At future time / may submit to
your consideration further notises of Muscatins and
its enterprises. Yours truly, j.
An edit somewhere in the west, has become so