Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-09-08
Iowa Matters,

On last Saturday morning, about two o..
clock, our city was visited by the first
fire of any extent we have ever had -
The extensive foundry of Messrs. Le
Claire, Davenport g. Go. WIS entirely
consumed, together with the patterns.
etc. The books, papers. etc. were saw
ed, ard much of the machinery, though
the latter was in a damaged condition -
They estimate THEN loss at from 500
900 10 $25 900, with an insurance OF
only from four to five thousand. Work.
men were on the ground Monday clear,
ing away the rubbish preparatory to the
/ erection Of foundry on a still larger
scale. In three weeks, Mr.. LeClaire
informs us, that they expect to be again
in successful operation, so that those
depending upon the establishment fol
work will hot meet with much disap,
ooinment. Ii is a fitting time to remind
our citizens of the necessity of having
efficient fire apparatus; though All engine
could not have accomplished much al
this fire, yet at the next il nigh, be the
means of saving thousands oil properly.
Our city, instead Of contracting any
more debts for Railroads, had better ap.
| ply little OF her resources TO the pro.
lection of the property Of her citizens
-Dav. Gaz. .r.... $780,.
SUICIDE. We are panied to have to
announce the death by suicide on las,
Sunday, of Col. Samuel Hedges of this
county. He was discovered on Mon.
day morning suspended by halter in
the stable Of a relative where he board.
ed. Col. II. was naturally an inlellgen,
man and an excellent mathematician
lie was one of the earlies, settlers oil
this county and a. the time of his vio-
lent death was engaged in building a
mill on the Waubesipinecon river
Many attribute the cause of his death to
spiritual rappings' in which he was o
firm believer. pretending to receive rev.
elalions from his deceased wife [, was
always favori,e ,ennet of the ColoneIs
however, he being Uniyersslis., thai
when man could no longer enjoy this
life he should seek better, and we pre-.
sumo he was but carrying out this prin-
ciple. Col. H. was upwards of fifty
years of age and left several children lo
mourn his melancholy end Id.
Our RAILROAD WEsr.-Thc stock in
Dubuque and Pacific Railroad Is now
nearly all taken; property is firm and
confidence is established. The direct.
ors have worked faithfully, giving an
earnest of what we may expect in the
future from their energy, and their fnan,
cial and administrative skill. they will
do all tina, men can DO in urging forward
This, to Dubuque, vitality important
work. The fiat has gone forth. The
frst division of the Dubuque and Pacific
Railroad will be built, and that soon,--
Twenty five or thirty miles of this road
west from Dubuque, on the best route
will be in running order in less than q
year from the LIST Of January next
| Dub. Trib. ~
THE LYONS Iowa CENTRAL.-Tht
work goes steadily on in the vicinity oil
town and the big dump next to the river
begins to assume quite railroad aspect
About one hundred hands are now en-
gagged. and we trust that no untoward &C.
ton Of our citizens may throw any OBJ
stacles in the way Of this enterprise. -
II may no. be polite for us TO say any
thing in favor OF The Company, for fear
of being accused of attacking the Dav.
enpor: Road, but The mass Of ouT ci;i
zens as well as ourselves are friendly to
the Lyons company, have full confidence
in their determinations and professions,
and expect TO witness an early consum
nation of their undertaking - Iowa
City Reporter.
VAs proof of the rapid growth oil
Western Iowa the following statistics oil
the sales of lands here since the opening
of the Land Office las. spring, is truly
illustrative. Then, let il be remember.
ed, .hat the Indian title was only ex,in-
guished in ls4S, and no settlement. was
made on the East nearer than the Des
Moines river and on the, South nearer
100 miles.
Entered with warrants, So 200 acres.
Value of land, $65,250 90
/ Entered with cash, 7l.OS3 acres.
Value of land, ss,s54 70
Total No nf ,,ra, 100 900