Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-03-17
Editorial Correspondence.
HAvyiBAL. Mtroh 10Th, lSj

HAvNiBAL. Mtroh 10Th, 1871.
j DEAR JouS: | arrived here last night
We were detained above the Rapids. ut Keo-
kuk, and below the aapids.
Tn Tuesday night, p,l.-faced Fay, that
white robed messenger IF Delay, stealthiv
fcrcpt around our boa. like winding sheet.
IL spread out from shore to shore; it hid the
river from view; it stole upon the deck; it
lowered over the boat; it wrcathed up be-
tween the chimneys; it was everywhere.
gently whispering .stop!' The Captain
obeyed this noiseless, hut superior power.
Thus, the wide world over, firm gen leness
is always powerful.
After several hours, the fs. sailcl of,
leav ing air and woads and water clear
Then the Mckee head was turned dawn
stream, and she was soon again pushing on
towards Montrose. But ere long we ere
obliged to encounter another opponent. Tho
wind rushed against our boar, shrieking and
bowling; threatening to throw down our
chimncys, or lift of the cabin. IL tossed
tn, water into large waves, and at every
stroke Of the paddle wheels il roared ..stop!'
The Captain ODE, ed this hoisterous superior
power. Tn 8. the wide world over, what
aentleness fails ia accomplish, force must.
At ke"kui we found only tn, W.scnasia.
This boat left about half past o clock, p.
NJ, grounded after running four miles, and
sfaid aground till II q clock that night
There being only one pilot. the boat lay at
the next woodward four hours, to give him
n chance to sleep. The captain was . re-
mar able man, or rather Il emsrkahle AZ
gregate OF number Ut men. Besides ben. .
captain, he was first clerk. second clerk
rstewart, bar keeper and ehnm5erm iG
At keokui, We found the people much
pleased with the contemplated abroad from
Keokuk to Muscatine. learned this from
conversations with the brothers Kilbournc,
Sir. Howell and, Col. Patterson. Certainly
n road around the two rapids Is imreriOus-
~ demanded The river below the Lower
Rapids is rarely frozen longer than six
weeks in year. while the greater length If
time during which navigation is obssructed
above that paint would give the railroad
| business in connection with boats Mt a time
when everybody is eager to travel and to
| ship and receive freight. During Q larger
portion Of the year, low water precluies
navigation, except to u small, msan class Ut
boats that car pass over the Rapids, and
these always make exarbitant charges
! Even when the river ia in good beating or
der, the railroad could take freight and pass
engers nearly ms cheaply as the boats; and
one fourth the time, " ould have a favorably
exciting effect Oh the American hurrying
bump.
The Iowa would be preferable to the ILL.,
nos side, because the proposed road from
Warsaw to Port byron would be l40 miles
Hong, and end nowhere. There would be no
railroad c injection at all Mt Port Byron
To Muscatine. the distance from konkuk is
only eighty miles. At Lyons, the traveller
and shipper would find himself % miles
nearer Galena, Dubuque or ST. Paul, than
il at Port Byron, besides the advantage of
direct eastern railroad connections.
The Hannibal people are much gratifed,
with the passage through the illinois Legs
islnture VI q charter from Hannibal to Ma
pies. This forty miles of Railroad places
he Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad in
cnnnectioa with the eastern roads. Mr..
Duff, the contractor for building the Hand
nlbnl and St. Joseph Railroad, has recent-
" taken a million of stock. a meeting Of
the Board Vt irectors is To take place in
ST. Louis, on the 18th inst, for the trans
action Of highly important business
Rsspssuplly, ORION CLsSsSs,