The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-06-08

as follows in respect to cur fourishin:
city
: DAVENPORT, May 6, 1854.
MY DEAR FRIENDs:-Al although it is quite
probable,-after taking into account all or
dinary elays,-that shall reach home be
fore this epistle reaches the hands of Tho
compositor, | must needs give you glance
at Davenport and its surroundings. This
point was reached by steamboat this morn
ling, after nights ride.
As has been previously stated, Davenport
lis about one hundred miles further up the
Mississippi than Burlington. It is not thc
Oldest town of Iowa, but it has had name
on the map for many years. Its Oldest news
paper (thc Davenport "Gazette,' y was cs
Itablished by its present editor. when tbs
town numbered few hundred inhabitants
! 3 or IA years since. 1t has now 5000 in.
habitants; having gained nearly thousand
a year, fortwo years past. Like Burlington
/ it advanced slowly, until within two years
past; and like that town it is now making
rapid strides on the road to wealth and num-
bers. Il is decidedly the most prepossessing
town | have seen since my departure from
home. The sight is a magnificent one for
large city. Il rises, by an easy slope. from
the bank of the river, until you reach bluff
J half mile back, which completely surrounds
the town and approaches the river a mile or
two above and below this point. Within
this semi-clrcie, made by the blum, the Dus!-
ness portion and most Of the residences of
| Davenport are embosomed. Not al! of the
latter, however, are in this category. The
.-a ara, locstad nn he side of ,bc hlnff which Is
.a,aa l., =, 90 e.r.aa - tbo otan Somo
~ ae,,arn - ,ha ~. - i ala !, yaryI 49,,
IA a,era,, J. s,nctnrs intaaaa1 ! heEnyna
for III Hi.h sehoal rha town i aovirnned
H. statalv residences tbus baap,;m,lv loca-
ted Thara i considerable wealth II Dlycn-
ror,. and at,rac,ad hv fba be,ntv nf fba
ooat;a, uanr mon of taste and wealth.
60, ~ -, ,alac,;na bomns hnre
a. - -. n,rt;a,s or tho bl,,f r;cw
"a ~ -. far IL !, er.inod. .
W I.'n D.. rsla,d Nil, - IA fo,,. ,fd
=, ~ ".7o " -. I.ia,.I aaa Mn ~,
.ne to"hs o' ~ :, a.ia 'i'N VA
'"I ofp?s.,l s'as ,.s, r,,,,.oh oa;ssos -.
narnnnant met .Il af yt,isb wore snnprior IN ,nv
ha'.o =, A. ,ar colleaa buldinc
W, ma', ,h - g If Tho Can5reg,t;onsI
rth Gu ':e fas.a - asaotaa ,h;s soasa, -, ,ho
L;'.h ~ .s,.I, l. h.st af iva to.n Tbore k
n'9H s''u',us - -. ,,.Loia
olie .a' - h..;nass nort;dn of tho town
- II, ,.,1i A. araait r. any c;ty in the
W,liei WI "oai' 10 e'e"'s " ""s
rst. ral ,,n,oc,io,,
Da.,hpn.t WIN e"Ipy '.'' .oa' oh
mankind, durliss s',G IN = =. es.' a.'u L.
is to be consummated the project of bridging
the Mssissippi; the consent of Iowa and
Illinois having been obtained. That portion
Of the bridge between Rock Island and the
Illinois shore, is partially erected, as there
Is solid rocl; foundation, clear across the
river II this point, fknown as the Upper Rap-
Iidsl and the water is quite shallow. except
lin the channel. there will be no difficulty IN
| iconstructinr the bridge. 1t is Intended TO
huve draw near the end Of the bridge rest
ING on Rock Island, wide as the channel,
where boats always run, and 10 Keep open
all the time, except "heii trains al pass',rs
Opposition to the PROJECT IS iiiaue pE ~
Louis, and the other towns on 'ne hSer'
and an effort will be made TO OBTAIN an IN
junction against the Rail Road compay ou,
liz can hardly be successful. Davenport ana
Rock Island. are directly on the proposed
road to Council Bluff; and there Is no other
point on the Mississippi, perhaps, where
brjdre can be constructed so oadvantageously;
at so light an expense, and so little to the
interruption Of navigation.
Col. ID. II. WHEELER, Qately OF Akron,)
resides here: having purchased what Is
known here as g Rose HUI farm, m'le
and Il half below Davenport. he Is notyet
on his own place, but resides with a brother
lin-law (Ce Martini 2ia miles above town.
For their generous hospitality and KIND at
tcntion, | am greatly indebted. one oil 'iie
finest views of the surrounding country'i is
to be obtained from the farm OF Col WHEE-
iLER. The three towns Davenport hocK
Island and Moline,) are in full view, ana the
river NAV be traced for distance OF elght
or ten miles east and west, on ciear gay.
Rock Island, 0he town, not the lsiand) on
tbe Illinois side of the River, where the
CHICAGO and Rock Island road terminates
nt present. is town containing between
1000 and 5000 inhabitants. 1t Is now grow
Ijno rapidly, and bids fair to keep pace WIN
ITS sister town in population, Tor time.
"reminiscences, of pecu lar interest cIus-
ter around this vicinity, Within slght OF
The two towns, is the point where Black
Hawk took his stand, to resist the encroact-
ments of his antagonists. The old tort, on
the Island, formerly occupied by the 'hi.eo
STATES forces, is still Cox ernment property
but the structure is now III dilaPldated con-
Idition. Government WILL undoubtedly, re-
tain the position. The establishment ot al,
,r,,,rv has been suggested. The Island