The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-10-11
Dubuque, lowa,Sept. ~, 1854.

Scarcity OF houses IN UuDuQuc-lne HdfDoI lmpICVe-
ment-Churches and Newspapers-Building, Material
City Hotel and Wapels House-Protisions; Fruit,
Labor, &C., b H..
Dubuque, lows, Sept. -, 1854.
Notwithstanding the great number OF bull
dings going up here this season, it is next thing
10 impossible to obtain either business houses
or dwellings Both are scarce and in demand
at most any price. The ha,bor at Dubuque is
and long has been a source OF Inconvenience
to business men, and has without doubt retar-
ded the growth and interests of the plac, very
much. The course persued, heretofore, has
been such that TO make a commodious and
safe harbor now, will cost double what it
would in the first place. The river on the Iowa
side is full Of little islands. Instead of filing
up, as common sense would seem 10 dictate,
the contrary course has been pu sued, and
instead Of having good harbor, it Is necessary
70 90 over the whole ground agaih-fll up and
build eauseways to the main chInncl TheN
Common Council have passed resolution era
powerng Mayor Farley 10 issue proclamation
submitting to,a vote Of the people whether they
are in favor Of giving to the Mayor aud Coun.
oil uu.hority to issue the bonds Of the city 10
the amount Of $50, ,000--$40N00 Of which is
10 be expended in tine construction of cause
way to the river at the most eligible point.
A board of Trade Of the business men Of the
city is being formed-one Of the main objects
being TO unite conflicting interests sufficieI tly
To fix upon the most eligible poi Is for the
way. 1t is high time the Dubuquers were
| moving in this matter. When we consider the
amount of business done in Dubuque, taking
| a scope of country Ct over a hundred mice
west besides considerable distance north ard
south. that the amount Of commercial transact
ions, for The last twelve mon his, have exceed
ed six million of dollars, and is daily and hourly
,ncreasing-it seems not little surprising that
so important matter as a good harbor should
have been neglected to this late day.
| Dubuque boasts of thirteen churches, mos:
Of winch are Of brick. The Different dcnom-
nations number probably more Four daily,
three tri>weekly ard four weekly papers, besides
/ a monthly periodical, the Journal of Education
are published here. Considerable leiterary
taste is manifested and much interest taken III
educational matters. Eastern periodicals and
papers are well pa .ron:zed-there being scarct>
| iy family without one or more.
/ Building stone of most durable Kind is pien-
~ on the Wisconsin side jpst above town, and
also u short di-tince back in the bluff. Brick,
however, is preferable fer building, an. tit.
Proportion Of stone is small. t0@
The Hotel business in the West, as in the
East, has become as much branch Of trade
as any other business, an to he Successful in
il re Gnres as much experience as any other.
Dubuque has two first class houses, and when
the several improvements now going IN are
completed, they will be second 10 none in the
west and northwest. l took a peep through
both these houses, and the result in my nola
book seems TO be ths-The City Hotel fronts
sx,y-two feet on Main street, and one h1ndfed
and fourteen on Fourth .t-sei, is four storys
nigh including basement. The cell ngs are
high the sleeping rooms large and airy it is
kept by Judge Tompkins, for long while a
81 c.,r
vile. The .sCiy', is being renewed thrcnsli
out, and Judge T. has added that nccrss, ry Of
all necessarles, for the special Accommodation cf
young folks, a commodnus ball rocin rh.
"Waples, the ne xt noted, is on the Corner &C
,ian and Second Streets, and almost OF pSite
the Rallroad Depot, across the river, frn,itiru
I'll feet on former, md iI3 on latter, is four
s'ories above basemen', contains now some 80
roons. and is undergoing tho:ou IA and extens; Sc
alteration fr,m garnet ~ celler. The whole
: cost Of altrrat on, improvements, finishing, 4 c
Will be over $4,000. The SIe-srs Haryp,
are having a"big run.' and in virwnf the in
creased anoun, Of ira s-l on the opening Of ,lr
Illinois Central Railroad to D.buqnp, in,er,
pnthn! mp next seaspn, a counterpart ION In,
'"hrr side o. the block, thus just doubling tl,e
facilities tor accommodation. When they hay
d. ne this, their house will be hard 10 bpa; any
where. The 'stravelins p,.biic'' may tr, 81
a themselves with perfect safety in the hands {"
Dubuque landlords, and il af er fair trial they
are dissatisfied / would recommend straight
racket, and accon7n tions in peculrf rs ,ut,'
!, Institution we w"t of The prices o. pro-
: v'snns and labor will vary li'tlS from ihos" I
Chca,o. Board from three and Laif 10 SIX
Jo,;ar. pr wrrk. Wood five t. six d.,llars per
cord Lnbor-rs are vtry scarce. aHd greatly
NEEDED Stock, abu The same as IN Chicago.
: My next will refer more particularly ~ the
j mineral aud agricultural re. i'ns CT Ddturrr
county.