The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-03-09
Davenport and her Citizens.

TO KOCH lslahu, " ttitpiat' w "
the scars on the banks OF the Mississippi,
being forcibly struck with the appearance
of Davenport, on the Iowa side, went ever
to become better acquainted with the beau-
ties OF the place. stopped ut the IL 'ialre
House, which is credit to the place, ana
an honor to its founder and builder, whose
name it bears After partaking OF the re-
pas, of mine host, passed into well light
ed hall, in the eastern part OF the spacious
block attached to the above house, where
grace and beauty mingled in the dance
there met and was introduced to a large, no.
Bile looking and generous countenanced per-
sonage, whom even stranger would recog-
nize us lie Claire" He gave me history
of the early times in our beautiful valley -
II had been day of much interest to him.
He had padded small canoe up the Hill
nois river. and visited Chicago ere the con
ccpton Of its present greatness. lie had
stood upon the banks of the Father OF
Waters and beheld the retiring march OF
the red man--he had heardt the wild notes Of
the Indian war cry, coming still fainter from
the west and ere its last reyerberations had
died upon his ear, he had been startled by
the shrll whistle OF the Locomotive. Tie
seemed TO me, as he welcomed the spirit OF
the age. to lead us mid the memories Of the
past: methought upon his saddened counte-
nance could read the lines OF regret. rs, mid
the hustle which comes Of art and CIVILIZATION
he told the tale of the unfortunate Indians,
who once, undisturbed, possessed these pral-
rcs and these streams hut who now, IN scat
tered remnants, have sought ii refuge and a
grave upon the sleeps, or on the barren plains
that stretch along the base Of the Rocky
Mountains.
The next day being pleasant, | took look
at the city and surrounding country. The
site for town cannot find IN equal upon
this or any other river, and Is destined To
become, II not the largest, al least the most
beautiful city IN the west
The country around is principally prairie,
but rolling, and Of deep, rich soil, with
Just enough oil sand in IL composition -
render il warm and productive.
They are now constructing bridge across
the Mississippi at this point, and building a
railroad back into one OF tue best countries
in the world. They have here large man
ufacturing and trading interest, and BY the
united efforts Of such men as lie c laire, Judge
Grant, Cook < Sargent, Fulton, Eads, Bur
rows and others must prosper.
The following is extract from awell writ
ten article from the pen of our friend SYL-
vEsrEK, OF the Iowa REPORTER, and contained
III the last number of that paper
From Lyons We journesed an to Dayen-
port, hy the river rnnd, one of the most rn-
mantle and beautiful summer drives III the
State. This city had exceeded all our anti
cipations. in a years growth, and we could
could hardly recognize Old and once familiar
land marks. The bluffs have been dotted
with many mansions al neatncss aud ee-
ganee, and extensive blocks has been rear
ed In the city; their seven BY nine churches
have been supplanted by structures If taste,
commodious ness and beauty, and everything
wears the aspect at change for the better.
Nothing seemed the same, except the never
ending ,raagf, iraugh, Of Burrows and Pref
tyman's steam mill
We should Judge that orr Davenport
friends had been s,mew hat eNtravagant now
and then. We especially noted q very in-
posing structure high on the bluff, built 81
stone and capable OF holding something like
fifteen hundred persons. We first supposed
il was convent or a college or fnnrerite
establishment, bat found upon inquiry that
it was a District School House,
District School Houses to the tune OF four
or five thousand dollars argue well for the
patient submissiyeness and good nature OF
tax payers in them di.gings," but that j.
none of our concern.
We saw our pa,riarrhal cotemparary Mr.
SANDERS seated upon that vcrtable trident
a. Mrs. Darlington would term il, which he
has occupied with - much industry and per-
severance for many years. We can only
wish him continuance Of good luck aud
here's hoping that h. may never again sub
iect IL to the modification OF defeat in run
ming him for the ggbernutoral nomina-
ton
The anticipated completion Of the Rock
Island road was then the Joyous theme of
every tongue and extensive preparations
were making upon the other side Of the riy-
er for an appropriate celebration OF the event
We are under obligations 10 the Managers
for an invitation to pnrtcip;,ta in their fes,iy-
tiles, but sheer want of time would not pcr-
nit our acceptance and presence II would
probably be Agreeable 10 the Rock Island
ers to have their pleasant city the perma-
nent terminus OF the road, but even now j.
the bridge in course of erection which nj It's
completion, Will find track already laid.
prepared 10 bear the first locomotive across
the Father III W aters, far inland towards the
Missouri OF the vigorous prosecution Of
the road to Iowa City, there il little doubt
Men of experience aud capital are engaged
in the work and they will carry il on, what
ever contemporaries may thwart their course
or other interests seek To divert them from
the old and long cnnvassed route.
The following letter in reply to IN in
quiry of the editor of the r. Island Repub.
may possess pecu iary interest to some Of
our subscribers in this county who obtain
their papers at post offices without the coun-
ty:--
p, Q, Department,
appointment Office,
Feb. ~, 1854.
Sr:-ln answer to yours of the nth inst,
have to inform you that actual subscribers
to weekly newspapers published in the
county where they reside, are entitled to re-
ceive enc copy thereof tr.e of postagr, even
though they obtain them at a heiehborinp
office IN an adjoining county or State, pro-
vided that Is the Office AT which they usually
receive their mail matter
Respectfully your obt servant.