The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-06-21
From thi Louiston County (Maine) Journal.
Dubuque, Iowa May 20, 1854.


TIE City of Dubuque, Iowa is situated on the
western bank Of the Mississippi River, 1864
miles from its mouth, and 538 miles below the
fails of 81. Anthony, at which point the Father
OF waters ceases to be navigable.
The town is built upon fine table prairie
which extends along the river for several miles;
and at about quarter Of mile from the rivers
edge, it rises into lofty and picturesque blhffs.
These heights have been made accessible by
fine carriage roads running up their broken sides.
aud upon their submits reside some Of the
! wealthiest citizens in elegant and tastefully
furnished mansions.
In approaching from the opposite side Of the
river, these bluffs give q very picturesque ap-
pearance to the pleasant town, which closely
nestled under their lofty heights, seems
though seeking protection from the never
ceasing flow of the Mississippi's mighty current.
The city ID mostly composed Of substantial
brick buildings, and has an air of sodity and
importance seldom seen in eastern towns Of tie
same size.
Its inhabitants now number about 10 900, and
its rapid increase is almost without parallel in
the growth Of western cities, and indeed the
multitude continually arriving is SO great, that
it is with the greatest difficulty they can be ac
| commodaied by the inhabitants.
The city contains a number of protestant
churches, and a fine Roman Catholic Cathedral,
which is built Of stone, in a very substantial
manner also Sc emiDary devoted 10 the instruc-
| lion Of young ladies', where all the higher
branches of study are taught as thoroughly az in
Istitutions Of the same character in the eastern
states. II also contains two large first class
hotels, well furnished, and having all The re-
quisiies necessary for the comfort and enjoyment
of travellers. Dubuque is celebrated for its
| lead mines, the ore not only being found in
abundance for many miles around the town, but
in large Quantities within its corporate limits
in fact may we'll denominate this the CON-
merc,al centre Of the lead region.
The traffic in this mineral has already richly
rewarded the enterprise Of many, and with a
judicious expenditure Of capital, and q reasnna
BILE amour, Of energy, vast sources Of wealth.
may yet be developed.
The Mercantile advantages Of Dubuque nre
rare-its geographical position being such as TO
preclude all probability that town sufficiently
large to be considered competitor will ever
! epring up in its immediate vicinity.
II is destined ~ be large wholesale market
for all kinds OF merchandise, particularly heavy
goods, and at the present time there are stores
Of this kind; all in furnishing condition.
The general surface Of the country back Of
Dubuque. is that Of high rolling prairie, wa
,er by magnificent streams, and the river
courses skirt-d with woodlands
| In aPproachin, the prairies from the Misss-
sippi, i. generally through b. au;ifnl "oak
openings or over rich bottom lands which ter
inmate in bold and lofty bluffs at distance Of
from to miles from the river.
The pralres are not, AZ is supposed by some
people in the east, uniformly level. The most
beautiful and best adapted to cultivation ire the
nigh or upland prairies, which have received
the app-lation "Rolling" from the series of
graceful unduIations which they present to he
which mi unliko tho r,Iliuu a.,
the ocean.
There are still in this county beautiful and
wide spread agricultural privileges. thousands
Of acres OF Ia ID signing for cul ivati"n-the
richness Of which a hundred years bearing
would scarcely impoverish, and available to
any man who has Tie health and will to make it
50.
With such opportunities for the poorer class-
les to better their condition, what "a pity that 81,
many hale and hearty men will spend their lives
in almost useless inactivity in oar large cites
and towns, hardly obtaining for themselves and
families subsisten nee, when with very smnl
means, and little well directed energy, they
might in few yeats rot only nlace themselves
above want, but in q state Of a.fuence.
For the sum Of $500, good farm can be
boughtf we'll stocked, and comfortable buildings
ERECTED and tina, too, in a locality convenen'
to some good market, where its products can e.
all times be turned into rendy money.
.BdfierHg,'' as carried on in the eastern
states between merchant and farmer, is ss1d M
prarticed in the far west the merchant P,ying
!. the farmer cash for his produce, and receiving z
ii in feftrn for his goods, thus obviaiing the
necessity tf account books, and assisting men
to be honest, by not giving them opP"rtunt,c'
: to be otherwise, which are numerous IL The
old credit system. 80,