Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-04-13
Esr tAs 0assttf.
Improvement Of the Levee.

Ineuk ol hc AsScct ANV q ~" - 49,
City and its rapidly increasing business
demand that some grester facilities than
are at present to be had, shouid be provided
to meet this emergency,
j 1'ha, part Of the Levee from Brady ST,
west three or four blocks, instead of being
a general benefit to the business and an
ornament to the City, is becoming perfect
nuisance. Nothing strikes the eye OF a
stranger coming to our place SO uniavoraby
as this poverty looking portion OF the town.
The reason OF this defect - because The
Levse in lite present condition cannot be
put to any legitimate use, hence, our City
authorities have permitted individuals, to
the exclusion Of the public interest, to use
nearly all that part oft for the purposes
of lime sheds, sand piles, wood piles, stone
cutting and the general depository OF ma.
nure and other rubbish. Now if our CT!
Council have the authority 10 perniit all
this, my opinion is, and feel quite sure that
it is the opinion of most of our inhabitants
too. that they have the authority to permit
something Of more general and beneficial
character to be done for its improvement.
This part ofthe Levee has become useless
as Steamboa, Landing. partly in conse-
quence of the extension Of that portion in
front of the Mill block-by that extension
al eddy has been formed, causing lis effects
to be felt for a long distance in front,
of the main part of town--the sand
is constantly filling in and will continue
to do so until it meets the main current
making the Levee utterly useless.
Il is evident therefore now, before il can
be brought into proper condition for bust
ness, that much has got to be done in the
way of filing and extending, as il viii have
10 be extended as far as the projection in
front OF Renwick's Store House. Ii this is
done, the benefit 10 business will not only
be great, but cur town will present some
what more decent appearance.
Bn, whose business is /, to look after the
matter! II may be answered, the City
Authorities. True, the improvements, i'll
any are to be made, must come from that
source, but there are others who If they do
not realize it now. will find, apprehend,
before long that it is a matterln which they
are peculiarly interested, and such should be
striving to bring about some immediate ac-
tion on the part of the authorities.
Those alluded to are the property holders
and business men fronting this portion Of
town. As place Of business. Front street
from Brady, west, is now considered very
undesirable, when it might be made equal
to the best streets, and so OF the cross
streets interseeting this part of town
Shall We then, in this portion Of the city,
sit still and see the business In consequence
river some three or four blocks, to the
great advantage OF property in that direc-
ton. as it mus; inevitably do, without MAX
ing any effort to retain it where it belongs
and in its natural position
Any person can see that the Levee in front
Of the Mill block is not sufficen, for present
landing purposes and business men ard
boats must seek for additional places above
that block in consequence of the depth Of
water. The persons owning the property
designated as Mil Block are certainly en-
titled to all the benefits afforded by that
landing, as understand it is entirely the
work Of individual enterprise. But now
suggest that it is high time the people west
of Brady street should begin to consider
what is best to be done to protect their
interests.
My object in this communication is TO
call attention to the subject, and doubt
not but that some plan may be hit upon to
obtain this result.-It calnot be done, as
all know, without a considerable expendi-
ture of mo ney, and in the present state Of
our city finances we can hardly hope to OBJ
tnin the prompt action which the necessity
OF the case demands, unless some plan be
adopted which will enable the Levee, 50 to
speak, to pay for its own improvements.
The plan which has suggested itself to
the mind Of every person may be such as
would meet the appreciation Of the people
interested generally, or If something better
could be determined upon, well, SO that we
have the improvement.
But the plan referred TO is simply this,
for the people to petition the City Council
to lease for term Of years tier Of Lots,
say 80 by so or 80 by 100 on the south side
of Front street to the extent OF three blocks,
requiring the Lessees to erect thereon to
the full size OF the lots, brick buildings 70