The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-04-06
Tresponuthct OF ne DosIeh TO
Letter fTeR Iowa.
DavrNponr. IowA. Mareh

DAVENPORT, Iowa, March 10, -.
Spring, bright and beautiful, has come. For
several DAYS past the weather has been warm
and delightful. and the brprzes that sweep over
our prairles CONE ike whispering angels With
promises full Of Joy and gladness. Winter IS
passing ayay 10 his stronghold IN the mountains
of eternal ice in The north, and spring, radient
with smiles, and nshereel by the baImy south
wind is With us Cloudsfof Pigeons, thousands
Of the different species Of wild ducks, aud those
sure barbingrrs of spring, the american Brant
and W!Id goose, are seeu winging their unsary-
Ing eight 10 the regions far in the north. Our
noble river that for several weeks past has breB
ice bound, aliording a safe transit TO the Cease
less ebh and, ,aow OF the human tide, has, IN the
majesty Of IFS power. burst lis bonds asspDder.--
The breaking up was a, sight worth the journey
of thousand miles 20 see. Yesterday there
was n cry in the street that .hr ice was coming,
and hundreds were quickly assembled 70 wit
ness the crash, and among the resi- myself; and
| verify believe that the only word | uttered
for half an hour was saagniiccni,' but this was
oft repeated The upper rapids Of the Misss-
sippi extend from this po8st fifteen miles up,
and owing to the s~ilne>s oftiie current have
been open Tor several daps. Yesterday the ICE
above gave way and came sweeping down IN
,nclens~ masses and with irresistible force
When it came in contact with that which still
remained Gru, between the city and Rock Island
the scene was truly grand ard exciting, and
gave evidence of the tremendous power that
the ''iathtr Of waters" soaeiinits displays.
The floating field commenced gorgng the
whole width ofthe river, and huge pieces were
thrown with their edges fifty feet INTO the air.
Finally the icts commenced running under, and
~as borne TO the top again BY the current from
below, fhns forming. as il were. vast revolv
ing cvlnder Of ice that glittered in the sun
light like a sea Of FIRE: hnt the pressure cnn-
stantly Sccumulating. became SO great that
channel was forced, and down went the ler
bills, plunging and crushing though poSsess-
ed of the spirits OF thousand demons. Im-
mense winrows of ice we're formed on both
banks ofthe river, burving wharf boats, skitI>,
wood piles and everything else within reach,
utterly regardless Of the damage done, or the
punv efforts Of men 10 preserve their property.
At the rresrb, time ihr river is nearly clear
and the opening OF navigation is daily looked
Tor.
Emigration from the eastern states has al
ready commenced the largest portion of which,
seems to cnne from the states of Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Indiana, notwithstanding several live
Yankees have made their appearance, and can
be srrn in .he hotels reading newspapers, on
the corners taxing notes, trying the quality Of
Iowa lumber, with their jack7knixes, and cary
ing curious devices on the lamp posts with al
WAYS an eye ont for the main chance. The
prospects Of a heavy increase in the population
of our state thp present season arr most fattrr-
ing, and everything tends 10 substantiate the
fact that Iowa, at no distant day, will take her
place among the wratbiest and most powerful
OF the states.