Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-05-06


river points except Pittsburgh aud Cairo, ruin
Gus % ms IN every aspect Mr. Eilet Is far bet.
ter qualified than We arc TO judge of the best
means of improving the navigation of the Ohio,
hut We venture to suggest that if a proper sys-
tenn of removing distractions and improving the
channel, from time to time, could he devised, it
would better subservc the wants Of navigation.
SIN If the water can be supplied, as suggested
by Mr.. RIIet, and At the cost indicated, it would
certainly add much to an improved channel aud
removed distractions
Correspondence Of the intelligence.
mr. ,KsoKuk, Iowa, April 2s. 1856.
Eps. IsrELIIeEyCBR:-I deem it proper to
'stite, to my former aequaintanccs and tho pub
lie. few facts in reference to this place. Keo-
isuk. as you arc aware, is n town but a few years
old. It's progress Was very slow until within
the last two or three years, when it was discov-
cred, 10y interested capitasts) that it possessed
The great natural advantage of being situated at
the foot Of the rapids, and, consequently, must
be the gate to the Suite Of Iowa. This feeling
prevails to such an extent that we have "Gate
:. City, stores, hotels, shoe shops, tin shops and
s 6loggeries. But, from the number of emigrants
who enter the State at Burlington, and points
above, should suppose that the public were
acquainted with other, entrances besides this
great Gate City. The fact is, the great MAORI
IL who enter the State at this point, do so for
the purpose of taking the stage here for Mon
trose, (the head of the rapids) where they re-
sumo tho river, and seek some other place The
emigration to this town is very meagre when
compared with the anticipation and glowing
predictions of some individuals who are partic-
ularly interested.
There is but one class Of individuals who
would be benefited by coming here-thc CAPT
talists II Is true, mechanics get better wages
than they do in many places, but the enormous
prices for rents, fuel water provisions, &c, soon
swallow their extra wages, and in the end they
find they have suffered privations and incoGyc-
nicnces for nothing.
o. Houses that would not rent for more than $50
in Wheeling, rent readily here for $50 per
year. The rent of comfortable dwelling houses
varies. from $3.50 to $500 per year. u store
room that would not rent in Wheeling for more
than $500, rents here for $1,000 Property is
held at from $500 to $500 per foot OIL Main
street, and in other parts of the city in proper
ton. They arc trying to sell lots mile from
the corporate limits at 300 to $500. Boarding
from IS, so to 50 per week. Water per barrel
So cents; wood per cord 81 to So, and if the
owners cannot get that, they will haul it back
home and wait till they can.
-, We have gas works here, thing very good
in It's place, while such thing as water works
is only thought of by few visionary individu-
ais. look upon this as indispensable to the
prosperity of this place, both in point of health
and security of property. Only last Friday, a
very comfortable franc building took fire, and
in the absence of water and all kinds of nPPara-
tus for extinguishiug fires, the people were com
PEELED to stand and look at the fire destroying
the building, after they got the furniture all out
1t was lucky the wind was not blowing in the
direction of Main street. the principal portion
of the place would have been destroyed. There
is no security here from fire, and when the
buildings get close enough for fire to communi-
cato from one to the other, it is more than prob
able tho city will meet the fate Of other .r'tts
places that have neglected such necessary mea-
cnef. And this result would be aided consid-
erably by the terriffcSwinds we have here. By
the way, it is blowing to-day at such rate
that it took part of a zinc roof from one of our
principal buildings, besides doing other damage.
1 would not advise any persons to como to this
place, unless thcy have plenty Ofmoney and nc
conYciOncc, so that they can meet the sharpers
on equal footing, as nature appears to have nc
elected them in that matter, and they say it is
necessary to slight thedeSil with fire. Itwould
be almost impossible to give you full account
of the course pursued by portion, at least, Of
the property dealers here, to increase the price
Of real estale-such as sham sales, property pas
sing from the first to the second party, at an
enormous increase in price, and from the second
to the third atdouble the last price paid. mean
time thereports circulated of these sales, Mt such
immense profits, while at the time it is all
humbug, and the piece of property remains still
inthe hands of the first party. You see this
acts as bait to catch green ones, who think ii
they don't buy soon, property will be out of their
- reach. Men arc frequently induced to pay dou-
bio and quadruple the value of property by such
things as this, which, in my opinion, is nothing
less than downright robbery. The property
holders in general, are extortioners of the worst
ssamp. taking advantage of the peoples necessi-
ties, frequently charging more rent for one year
than the building originally cost
tits for the purpose Of undeceiving the public
that write this, torI am well satisfied that il
,Rsotpt az IL ts, was known to the people abroad,
there would not be five persons come here to
every ffty who come now We have all the
enormous prices for everything and all the incon-
venienees Of thelargest commercial city, without
any Of It's adyantagcs,
Mechanics would do better in Wheeling at
81 60per day than they can do hero at So, 20