The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-04-10
For The Gate City.
son tatien.

For the Gate City.
rcscntation.
Mr.. TnrroR Last evening very pleas
ant little affair came off Mt the Pavilion, IN
the upper part Of the city.
All the members, now in the city, OF the
Engineer corps Of the Des Moines River Inn
proyement, who had been engaged on the
work during the time f. X. Blackwell, Esq.
has been Chief Engineer, called at Mr.. Black
wells room Immediately after supper They
were received BIZ the exchief, who seemed
at a loss 70 comprehend what could have
caused such visit en- masse. lie invited
them to be seated, which was done, and af-
ter a momentary silence, Mr. Bisgood, one Of
the members of the corps, rose and said,
ssMr. Blackwell, am extremely sorry that
all the gentlemen who have been engaged
with YOU on the Des MONIES River Improve
ment. IRE not able to accompany us on this
occasion. vii, however, read You an ad-
+ dress signed by all the engineers who have
I been engaged on the Improvement under
you:
KRokrK, Iowa, 2lst January, 1856.
f. Il. BLACKWELL, ESQ,
Late Chief Engineer. q. Nj. n. 4 K. Il. Co.:
We the undersigned, members of your en-
gineering corps on tf0Des Moines River I'm
proyement, wish to tender TO you our regrets
Mt the termination of your connection with
the engineering department OF this work,
and to thank you for your gentlemany cour-
tesv and kindness while with u.s.
We beg of Your accepting the accompany
ing cane, as token Of our regard for your
self personally, and our appreciation Of your
professional abilities. Wishing you long
life. and continued health, happiness, and
prosperity, we beg TO remain,
Sincerely your friends,
GUY Wells, Charles Ii. Irwin,
John s. Vernam. Peregrine White,
John Bisgood, II. K. Dutton,
John b. Lodge, Willard Porter,
". II. Civcr, l.. j. German,
Ii. s.. O'Reilly, v II. Miller.
After having read the address, Mr.. Bis
good handed the Gang to Mr.. Blackwell,
which he received, and evidently overcome
BY pleasurable emotion, paused few mo-
mcnts, and then replied as follows
SIR in accepting this token Of respect
through YOU. on behalf Of many valued
friends and associates, am filed with emo
tons which il is my misfortune to be unable
to utter Would that had some friend
kind enough to thank you for the compl-
ment bestowed | thank YOU for this unex
pccIed honor, this signal and precious manl-
festatlon 30 me, of the favorable opinion
entertained by my professional brethren, and
for the kind and aatJerng terms in which
you have conveyed to me this testimonial Of
your regard and good will. | cannot forci-
blv express my high appreciation Of this
compliment | consider this attention on
your part as one of the greatest honors Of
nv life. No matter TO what country or cline
nv fortune or nv fate direct me, shall Ill
WAYS carry it with me with fond remembran-
ces, and hope only with departing life, that
| shall ever cease to bear il il my best rec
objections.
Let me express to You my ardent wishes
for your professional prosperity. May you
in the quiet walks of scientific pursuits nc
quirc spread reputation, and elevate
the character Of your profession.
again most heartily and sincerely thank
von, sir, wishing YOU the happiness Of
long and prosperous life.
The cane presented to Mr.. Blackwell was
Of ebony, with massive gold head. The
top Of the head is round and smooth and
immediately below is octagonal, divided IN
70 two series Of panels, one below the other.
On the topis the following inscription ''E.
K. Blackwell, Engineer in Chief Des Moines
River Improvement, keokuk, Iowa" On
the first series of panels are engrayings IL
Illustrative Of scenes in an engineers life, and
Of the results achieved by engineering skill.
On the first panel is view of u suspension
bridge on the second, engineers at work in
the field on the third. lock and dam on
the fourth, a locomotive and train Of ears ):
on the fifth, n stone yiaduct; on the sixth, n
/ locomotive and train Of cars emerging from
II tunnels on the seventh, q scene on canal,
boat, &c; on the eighth, u scene IN camp. On
the second series Of panels is the following
inscription "Presented as token Of es-
TEEN BY the members of bis Engineering
Corps, January LIST, 1856"
The design of the cane was make in the
Engineers Office Of the ID. NJ. Improvement,
and was executed BY John Stout, Of New
York. 49,
NySIyth Congrcss--First Session.
WASHINGTON, April :.