The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-06-07


ton. We say to Kcokuk, 70 ahead! &
ahead! The heart OF Iowa liss opsa FOR 70,
and iaready TO rcoeivc you. The DssMoine
VALLEY can rot along, * 90 it must, withou
Congressional fayors. 1t would be fata
! error, IL Keokuk suffered herself to be de
! ceived by the promise that another act will
be granted for the benefit of her railroad
| and remained inactive on account OF tina
promise. No, Keokuk must go on a. If Their,
was no Congress in existence. The less de-
lap the better; the road once started vii
pay good interest, and will prove to be ,
profitable investment.
very pleasant correspondent Of the New
York Erening Post writes gossiping and
readable letter from this place, from which
we make the following extracts:
This city, situated Mt the junction OF the
Mississippi and Des Moines rivers, is one OF
the most interesting localities in the Vest
It Is built on bold, projecting bluff which
rises one hundred and fifty feet above the
level OF the Mississippi, and presents fine
view from the river on being approached
from the South. In 1910 it was hamlet Of
one hundred inhabitants, and now it num-
nine or ten thousand.
~
No city on the Mississippi, above st. Louis.
has probably larger wholesale trade, though
others have larger retail trade. Several
houses, engaged in the West India and drv
goods trade, do hasiness ranging from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred and ffty
thousand dollars. The circle of Keokuk
trade comprehends southern and central
NJ "a -
means for Transporting merchandise to the
interior arr ordinary baggage wagons. and
the imperfect navigation Of the Des Moines.
which, at the best stages Of water, is navi.
gable one hundred and seventy miles, to Fl.
Des Moines, improvements OF which, so az
to facilitate slack water navigation, are now
in progress.
The city is we'll built, and contains larger
proportion Of substantial private residences
than almost any western city, bearing the
evident marks of intelligence and thrift
There are many fine sites in view Of the riy-
err, and the eyeis pleased by q survey of the
undulations Of the back country. Some OF
the streets leading from the river are Mead
amized. The streets are lighted BY gas,
bene6cent improvement recently introduced
mainly through the enterprise Of single
citizen. Three daily newspapers are pub
iished here. A theatre is open to such a are
inclined to the entertainment of the stage.
The Medical Department OF the Iowa Uni
versity is also here. The population is of
varied origin, less Yankee than macy cities
in the Northwest. One trace. of New Eng
land may be seen in Unitarian church, which
10 now building, the finest place Of worship,
in the city. Some Of the leading citizens are
from New York, and eminent New York cap
ita!ists have been and still are largely inter-
ested in real estate in Lee county.
In marked contrast with other features OF
the city are the hotels. To whichever you
may 60, you would wish yourself in half an
hour, at the other. Their charges are two
dollars day, and warrant tho expectation
OF the best entertainment. But, alas for
the unhappy traveller. He is in danger Of
becoming idiotic by the cramping of his ell
bows at the table. Cleanliness is a forbid
den luxury, both in the preparation Of the
food and the appointment of the dormitorics.
Hodge podge is n favorite mess. In Sec
ton OF the country where poultry can be
raised by the million, and game is in abun-
dance, in the hotel where the landlord pro-
fesses to give 'sperfect satisfaction" neither
game nor poultry were on his table for a
fortnight. My companion in misery, who is
Gothamite, and at the same time good
citizen and good Cristian, when requested
to assist in procuring loan for church
edlhce here, declared he would not do 1t till
. better hotel was provided. The public
spirited citizens Of keokuk regret very much
this grievance Of travellers, and are prepar-
ng to remedy it by erecting commodious
public house, aud providing it with q land.
lord who understands his business.
One feature OF the temperature in this re-
ZION is the violent winds which prevail.
showers arise very suddenly and the streets
'ccome very muddy. The mud is quite ad-
lesive, but it is consolation that Il is rich
mud, and is worth three hundred dollars
'ront foot. The mud, however, soon disap-
ears before the winds. Real estate is held
i high rates, and on this point it is quite
probable that kcokuk, like most Western
;ities, will not in the future experience such
N increase Of prices as in the past. In the
y est progress ha. been SO great, that in the |
'ision Of Young America, It has no limits. |
70 doubt profitable investments may b64
made, but caution and righteousness are |
more necessary in the future.
The candidate Of the Republican party for
resident is now matter Of considerable IN /
crest. II he is at the same time Ia reliable
md available ma,,-one who will be true on
DC great issue, and also possesses popular
uaiities-he is sure Of Iowa. The Repub-
lcnn newspaper Of keokuk-the Gate City,
hose weekly issue il called the Des Moines
alley Whig-has commended Mr.. Fremont.
he Hd.ck- Eye, Of Burlington, has put up his
anne. The prevalent question in regard to
am Is, what assurances are there in his
haracter and past life that he would be
oyal to human liberty and defend it at
'hntever point it should be assailedp The
eiegates from this State to the Philadelphia
convention are said to be in his favor.
TelegraphSc News.