The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-06-02

Bacterial Corr<sponacncc.
On fnK Ainlsslprr,
Nay 9, 1856.
DxAa AasacIarEs:--AsI ssmmsncc my let
tsr we are pa)sing Bad AZ City, which num-
bsrs preoiselS eight houses. Az had antici-
pa4sd, ws passed Prairie du CHEN in the
night, and l did not see It. had desire to
do so. 1t was so long the farthest outpost
Of civilization on this continent, being one
Of the very oldest towns IN America, that 1t
has an interest for me. But we may pass it
in day light on our return.
It's possible that may not return as soon
asI anticipated when | left. The Captain
talks 81 ggeiass up The Minneseta river. Lam
delighted in the hope that he may. should
be right glad to 60 up into that region. If |
do, shall date alctter at st. Peters, or some
where away up among the haunts Of the
rough voyo9eurs, in the dim haze Of civili-
xation, where the beaver builds his dam,
and the tawny squaw coquets with tho paint
ed savage and beaux.
This morning early (for do get up early
on board the boat, though l hear only the
second breakfast bell at the St. Charles) as
came upon the deck and was enjoying the
scenery, an eagle started from near the shore
at the foot Of an abrupt, high bluff which we
were passing, and beating the air with his
great, strong wings, rose rapidly to it's sum-
init, where he stood, wheeling in level circles
around its rocky crest. He was mighty
bird, one of the largest Of his kind that /
ever saw, and seemed to soar proudly away
from the wheeling s'ire-canoe" that intru-
ded SO unceremoniously upon his native wilds,
until he reached IN eminence where he could
survey it in safety and at leisure. suppose
If l had been in the star-spsngled banner
mood / should have looked for streaks of red
and white upon his breast, and expected to
have found his back painted blue, and span
gled with golden stars. As it was, with no
thoughts but such as were prompted by fresh
and untouched nature, as she appears here in
her solemn and impressive mood, only saw
the kingly bird of Jove, uncaged, his feath-
ers unsoiled, his eye unbleared, wheeling aloft
in his native majesty. 1t is pleasant and ro-
mantle to walk through beautiful groves,
peopled with singing birds of brilliant and
many-colored plumage, where dwells the
delicate deer, with its great innocent eyes,
and the timid hare bounds from bush to bush
among the playful squirrels but it must be
grand and inspiring to roam the wild forest
where the eagle IS his cyrie and the lion his
lair.
We pass occcas ionally at these rude and
far apart hamlets, long piles Of wood, but
have not stopped at one Of them. Why
Because We burn coal, which is cheaper. A
queer fancy floats into my mind. Wages
we're cheaper long ago than now. The wood
which the ante dilnvians cut-and coaled, and
deposited in the bowels Of the earth away
from the havoc OF the elements, comes in
with the products Of later race.
The labors Of those Ttans away in the dawn
Of time, affect the price Of cordwood on the
upper Mississippi ia the nineteenth century
Of Our Lord!
just at this moment we are passing some
mighty bluffs, and from the tor. far down, ex-
tending along some distance, appear clusters
Of round towers, almost as perfect in shape
IS the hand Of man could have made them.
Across the river IN the distance are some
lofty pyramidical bluffs, stony-faced and
'cowling, that reached up, like the spires Of
some great cathedral, into the region Of
soaring birds and silent air.'' This strange,
gigantic architecture, buttressed and battle
mented by an Almighty hand, will endure
long after the frail fabrics Of human glory
are mingled with the soil upon which they
stand.
About breakfast time We passed Lansing,
in Alamakee county, the last landing, be-
lieve, in Iowa. Like oil the rest Of thetow
hereaway it 10 situated under the brow Of
butting bluffs. and has Underground over
which to spread itself and, like most Of
them, it seems thriving and prosperous.--
The buildings wsse very good, and the town
looked neat. Considerable building was go
ing on, and two stages were heavily loaded
at hotel door with people going out into the
country ct the rear. There are probably
four hundred or five hundred people in the
village.
Wildcat Blot, Houston county, is the first
town We touch in Minnesota. 1t 10 just
ahead of US. A land Office is located here,
and believe Mr.. McKenny, formerly Of the
Darlington Gazette, is Receiver. It il
town about the size and age, apparently, Of
Lansing, though perhaps the difference in
population is in favor OF the latter town. /
should say that it was not questionable