The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-11-19


foundatioss even At this late time inthe sea.
col, being laid for new buildings, illustrate
the rapid progress Of Davenport. No city
in the West is probably growing propor-
tionately faster than this, nor combines in
itself more elements Of continued Prosperi-
~ Her growth thus far has not been the
fevefsb offspring Of speculative excitemen t'
bat the legitimate result of certain well De,
faed causes, which continue IN existence
and offer the same Incentives tot continued
gsow,h.
Four OF fse years age Davenport was
only known ss most,layely village, situs
Ted ..opposite to Rock Island" Reclining
ia a natural amphitheatre, formed by a
range of high bluffs, with vide crystal
stream in front. and in the lap OF beautiful
scenery, no sweeter village smiled upoa
the Mississippi river. As such, 1t vas made
place of repose by The wealthy tom
abroad during the warm summer season, ont
It's destiny appeared no higher For many
wears its history had been the same--iis
people apparently content with sufiieieh'
fur their daily wants; and with nothing IN
usual to excite them to action, making no
effort to develope the resources within them
selves az community. But outward in
haences, the prospect of railroad improve
ments, the influx of a new immigration the
example .f other places, and the in'toduc'
ton of an energetic spirit through the addl-
.;on Of sn,erprisine men--bresthe ed life and
action into the slumbering, and Davenport
tank its start. The unparalleled beauty and
richness of the country BY which she Is sur
rounded. seemed suddenly to strike the at
ten,ion OF strangers, and mush OF the 'mmi'
grafton which had been passing by, was ar
rested here As the back country rapidly
commenced filing up, the town teit the m
fuence, and responded by RAPID growth
On her part.
Situated at the foot OF the Upper Rapids
and sar enough distant lronSt l.onis TO De De-
yond her influence. yet near enough 10 feai'
ne the advantage OF her markets, and on 'he
banks ETA river nasigable the gfsalef psri
q, the year. she only needed railroad con-
nections with the lakes a, Chicago, to make
her eommercia al advantages as notable as her
Agricultural. This connection Was mace
and her growth and prosperity sun lu'tner
fostered The coal region was opened 70
her. and thus one great drawback 10 her
prosperity, especially in view OF mahuiae
,,res. remoyed. The building OF another
railroad opened TO her an Interior uaae
with a rich aud well populated region when
trade has been rapidly in The increase. u
hiss started a large iobbing business when
mast annually grow more important. finai-
~. one demand created another--one me-
ch.,;csi branch instituted second--one
kind Of manufacture something eise--un'ii
,bass in return, first drawn here BY induce
msn,. offered them, are now welding then
poxerful influence as Inducements to new
nooulsiion, and 10 securing continuance
of the general prosperity. Upon them we
RELY. as The sure.t Of ell guarantees Tor our
future greatness. What onr manufactures
are in numbers and in Importance, We hase
by lsbored details this week introduced 10
the attention Of readers
We NAV now consider what Davenport
,s. having briefly traced portion Of It's late
past. la 1852, the population OF Davenport
va, probably l.7oo or 1900. Last summer
II vss over 1900, and Is now probably
rising of $4,000, greater number than the
whole State or Territory OF Iowa could
boast in 1888. Davenport was laid OUT IN
1886. In 1854, about 400 houses were
erected here. In 1855, the number reached
600. In 1866, while probably not so many
buildings have been erected as we're put ~
the yeur previous, their value must be al
most double. Among the Improvements o.
this year are rows OF brick buildings, which
would be creditable 70 cities OF any size,
fine church edi6ces, elegant dwellings, etc.
We have no means right al hand enabling
ms 10 make statistical table OF the busl
ness Of Davenport this year. 1t would
shcw 8 marked heavy increase over last
wears business in ali departments. itmsy
he set down from q fourth 10 third more
than last year, and in some departments
svan above this. A healthy activity seems
to prevail everywhere. More capital IS
coming among US, aud all the energy thai
man can summon 10 make capital and Ia
b,r bring their reward. is being used here.
What we have done aud v hat we are doing,
is bot The beginning. Next year will msrk
nsincrease over this, and the next over II,
A fictitious, speculative growth, such IS
NAV cease MS suddenly as il commenced
can readily be distinguished from that heal
tay prosperity which surely founded eur
never cease, 20 lar ia the future as The eye %
sse.city may penetrate. I he growth started
by some bubble OF expectations or specnia
tioa, Instead OF bs real advantages growing
or becoming developed silh The Increase o.
oopula,ion and capital, say al any moment
be stopped. But there Is : healthy pros
oerity in some young cities which makes
their future Just as certain as their present
in rapid progress. Davenport illustrate
This. No place ON the Great Mississippi
ma better and riches back country, more
rapidly filing up with substantial poPu
lation, than this city. Its advantages O
trade ca mot be exeeiled anywhere west Of
Chicago. Indeed, the roads digerging FROM
Rock Leland, the Bridge across The Missis
sippi connect ing the Railroads Of lllinoi-
and Iowa, their extension West, with tie
river commerce, US close observer has r.
marked. give her similar advantages to
those possessed by Chicago. There Is az
abundance Of good coal. liae stone and sand
stone, within few miles OF the city, OH
both sides Of the rirer, At a moderate coat
Lumber, too, is cheaper here than in the in
terror Of The State, or at any point belo"
These tend 10 make Davenport the eligible
point for naanufs e,uriog che is proving her
self 70 be.
OF course in The marvellous growth OF
Davenport, fortunes have been made in The
rise Of property. Yet high as some regard
the prices Of real estate here, il is placed d
no fictitious value Ii is now but little
r D..l.