The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-09-28

main unfinished for some time, perhaps till
the Doc. can get more school money.
This morning, bright and early, quite a
number of the citisens departed TO West
Point, to attend the Fair, with some Of whom
Mr.. Howell took q seat. l remained here
half day to see the city and our constitu-
ents. have done so, and am just writing
out my notes Of things seen. The bell rings
for dinner; the West Point hack is st the
door, and must stop. But have some
what to say Of this place, and will say it
next time. Il.
p. S. Dinner 10 over, and much to my
surprise / find the hack 10 full and my chance
for getting TO West Point quite slim. But
just now steps in our friend Winterbotham,
{of the firm Of Winterbotham L Jones, who
are we'll known throughout the State Is
manufacturers Of Agricultural Implements,
&c.) with an invitation to tnke n seat with
him. Thus happily relieved, am "waiting
for the wagon" to come round, and improve
the moments leisure to shy that Fl. Madison
pleases my eye considerably. Its site is n
beautiful plateau, half mile in width, on
an average, from the river to the bluff or
high prairie land in the rear. The bank of
the river 10 very easily made into an excel
lent levee, which is now being done. The
streets are level, with just sufficient deelina-
ton for ensy drainage. notic4 oil through
the town many comfortable residences, en-
bosomed in pleasant groves Of shade trees
and shrubbsry. There ore evidences Of a
steady aud substantial growth, and am
glad to learn that, although the money pres
sure is felt here also somewhat, yet the peo-
pie do not complain Of awful hard times
There has been no wild speculation here,
business is steady and profitable, and on the
whole | take it to be right comfortable and
substantial country town. True, miss,
here, the "noise and oonfusion," the excited
hustle and hurry of Keokuk, but find this
rather pleasant than otherwise, at least for
the time being.
! find, on enquiry, that living is rather
cheaper here than in Keokuk. Wheat is SO
cents per bushel, butter 20 cents at retail,
potatoes slow at two bits and other things In
proportion. When you consider that ali the
country round here, on both sides Of the riv-
er, is highly improved, and that every art-
Gle raised by farmers and gardeners is pro-
duced in great abundance, you will agree
that it's pity our railroad does not extend
to this point. Consider, also, that Fl. Mad
ison has some forty or fifty retail stores, all
OF which might be made customers Of our
wholesalers instead of going to Burlington
or elsewhere. Consider that all the rich
country now tributary to Fl. Madison could,
by extending our railroad up here, be msde
tributary to our market, and you will bee
that It wonld pay both our. city and the rGl-
road company. It would pay especially In
tbs winter when Fl. Madison is cut Of from
all the world around, and when her people
and the people Of the surrounding country
would be glad of the chance to run By rail
to market like ours and return home the
same day. When look At the map, at the
resources of this region, and examine the
subject in the light Of experience, am sur.
prised that this project has not been long
since realized.
Here comes the wagon. More anon.