The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-09-23
Ju.,iceIa koaHun,

We take pleasure IN transferring to our
columns a portion of an editorial which ap-
pears in the 0ttumwa Courier, the oldest
and one Of the most influential papers of the
Des MONIES Valley. We trust that this tes-
,imony as 70 It's fourishing condition will 60
far towards setting our city right in the es-
timation of the people Of the valley gene
rally:
The keakuk, TT. Des Mones and MiAne-
sofa Railroad, over which We now had the
pleasure OF riding for the first time, is com.
pleted to Bentonsport, Van Bdren county,
~ miles into the Valley Of the Des Moines,
and is IN every respect good road, the bed
solid, cars new and elegant, and conductors
ana others IN charge, courteous and accom-
modatng. This road, which has been uui.
city pushed forward to its present termIna-
uon, without public patronage of any kind,
Is splendid monument to the indomitable
enterprise and perseverance Of the citizens Of
heokuk and The region through which it
passes. II has been paid for as il progressed
from the resources and credit of the com
inun,ty Interested in it, and We learned, is
now free from debt, splendid capital and
Foundation for its further extension. 1t is
already doing, we were gratifed to learn, a
heavy passenger and fre,ghting business, the
daily receipts amounting to some $500. A
good commencement IN the coal business has
been made, coal cars being taken down 10
| heokuk by almost every train. We noticed
several side tracks leading TO mines q a shor,
distance from the railroad. The rond pass.
es through scenery interesting and diyersi.
| led without precedent, consisting Of charm.
ing views OF the Des Moines ut many points,
and the groves, the rich and highly cuitiva.
ted farms, aud the thriving towns of Var
Buren and Lee counties. A, keokuk. un.
fortunately, the connection OF this road with
the pacAets and the other road are not per
feet, and passengers are detained; but tbi,
VIII doubtless soon be remedisi.. We ar,
| pleased, decidedly, with the X. TT. ID. "a Al
kailroad, and more than ever interested i,
ITS prosperity and carly extension to the cit,
Of ottunwa
TuE CITY OF kEoEuK.
II we were interested in the railroad. w,
were not the less SO with the city from whicl
i is named, aud into which it is designed 4
pour the wealth Of the Valley through which
y VIII run. Ten years have passed ava,
since we saw it, or rather the spo, unoi
which II is now butt, for there was uothin,
but bushes there thea, and we mus, confes,
as We looked along the extended yis,as os il
streets, 70 form which mountains have bson
dur through and valleys filled up as ",
surveyed the magnificent blocks which hny,
been built along their sides, aud the rict
merchandise anl fabrics Of every kind viii
which they are filled, we found tina, The hal
hal mol been told US about the wond.rfn
gro"Ia ana progress OF the tate CITY. Bail
upon bold biaH which projects into the Ms
sissippi, Or rather around which that males
! TIC stream flows, and which must be som
| 200 feet IN height, the surface Ut which wa
originally rough and uneven, it has been y,
expensive, slow, and laborious business i,
grade the streets and open them to tho river
and severe charge upon the present popu
iation, but when the work is done it will 5,
done for all time, and II they Gun get through
With II, il will be aproitahIe expenditure. ?
4 heavy produce, grocery, freighting nm,
commission business il and always has beer
done at Keokuk; and they boas. also Of mn
merous heavy jobbing houses in erocerie.
dry goods, drugs, DC. We also visited soms
extensive manufacturing establishments q
We noticed large number Of blocks for La..