Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-08-21
BILLINGS House, KEoKuK, Iowa, ,
Au0ustk 1877

August5 1857.
EDITOR JouRNAL-I have now seen Keokuk as II is at
this daythe "Gate Citythe city Of Importance in
the State you md the Mississippi river The histo
y of the west scarcely furnishes parallel to the rapid
growth and vigorous prosperity of this city Where not
dozen years ago. nothing but the rude hut of the hardy
oackwoodsnan marked the spot If created by the
wand Of the magician, large city, already in the
full tide of power, wealth and greatness Where but
few years few log houses furnished trading post
Tor the red men of the regions farther west who perform
ed the wardance smoked the pipe peace and
wampum with the white man. magnificent
buildings looming up every hand and and science
taking the place of rude and barbarus fe The war
whoop OF the had scarcely to reverbrae
when the shrll whistle and mighty tread of the
horse were heard Keokuk has advanced with permanent
strides, each step still mer than last until she now
stands upon basis as solid the inexhaussble stratum
of lime stone upon which she BY the courtesy
Prof j. R. Allen, of the Iowa Uniyersy was enabled to
get posted up in regard to buildings manufactures
railroads. city improvement, populations etc.
keokuk is located elevated bluff of eighty to one
hundred and thirty feet above the Of the river And
where the river makes right angle in the distance of
hye miles irequres very heavy grading down even
three streets to the river edge but they now making
very good eyee four blocks long informed that the
city has 500 men employed the grade of the Streets
400 men In stone quaries from which they are taking
' ior couinnss caph, sills, &C., nearly equal
70 granite The rocks pure carbenferous limestone
easily worked and make very pure lime That which
struck me as most remarkable the extent capacity
OF the sewerage Keokuk has nearly four miles sewers
OF capacity so ample that you drive horse wag-
on and team through them, being feet wide
feet hghal built OF good limestone and the bottom
paved likewise The next object Of particular remark is
the street Improvement 1t he's rder contract fourteen
nes Oh street to be cars and macadamised this year.
U3e Of particularrem to the visitor, Ia the
~se sumber OF good substantial brick dwellings, and
stores rather than ame shanties" They have thirty
1--we brick yards and say they will put into buildings
thirty millions Of brick this year. and build from 1900
to 1000 houses Good business property and fancy real,
dence sites held at almost fabulous prices The city
is beautifully lighted with gas and they are about build
ing water works. At the OF the year 1855
they had speculation Of about s0OO now numbers
10000 or an increase Of l2o0o in eighteen monthn Unin
formed be disposed to doubt this but Il Is lit
orally true -Four great lines ofalroad concentrate here
viz The KeokLk Mt Pleasant and Museane. fhe KeokI
Fort Des Mones and Minnesota; the Keokuk and Kansas
City, and the Mississippi and Wabash Railroads. The first
taese are already partly competedthe ears
with the energy which marks all the enterprses OF ths
CITY They both pass through the most fertile portions
oI tae STATE and VIII when completed, make this the
great emporium for large portion of the products OF her
prolific SOIL The Keokuk Kansas City Railroad b
Jected through the State Of Missouri and will have is
present western terminus at Kansas city, This Road viii
yorably effect the interests Of thu city In two respects:
First the that must flow the State on A
sonri and Territory OF Kansaa and secondly that this
viii be the connecting link In the great National Paeise
Rsilroad which the age demands and which must be
sructed In very few years Finally, Keokuk has the
men, the energy the capital and the advantages Of ioea
the upper Mtssissipp, and glorious future certainly
awaits her. Yours, he, A Hi c. q. ". :