Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-07-11
A TRIP NORTHWEST.

A TRIP NORTHWEST.
re- Mr.. DuRLIN, the editor of the
Lyons City Adgocate, has been taking
trip through this section, and thus gives
his views of the country. We have taken
the liberty to correct his article in one or
two trifing particulars:
Leaving Anamosa, we proceeded up
the Wapsipincon River, on the route of
the proposed Wapspinicon o. ST. Peters
Railroad to the town of QUAsqUEToN, in
Buchanan county. This town is SO miles
north of Anamosa, and is beautifully sit
uatcd on the river. On the east side of
the river the land rises very gradually
for long distance back, and much of it
is dotted over with small oaks, giving the
whole beautiful and picturesque APP
pearance. Very many of these are left
standing among the buildings, imparting
to the town shady and inviting look On
the west side of the river the land lays
higher, affording good sites for residen-
ces, several of which are already erected.
The town has attained, without any effort
to set forth its advantages, population
of about 1000, and when the railroad
reaches that point it must 90 ahead rapid
ly. 1t will be the first town of any i'm
portance north of Anamosa on the line
of the road. There is a fall of about 9
feet in the river, which, when fully i'm
proved, will afford the power for large
amount of machinery. There are two
Touring mills, and two saw mills already
at work upon it, which are doing large
amount of business, and it is the inten-
ton to add other machinery soon. In
addition to these we noticed a steam saw
mill at work near by, which seemed to be
doing good business. We noticed a
building going up designed for Hotel,
which will be 104 feet front by &C feet
deep, the lower part Of it for stores.-
There were several other buildings being
erected, and business generally seemed
quite brisk. The Quasqueton Guardian,
very neat weekly paper is published
here, which in its appearance does credit
to the town. We have but one objection
to it, and that is that it is ardently Repub-
lican 1t is edited with spirit and will
undoubtedly succeed. On the whole we
think Quasqueton the most pleasant town
we visited, and that she does much more
business in her quiet way than she gets
credit for. We advise all who are look
ing in that direction for a place to live,
not to pass Quasqueton. The residences
of Messrs. Davis and Thompson, are
beautiful structures, and would add to the
beauty of any town. They are finished
and furnished in style that is hardly
looked for in this country, and one would
hardly think, in looking through them,
that they were fifty miles west of the Mis-
sissippi river.
INDEPENDENCE, on the same stream, is
ten miles above, and the county seat of
Buchanan county. 1t is place of 500
inhabitants, and a good business point.
The Wapsipinicon road will cross the
Dubuque g. Pacific at this point, which
will give the town importance and per-
haps some advantage over its rival Quas-
queton. There is also good water pow
er here, upon which is now two saw mills
and grist mill, and we were informed
that very large five story stone Touring
mill was in contemplation this season
Many of the buildings of the town are of
brick and stone, and give it permanent
and business look. A court house will
soon be erected as we'll as other county
buildings, when it will become town of
much importance to that section of the
country. 1t is represented in the news
paper world by the Ciuilian, good sized
and well printed paper, which has lately
espoused the cause of Democracy and is
doing good work for its party. May it
prosper and grow fat in the cause. We
are indebted to Mr.. LEE, of the firm Of
Older, Lee d Co., Bankers, for bis kind
ness in escorting us about the town, a
ride after his " Morgans," as well as his
successful efforts to procure subscribers
for the Aduocate May his shadow never
grow less, and his labors in the good old
cause of Democracy be as successful as
his zeal.
The whole valley of the Wapsipinicon,
before many years, will become perfect
garden, teeming with its millions of grain,
and the banks of the stream hum with the
noise of the machinery which it is per-
fectly capable of driving with its rapid
current. With the Wapsipinicon and st.
Peters railroad completed through this
rich and well timbered valley. who can
tell the advantage that it will be to our
city, the real terminus of the road. Its
produce must seek an outlet here, and its
supplies may all be furnished here. 1t
is to such matters that we must look for
support and rapid growth. Above and
below us Dubuque and Davenport are
stretching their arms of iron in every
direction in an endeavor to grasp the
greatness that is in store for some of U.S.
Shall we stand idle and let the prize be
forcible borne from us-borne from us
because it cannot get to us ? BY the Iowa
Central and her northwestern branch, the
Wapsipinicon d. st. Peters Road, with
its connections north, will she get a large
amount of that prosperity SO anxously
sought by her rivals. The one she is