The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-06-29

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and are still young, and it may please Provi-
dence to spare our lives yet little while
even to the length Of witnessing this epoch
in our history-if ~, lot W meet again upon
this spot, and, - wiser and better men, re-
new our acquaintance with the past.
TINE PROGRESS or DAVENPORT.
When looking over the fields of compact
brick and mortar, and listening 10 the clash
Of machinery, the noise Of the hammer and
INV and trowcl, the rafting Of = thousand
vehicles, the murmcr Of a city's hoarse voice,
and the shrek Of the locomotive rising above
all other sounds, as II crosses the great Mis-
sissippi bridge, how startling tho reflection
that only twenty five years ago, on the very
site Of all this busy life and art dcvel-
opmcnts, great white chief held treaty
with the red men Of the forest, and pur-
chased from them this, the garden spot Of the
Mississippi Valley. II seems scarcely possible
that in - short time the home Of the In
dian should have changed 20 what we now
see around IN. Why, little over twenty five
years ago, tho Fox tribe Of Indians had their
lodges directly across the river from this
point, and the Sacs few miles below. ke-
okuk and Black Hawk were the chiefs Of
these tribcs-the first always for peace, and
advising the removal Of his tribe, - though
his sa9acious eye penetrated the mysteries
Of the future, or more clearly read the pres
cnt, and saw the utter utility Of attempting
10 resist the progress Of the "pale faces
the latter, stern, bloody and implacablc, un-
able to look calmly ut the destruction u his
corn ields and the abuse Of his women, but
plunging into hopeless war to avcnge the
wrongs Of his countrymen, and only yield
ing under necessity which Napoleon would
have called Destiny. Twenty five years ago
this was the theatre of the Black Hawk
war" There yet repo~c the remains Of old
Fort Armstrong on the granite cliff Of Rock
Island, one visible memory Of the past mid
the busy life Of the present. TWENTY five
yVafs aSo su's WIZ - aHNe Win rotuicts
guns pccmd from every port hole, and the
armed sentinel ON hi. rounds watched for
an enemy more rcvengeful and keen scented
than the hungry wolf. Under the fort there
still yawns the dark moutLcd cavern where
Black Hawk consulted the Manito.l, or good
spirit, for advice, even when the voices and
footsteps of the mortal enemies of his race
were in his ears.
Hut time passed, and the white houses 81
village began to dot the lovely spot whcre
now rcpo~es q city. The village grew into
responsibility, and Davenport became a
place ON the map. Il i true her prctcnsions
were feeble by the side IL Stephenson, across
the river, or even in comparison with Rock
imam City," few miles below, now place
81 few ruined old houses, uns.ng, union
orcd and almost forgotten. Yet Davenport
was a beautiful viIlaec-thc lovliest spot,
great travellers said, in the wide American
country, and certainly the gem Of the Mis-
sissippi Valley. A lovely village she con-
tinued rs year after year iapscd into the
past-and nothing more. Her sleep was as
profound as the beauty asleep was pleasant
To look upon. Her old citizens chung TO her
with generous love, but while themselves
worshiping her charms and claiming Cor
them the admiration Of every stranger, they
could not behold any signs that she would
ever engage In the active, growing, progress
i've life Of some 81 her sister cities. But
suddenly Davenport awakened TO new life.
Great influences seemed to n cncc center at
this point, new tide of emigration CON-
mcnced pouring into the beautiful Iowa
land, and under refreshing impulses Daven-
port took her place among the fast growing
cities Of the West. Five years ago her vii
lagc population was not two thousand. Now
we number nearly sixteen thousand souls,
and our city is increasing - East in buildings,
population, and all the elements 81 wealth,
As probably any city in the whole country.
But We had only intended 20 allude in
this article more practically than We have
done in our leader, TO the present outward
evidences Of progress which Davenport is
exhibiting. A few weeks ago our citizens
voted loan Of $4,000 for the improve
mcnt of the streets, &c. Now on al our
prominent streets there are swarms Of la
borcrs engaged in the work Of grading, gut
tering and macadamixing our great thorough
fares. Heaven 40 smiled upon this spot,
that she left hut little Cor man 10 do in fix-
ing grades, excepting Ia cut through the
beautiful crescent Of bluAs surrounding the
city. This the lahorcrs arc now engaged
1t, and by next fall We shall have well mac
adamixed streets. We arc laying three
miles more Of gas pipe, building City Hall
20 cost Sill, 900, erecting q large City He's
pital, purchasing grounds CIR water works,
and lending substantial aid BY corporate and
private subscriptions, towards advancing n
our railroad interests. Thus much briefly
for what We are doing ~ corporation, in
the way Of public Improvements.
But the stranger Is struck with aimira-
ton at the number Of buildings nov in pro-
Gees q erection in Davenport, and the real
costly elegance u many Of them. They arc
ON every street aud On almost every block.
They are in the heart of the city in the
form Of rows Of substantial business houses,
and Ut the outskirts In additions of actual
villages u dwellings. We may notice in
the business part u the city eleven hoas-
g in progress u erection ON oss Mock, near
~ every building 10 BE- four stories high
ar in another place white marble banking
house, the most beautiful in the State--or
Al third point hotel to c~t sixty thcas-
and dollars. Or Oh the bluiIs beck of the