The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-09-21
Progress and Condition Of X ON AK :.
Extensive as are the improv ements OF Ke.

Extensive as are the improvements OIL ne
okuk, and rapid as has been its progress for
several years past, the improvements of the
present season have been far more striking
and expensive than those of any previous
year.
The street improvements, grading, Mac
Adamaing, paving, culverting, 6c.,-have
been pushed forward on most extensive
scale, embracing large portion Of the city.
And the amount of work done, and the
change in the streets, and the general i'm
proved appearance Of the city in consequence,
would seem incredible to all but eye witness
IS. The contractors are getting pretty well
along with the city work, and we presume all
OF them will succeed in completing their con-
tracts before the season closes and winter
shuts down on them.
The opening of the Des Moines Valley
Railroad has stimulated spirit Of improve
mention the lower levee, and led to the erec-
ton of numerous and extensive buildings on
the Cat in the vicinity of the depot, including
mills, machine shops, foundry, warehous.
es. and other buildings, which give that To-
cality . very business-like manufacturing
and com mercial aspect.
The public buildings and the private resi-
dences put up this season are very numerous,
and more extensive and valuable than during
any previous year, and nearly all Of them
are so far advanced already as to render their
completion before the close of the season u
fixed fact.
The most important of these, the Estes
Hotel, estimated to cost over a hundred
thousanldollars, is already four stories high
and the workmen, in full force, are busi!y
engaged upon il with the confident expecta-
ton Of completing the fifth story during the
coming week. The brick work Of Reiding.
toms five story building, which is only nfe-
rioF III size and appearance to the Estes
House, was completed a fortnight ago, and
the carpenters are progressing Rapidly with
the inside work. Mekee's fine building, one
hundred by fifty feet, and four stories high,
including basement, is now being enclosed.
The Iowa Medical College is under roof
and The massive aud splendid Banking House
Of Thompson Il Hatch, though progressing
but slowly on account Of the great amount
OF work required for the preparation of the
material, will be completed before the close
Of the season. Most Of the business houses
commenced the present season are already
under roof, and the balance, with the excep-
ton OF those which are to occupy the sites
made vacan, by the recent FIRE, aIei in such a
state Of forwardness as leaves no doubt Of
their completion.
There have been great many very fine
dwellings put up this season. most of which
are already enslosed and the work on the
rest IS progressing with much vigor. We
tainA building operations were never in as
great state OF forwarduess in our city Mt
thls season Of the year as they seem to be at
The present time. a.
II Is matter Of grea, qualification to wit
ness the very large amount OF Improvement
IN our city the Psesens season, aud to see il
al progressing so satisfactorily notwi,h-
standing the hard times which the recent
money panic has rendered so universal.
The magnitude Of our city and stree. I'M
provemen's, and the size, solidity and gene
rally superior character Of cur business
houses and dwellings, are matters Of sur
rrised remark 10 all strangers who visit our
city, and are universally said to exceed those
OF any other city in the State.
The present season has been great one
for keokuk. We have pu. two railroads in
running operation; have graded, culyerted,
MacAdamized and paved most Of our priaci-
pal streets, and we have erected q very great
number of substantial and valuable public
and business houses. and hundreds Of solid
splendid, tastefulan comfortable dwellings.
There they stand, there thes are and there
they Will remain, adding immensely to the
inherent and permanent values Of our CITY.
Panics may come. Banks break and grand
smash involve the business world in com .
mon ruin, bat no '.crisis'' can deprive us az
our railroads no suspension destroy the cur
rent value Of our magnificent culyerts and
our paved and MadAdamized streets, and no
squash" can "ruinr our substa asial rows of
bfiek business houses and the beautiful and
costly dwellings which excite the admiration
u nil beholders.
The people Of ksoSnk realize the pressure
and DO LOT doubt The hard times. hut We pre-.
sumo that car city is no. more seriously af-
fectea hy tie scarcely cf money than oai
neghbors. And we ENJOY the proud salts.
faction II pointing the Oh fegs, non -impro.
wing citizens Of Burlington, Quincy and 9th
r finished towns, 70 the rermA. sat wcal,t
~e haze created - cur enterprise, or creek.
lessness,P # they insist on tic term, Will,
they have been outstanding their resources, ;
ard dong nothing else.
CO The Kansas constitutional Conven
ton adjourned on the eth day Of its session
til The third Monday in October.
The pretencc Of this Adjournment was /,
give time for the committee 10 prepare AM
repor. the new constitution. Tie real OBJ
ject doubtless TO permit the elections i,
Kansas aud the States 10 take place before
the adoption Of the pro-slavery Cons.ita
tier whsch he Convention acs!sa II /. II.
pose apon Kansas, without giving the PEG
pie chance TO vote upon 10 adoption.
The United States troops have evacuase.
Lawrence, and, it is reported, are On .hsi
march to Utah.