Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-09
NO. "a.
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
WALLED LAKE IN IowA-A CURIoSIT'

existing 10 that State. We presume thnr
il is as new 20 most Of our readers, As it Is %
Il have intended for some time to q
the readers of the Gazette q description of
Walled Lake, which is situated in Wright
county, Iowa. 10 me il was one OF the
greatest curiosities | had ever seen -envei-
oppd as is history is with a mantle that will
probably never be withdrawn. This Lake
/ lies in the midst Of large plain-the rich.
gently unduiatng prairie extending tor
many miles in every direction. The laSe
covers an area of about 900 acre.. The
water is clear and cold, with hard sandy
bo,t IN, from two to twenty-five feet deep -
/ There is strip of timber about halt way
round it, probably ten rods wide. being the
only timber 10 many miles. There Is q wall
of heavy stone all around it.
/ 1t is no accidental matter. Il has been
built with human bands. 10 some places
the land is higher than the lake, in which
case the wall only amounts to something ike
Rip Rap protection. This, | believe, is
what the ngueers call it. But in other
places the water is higher in the lake than
the pr.irie outside the wall. The wall in
some places is ten feet high; it is Is feet W dc
.
wide at the top. The wall is built entirely
of boulGers, from three tons in size, down 10
fifty pounds. They are all what are called
lost rock. | am no geologlst, and consr-
aueotly can give no learned description OF
them lhey are not, however, natives "to
the manor born" Nor has the wall been
made by the washing away of the earth and
leaving the rocks. There is no native rock in
wall, two miles of which, at least, is higher
than the land. The top Of the wall is level
while the land is undulating, SO the wal Is
in some places two feet, and in others ten
feet high These rocks, many OF them, at
least, must have been brought long dis
tance-probably. five or ten miles. In
Wright county, tho best rocks are scattered
pretty freely, but as you approach this lake
they disappear, showing that they have been
gathered by some agency, when or by whom,
history will never unfold. Some of the lar
gest oaks in the grove are growing up through
the wall pushing the rocks in, in some cases
outside in others, accommodating their
shapes to the rocks. The lake abounds with
excellent fish The land in shat township
yet belongs to the government
When was there in the spring of 1896
the wind had blown a large piece OF ice
against the southwest part of the wall and
had knocked it down, So that the water Was
running out, and flooding the farms Of some
of the settlers, and they were about TO repair
the wall to protect their crops. 1t IS beau
tiful farm land nearly all around this lovely
lake.
The readers of the Gazette should not i'm
sgine that the wall around this lake is as reg
ular and us nice as the wall around the foun.
tain 10 front of the City Hall, n. T., nor need
entertain the theory that it IL natural wall;
but it has been built hundreds, and probably
thousands Of years. The Antiquarian may
speculate by whom this mighty as well as or
namentul work vas done, but it will only be
speculation.
Notwithstanding the water in the Lake Is
pure and cool, there is no visible feeder or
outlet The Lake is about twelve miles
north Of the located line of the Dubuque and
Pacific Railroad. and about one hundred ard
fifty miles west Of the former place. The
time is coming when the Lake will be great
place public resort. ~
CHINA, GLASS AND EARTHEN.W ARE.
" R. n. MILLER, SON Y co, hyJ,.
tsrs have received two instalments OF their tall
supplies from the English Potter!es, and viii
continue 10 receive &C cessions 10 their stock IL.
the business season sets in.
r. H. MILLER, son Il CO, can assure
their friends and customers as well all oln.
ers from the interior, that their stock shall be- o.
the most desirable description. and that their
prices will compare iavorably with those OF any
dealers in their line in any other markets IN The
United States
r. H. MILLER, SON & CO. have prepared
themselves to offer 10 Virginia Merchants. every
lnducemeRt 10 make their purchases IN the!I
line, within the limits OF the Commonwealth.
WINDOW GLASS.--They have Just recelv-
ed via Antwerp and New York from the grr..
manuiactorv OF "Roux" near Brussels, ll49
boxes FRENCH WINDOW GLASS, OF super.
or quality and of different thicknesses, which
they have imported under such circumstance
as TO enable them TO offer a superior article al
very moderate prices Smo24
IABINET, CHAIR AND SOFA MANI
" FACTORY, No. 1870, King street, .8Lsrdn
dric. Va.-Having lately fitted up one OF IN"
handsomest and most spacious ware.rooms IL
the city Tor the FURNITURE BUSINESS. | re.
spectiuIly invite public attention TO my large
stock OF FUuSITURR, which ! am constantly IN
creasing. Persons visiting our city will hnd II 10
their advantage TO give me call as the range OF
my GOODS in respect to quality and pIice is
such as TO cover tue wants and views oil all
My stock comprises Mahogany Sofas, Rocking,
Cane and Wood seat Sitting Chairs, Side
boards, Dressing Bureaus, (marble top and plain)
marble top and plain Wash Stands, marble top
Sofa, Gard, Book and fancy Tables, Cottage Sc,
Bedsteads of all patterns; such as high, Field.
ing French low-post, and Trundle Bedsteads.
several patterns of Cottage Bedsteads, Hat.
racks, Wardrobes Looking Glasses, and large
number of other articles cmb braced in the business.
~ Beds, BoIsters, Pillows, Mattresses, &c,
constantly on hand.
oct2--tf JAMES H. DEVAUGHN.
II EROSENE Oils, DISTILLED FROM Coal,
IN (xoT EXPLOSIVE )-Serwed BY Le'trs Pa
tsnt.-1he different grades OF these celebrated
Oils, suitable for Machinery OF all kinds, BIN
nacle and Family use, can be mad OF the under
signed, also OF the Wholesale Oil Dealers and
Druggists in the city OF New York, and Of the
authorized Local Agent OF the Company in
This place AUSTENS. General Agents,
Kerosene Oil Company, No. SO Beaver St, n Y.
~ Local Agencies granted on application as
above. Order. should specify the description OF