The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-08-21
For the Gate City.
Col. CUFFS mt WtscottA.
WIscorTA, Iowa,
Aor Ia 1S5S.

For the Gate City.
Col. cuffs mt Wtacotta.I
WIscorTA, Iowa,
Aug. IA. 1885,
MEssRs. EpIroRs: Our friend Col. Curtis
gave our people a tclk yesterday. Although
but one days notice was given that he would
DO here, We had one Of the largest gatherings
that We have ever had on any occasion.-
seemed to regard it as matter
Of personal interestto come and hear him,
and to obtain all the information they could
on the political phase Of the country.
The Colonel spoke about two hours, and
was listened to with the deepest attention
and interest. It was one Of the best politi-
cal speeches have heard in the West. 1t
was plain, straightforward exposition OF
the management Of the affairs Of the Gener-
al Government, but was entirely free from
the rancor and venom which are too apt to
compose the greater part Of the political
speeches of the day. He allowed himself to
enter into no personalities, and he abused no
body. His text ~As, s'Ths Republican Plat
form Of 1856" aud he stuck to it with tho
tenacity Of An old line preacher. And al
though in advocating the true political econ
omy Of the whole country he was compelled
to criticise severely the many gross errors OF
the present Administration Of the General
Government, during the past session of Con-
gress, it seemed as if be did it"more in sor-
row than in anger"
Our population is composed largely Of
Quakers, who, you know, do not allow en-
thusiasm to enter into their creed. But il
would have done you good to have seen those
old faces glowing with delight under the
broad -brims, and to have heard their ap-
plause, rising involuntaiily, after some elo-
qnent passage in the speech. Altogether it
was q rich treat both to hear the speaker and
to witness the effect Of the speech on the
audience.
Please mark our precinct on your politi-
cal map, and see If We do not win the banner
next fall.
This place is situated thirty five miles ives,
of Des Moines, at the junction of Middle
and South Racoon Rivers, and on the thor
oughfare to Council Bluffs. The NJ. & NJ.
Railroad is located through it, and.the ground
for depot has been selected. The streams
here afford excellent water power, timber il
abundant, indeed, sufficient to supply three
times the area Of country about. We have
plenty Of coal from 10 inches to Eve feet in
thickness, and the country for twelve or If
teen miles around is probably not excelled
any whore for beauty, fertility Of soil, and
the abundance Of clear, swift.running spring
brooks. We are about central between Pa
nora on the northwest, Adel on the east, and
Winterset on the south, all Of which, you
must be aware, are beautiful and thriving
towns.
Our crops Of wheat and oats were almos.
an entire failure, on account Of the rust.
do not know Of single field Of oats tina,
was worth cutting, and oil kinds Of whea,
failed, except Black Sea, which in most cases
yielded probably half an ordinary CROP
This wheat has small berry, Of a reddish
color, and is very hard. II makes good flour
though not as white nor as much to the bush.
Ell as many other kinds.
Corn, sugar cane, potatoes and buckwhea
are looking first rate, and if We have pro
pitious fall, we shall have great abundance
of each. One man has planted 20 acres Of
the cane, near here, and is preparing large
buckwheat cakes, and the stuff to sugar i
down, what need we care for hard times.
Yours, X.