Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-05-06

HThe poetry of "Glo" is hardly up to
the standard required for its appearance in our
columns. We advise the writer to try again.
60 The weather is all that could be de-
sired. The late rains have been warm and just
the thing to give vegetation start Crops prom
Use fsvorably.
~ Lumber RATS are passing down the
river daily: We notice several have already stop
ped at this place. The lumber business seems to
be reviving.
ApJouRNED.-The District Court, Judge
Dillon presiding, adjourned at II o'clock this fore
noon. The term commenced Monday of last week.
18th inst. Only about one-half the trial
disposed of. The docket numbered over $50 cases
Daily, 29M alt.
DIR. o. ID. CAss.-Thc numerous friends
Of this gentleman will rejoice to learn that he has
returned to the practice OF medicine in this city
His residence and office, for the present, is on
Third street, one door below the dwelling of s. b.
Hill Esq.
CALIFORNIA CARAvAN.-A company bound
Cor California passed through streets last
ing. They had 200 head of cattle, with which they
expect to make speculation in the land of gold.-
The company started from Northern Illinois,
Daily, 5th.
0YThs City Council did not meet last
Saturday evening, according to adjournment, on
account Of the absence of the two Aldermen from
the First Ward, Messrs. Hill and Kennedy. The
charter requires the presence of u member from
each Ward to form quorum. meeting will be
held as soon as the absent members return.
MusKRArs.-Since December last, up to
the 26th ult, Mr.. ". B. Reynolds Of Drury town
ship, Rock Island county, ILL.,, caught 1917 musk
rats and sold their skins in Muscatine, together
with other furs, the whole amounting to about $500
hood This is more profitable business than going
to Pixies Peak.
wWe met Hon. James Thorington, ex-
Congressman, of Davenport, on the packet this
forenoon. He was bound for the Kansas gold re
gions, but goes out Railroad business, and will
return to Iowa by August next Mr.. T. is true
hearted Republican, aud the services Of all such
will be needed in this State at the November cleo
ton Daily, ID.
~One of the many advantages possess
ed BY Muscatine point Of re-shipment by river
IT produce brought by rail we saw illustrated
yesterday. The steamer Minnesota Belle landed
near the Railroad depot and took Immediately from
the large lot of and from Iowa City.
The shippers thus saved the cost of drayage and
extra handling-no small tem.-Daily, I'd.
FLOUR SHIPPED TO Mr.. PLEAsANT.-We
Jobo, n bup draA lie ofA or1 shorfs
shipped by the packet this forenoon for Mt Pleas
ant. from the Nevada Mill, of this city. We learn
that Messrs Waters and John have made several
shipments Of this kind this spring. The river cities
seem to be better supplied with -four and provisions
than many of the interior towns.-Daily, 4M.
wSome weeks ago, during the continued
cold and upfavorable weather, We heard fears ex-
pressed that wheat which had been sown in March
in this vicinity would be killed in the ground. We
learn, however, that it has come up luxuriantly,
and in some places it is feared it is doing too wel-
being almost "too thick to thrive" as it ought. All
manner of vegetation is now coming on finely, un-
der the influence of the late favorable weather.
MORE ABOUT THE PIXIES PEAK HUMBuG.-
Mr. Block informs us that he has received a letter
from our well-known fellow citizen, G. Kranz, who
has been spending some time at st. Joseph, Mo-,
in which he expresses his opinion emphaticaly
that Pixies Peak is a humbug. He says that not a
dollar of gold has been received at that place from
the mines, and it is generally believed that none
has ever been brought back. Tn: emigration how
ever, continues in immense throng, and business
is lively at St Joe.
IOur readers will be interested to learn
that the party Of our citizens composed of Messrs
Hugh Roddan Benz. Rowland, Christian Erb and
others which left here for California early in March
last, arrived at San Francisco on the 29th of the
same month, all in good health. The steamer in
which they sailed was twenty two days in making
the trip from New York to San Francisco, and en-
countered heavy storms during the voyage. Mr..
Btzer one of the party, started for the mines Bust
ness Is represented as good and wages high, but
the country is ovcrstocked with persons seeking
employment.
We gather these particulars from q letter written
by Mr.. Christian Erb to his brother in this city,
dated San Francisco, April 9Th.
TIE CALL1opE OR STEAM ORcAN.-1his is q
musical instrument played by steam, which has re-
Gently been introduced some vessels plying in
the Western waters. 1t is so called, We presume,
from Calliope, pronounced CALI peh,) who, nc
according to Grecian mythology, was the mother
Of Orpheus and chief of the nine Muses.. The
steamer Denmark, Of the Northern Line, the only
boat in this trade at present provided with of
these instruments. Her gentlemanly commander,
Capt. Gray, the last visit of this boat to our
levee, explained to the construction of this Won
derful steam organ 1t is composed of twelve keys
or cups, each similar to the common steam whistle.
These keys are of different sizes, the larger ones
sounding the bass notes. The valves regulating
the escape of steam have wires attached to them,
which are vibrated by wheel turned by crank.
In Short this part of the instrument is arranged
very much like the ordinary hand organ, and is set
to play only certain tunes. The Denmark instru-
ment will play dozen different airs. At distance,
the music is soft and pleasant and is very readily
mistaken for hand-organ close by. On calm
day it can be heard three four miles, and never
fails to bring out all the wondering and delighted
Nv enAes at each town it visits it is yet great
curiosity. Capt. Gray informs us that the cost of
his Calliopc was six hundred dollars 1t was made
in Massachusetts. At present there are only
twenty of these instruments in the United States.
The "JoURNAL" DENouNoED.-We under
stand that humble sheet in for fair share
of abuse from phlcgmatic, fault-6nding individual
who figured at the taxi meeting in the Court
House last Saturday. The ostensibls cause of his
ire was the introduction of bill for publishing in
our columns for two weeks the call for the meeting
We made charge for it because it occupied much
more space than such q call ought, and because we
we're instructed by the Secretary to present cur
bill for the same. If it had been of reasonable
length no charge would have been made for it. We
are told that the virtuous and indignant orator
already referred to exhorted his hearers to with
draw their support from our paper, &c &C., be-
cause of our ilIiberalty. Had the rebuke come
from some other source it might have made some
impression on us. But coming from a man who.