The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-04-28
The Dos M zines River ana Valleys
KsOk uk and BuMarY xeems.

The dos moinos River ana Valleys
Ksekuk and sanary Items.
Neighbor Ingsrsoll, Of tho Knoxville Jour
nal, who lately spent some days here, writes
home to his psper ~ follows, under date Of
BnLINos HoUss, KEoKuK,
April 18th, 1859.
| do not know that anything particularly
worthy Of note has transpired since my last.
found the Des Moines River a much better
stream than expected, and the scenery pic-
turesque. At many places, rough, rugged
bluffs rise up on either side Of the stream to
the height Of from, say forty to : hundred
feet, half of which is composed OF layers Of
rock. At other places, there IL . fne bluff
| on the one side, whilst opposite extends as
far o. the eye can reach, an expanss Of ever
| ascending and beautiful prairie. At other
places still, both sides of the river have low
banks, subject to overflow, tho regions ada
cent being grandly productive, | should think,
Of bats, tadpoles, catfish, mosquitoes, frogs
with and without horns, ague, fever, and
Doctors bills multitudinous. Such places,
however, are fortunately few and far be-
tween. As general thing, the scenery along
the river is very we'll indeed for western
country.
The most Of the towns appear to be i'm
proving. Eddyyille is hne looking place.
1t has improved vastly since my last visit
there, and contains large number Of excel
lent business houses. The bridge al this
place has CALAMITY withstood all the winds
and storms of the last year, and whilst being
great benefit to Eddyville IL no obstruction
to navigation. made hasty call to the
Commercial Office, and got the glorious news
of the Connecticut election. Mr.. Palmer,
the enterprising publisher, appears to BIO do
ing well. He publishes an excellent county
paper.
1t was after dark when We arrived at Or
tumwa, and | can say nothing about tho looks
of the place. Several tons of freight were
here put aboard, however, from which CON-
cluded that there was something . doing at
the home Of mine excellent friend Morris, Of
that excellent paper, the Courier.
Keosauqua was tho next county seat We
landed Mt. 1t is the homo Of Hon. Geo. G.
Wright, Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court,
and on that account decidedly interesting to
lawyer. Otherwise, know not that il is
entitled to particular eulogy. The Republic
can, one of the best county journals in Iowa
is published here, but had no opportunity
Of visiting the Office. There is half flush
ed dam here, over which the Flora Temple
scud like thing OF light.
At Bonaparte we were detained some time
by the lock, but by the energy Of Captain and
crew at length ssmade the rifle" At Cro-
| ton, We were detained much longer, the sand
and mud having blocked up the lock gates
outrageously. But again did the Flora Tenn
pie show that she was not to be overcome by
any obstacle in the Des Moines River, and
I%h - ~ ~vl
| This is the frst time was ever at the Gate
City. like the place very much. Consid-
| cradle trade appears to be going on, especial
business houses on Front and Main Streets.
| am quite surprised to find 30 many fine bust
ness houses here. called ct the Gate City
Office yesterday, and found MIR. Howell and
Mr.. Briggs in good health and excellent spir-
its. This leading Republican journal APP
pears to be doing we'll, as is eminently prop.
er.
The Billings House is first class hotsl,
and seems to have plenty of customers. The
table is gotten up according to "the most APP
proved rules Of modern fashion," and ought
to satisfy the taste Of any body. The pro-
prietors, the Brothers Slade, are gentlemen,
and good looking; and 80 is the chief clerk,
MIR. Geer, who is q genius. trust al MA
rion county people will stop ut this house,
| when they visit Keokuk.
Col. Curtis and his family are at this
house, in good health and 6ne spirits. Our
worthy member is deservedly popular in this
place. His son, Sam S. Curtis, has just
started to the Gold diggings again. He
showed me quite a LOT of the precious metal
from Cherry Greek. Good luck attend him.
Long Collins and Bill Cunningham-God
bless them have just started southwark, on
the splendid packet Hannibal City-the finest
boat ever saw on the Mississippi. Cum
ningham eats corn cake voraciously-and
thereby hangs tale, of which anon.
L. d. !.
CoRREcTIoN.--A gross mistake occurred Il