Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-02

De soro, N. T, Feb. 10. 1859.

De Soro. N. T., Feb. 10. 1859.
MrssRs EprroRs.-In my last said
that nv next would be from IT. Rear
nv When | wrote that, l intended
10 start to-day for Cherry Creek, but
owing to the extreme cold weather
which prevailed here for the last two
weeks, we we're compelled to postpone
our journey until The first I march.
Some few have already ventnred from
here and FROM Omaha. Five men
started from here on the 18th inst,
with three yoke of oxen and two wag-
ons. 1t was best f three of them to
90 somewhere from here; for if they
remained here until the next term Of
the District Court, they would be apt
to be sent down the river for cattle
stealing. Yesterday two horse team
passed through here on their way to
Cherry Creek. There we're three young
men in the wagon, and hailed from
Cummings City. On their wagon COW
er was painted 10y some country paint
err, | dare say in large letters Pixies
Peak" also miner with his spade
and pick on his shoulder, on dog trot
to the diggings. They had twenty
hundred in their WAC n, besides their
beds; and it was conjectured by all that
seen them, that although they had a
fine team Of horses, they would have
hard time Of it before they got
through. There are great many in
Council Bluffs and Omaha from Iowa,
Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, who
stopped to recruit, but as soon as the
weather will permit, they will journey
onward. | had occasion to visit Coun-
Gil Bluffs last..week. On my way down
! passed through IT. Calhoun, Florence
and Crescent City. Fl. Calhoun is
eleven miles above Florence. 1t has
very pretty site for town, but it is
six miles from the river, and owing to
the large bottom which is between the
town and the river, they have to get
their goods from steamboats, landed
some distance above or below. Flor
ence, the rival Of Omaha bids fair to
excel. They can build closer to the
river than Omaha can, and if ever a
K. Il. bridge is placed across the Mis-
souri, river, it will cross at Florence
For while the river at Omaha is very
wide, at Florence it is very narrow,
and also Florence claims rocky bot
tom, which Is very hard to claim along
this part Of the big muddy.
crossed the river at Florence, and
travelled over seven miles of Iowa
swamp lands before got into Crescent
City. While crossing the bottom |
was astonishcd to see it all, or very
near all, staked out, as if in town lots.
But imagine my surprise, when on
being told in Crescent City, that there
was two towns, or cities rather, flor all
towns in Nebaska, are cities) laid out
on that bottom, and that it belonged
principally to Easternl capitalists
Crescent City, IN Pottawatamie county,
Iowa, is one Of the most drcary, barren
and desolated places, | ever saw
The City is built in about the shape Of
the Roman letter T. In the rear of
town are high hills, almost mountains,
npon which nothing is growing, but
short grass. While in the front is the
large bottom, which in high water, is
inaccessible to man or beast. Their
timber principally grows in the ravincs,
and is scattered on the hill sides.-
Three portable saw mills are to be sent
from Crescent City to the mines, to
start on the first of May. Council
Bluffs is alive with trade and excite
ment. At almost every other door
you will see the miners outfit /; cloth
ing, picks, spades, pans, rockers, &c.
Omaha is vicing with Council Bluffs
in trading and trying to induce travel
ers to purchase there, but the Bluffs is
the oldest place, and has the name OF
being the cheapest. and that helps the
Bluffs. At Omaha they have letter
paper out, with map of the Nebraska
mines, and table of distances to Cherry
Creek, as a matter Of course, stretching
the truth, but shortening..the miles,
DIR. Henry, Of Omaha, who has gone
into the wholesale farming business, is
preparing five hundred acres of land to
farm at Fort kearney this season. He
sent several men out there about two
months ago ; to build houses, and pre-
pare for spring. | was talking with
one Of his men yesterday. He return
ed home to prepare for the mines. H,
says he will start the coming week
and get as far as Kesrney, where b.
will turn his cattle into some hay be
longing to Uncle Sam, and let then
stop there until the grass grows, wher
his cattle will be recruited. and he vii