Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-08-26

e. We spent pleasant hour one after
noon this week in the library and cabinst of on
friend and fellowcitizen, Hon. 7. j. Parvin, exam
lining the various curiosities which he has by man.
years of patient industry succeeded in collecting
He has recently erected neat and substantial franz
building his country seat, which is dedicate,
exclusively to the cause of science and to the pre-
servaton of those curious relics of past generation
and ages always 20 interesting to the student o
history. In this building Mr.. Parvin keeps hi
large and valuable library, his neurological curl
osites and the instruments used in making metero
logical observations, together with the records o.
the same. 1t is without doubt the most complete
private library and cabinet room in the State.
In the library department may be found the fol-
lowing:
| Newspapers files of the Muscatine Jour.
nal, Enquirer, Herald and Standard, from 1910 to
the present time, and also the Citizen and Journal
newspapers of Desmoines.
| Naps-All the maps ever issued of this town,
county and State from 1884 to the present time
including Niccolets with no counties, Lees with
two counties, and Henns with 100 counties
History-All the sketches and histories of Iowa
from 1884 to 1859.
Neteorology.-Meteorologic records for twenty
years past.
Laus and Jou,nals.-Full sets of laws Of U. s.,
of Michigan and w is consin while Iowa was attach
ad, 1854 to 1857 and of Iowa, with journals of
each General Assembly and the three Constitutional
Conventions, 1874, 1916, and 1857, all bound.
Also library of the Grand Lodge Of Free Masons
the largest and best in the U. S.-wth the report
cd proceedings for fifteen years past and with por-
traits Of Grand Masters.
And, lastly, Photographic views of Muscasine
Davenport, Dubuque, Desmoines Burlington, st
Paul and Rock Island. ;
In the Cabinet, are neatly and tastefully arranged
in cases specimens of COAL limestone and sandstone
from upwards of 20 counties in the State; lead, cop
per and iron from all the countries where discov.
cred fossils from large number of the counties Of
this State and those of the coalfsds in which this
locality is very rich aud furnishes some beautiful
lepidodendrons Some specimens Of geodes found
in Van Buren, county are the finest in the West. A
number Of stalacttes and stalagmitss from cave in
Dubuque county also add to the interest of the col
lection. Mr.. Parvin has the remains of two ele.
plant tusks dug up near his house ten years ago,
which unfortunately crumbled to pieces soon after
being exposed to the air. They showed a perfect
formation and we're of unusual size-being about 1
feet long and thicker than mans arm. Among a
variety of Indian curiosities, stone weighing
II lbs attracted particular attention. This is
the largest ever found in the State, except one
weighing % lbs. now in the University at Iowa City.
The public owes debt Of gratitude to Mr.. Parvin
for his disinterested and interchangeable labors As
'relic saver" and chronicler of interesting events
Future generations will doubtless appreciate more
fully than the present the importance of his industry
and perseverance in this behalf We urge every
body who may come in possession of anything
which would add to the interest of Mr.. Parvin's
library cabinet to send it to him, as we know it
will be thankfully received and sacredly preserved
APPOINTMENTS OF aoN. N. J. RUscH.-Itis
now definitely ascertained by the list of appoint
ments, published elsewhere that Mr.. Rusch will be
here on the occasion of our County Convention,
Saturday next. 1t will also be subject of sincere
to Republicans to learn in addition,
his purpose to stump the State. Mr.. Rusch, by his
splendid talents and earnest devotion to the great
fundamental principles of liberty has, although Of
foreign birth, won for himself deep hold on the
affection and confidence of the people of this State
and his present efforts in behalf of that cause will
not be barren of good results. Our worthy candi-
date for Lieut.. Governor is able and willing to ad-
dress the people in his native language wherever it
is desirable. We hope our German fellow citizens
will bcar this in mind and honor the appearance in
our midst of their distinguished countryman with
a full attendance.
NOVEL DI1cHI\a MAoHINE.-A ditching
machine made in Burlington was landed from the
steamer Keokuk this morning 1t is huge affair
and will take several yoke of oxen to haul it. The
"ditcher" is a continuance which makes small
three feet under the ground leaving the earth
to close after the machine passes. 1t will be
tested on the farm OF NJ Weed and if found prac-
tcabe will prove valuable innovation to this part
of the country. The ditching is done by windlass
power.
NEW GooDs.-Lemp & Sells received yes
terday another fresh assortment of dry goods by
the Great Western Dispatch. They have a nam.
moth stock on the way, and will sell their goods
ketls cheaper than any other house on the Upper
Mississippi.
This firm is also paying cash for wheat aud other
grain, at current prices.
United Brethren Camp. Meeting.