The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-05-19
From the Davenport Gazette, Nov. III !,

western Towns---K eoknh.
An impression has gone abroad, and 10
continually aggravated by the disparaging
remarks each of the other, that the towns
on the Upper Mississippi river are dead
That having INDUCED in unwarranted specu-
atiou during the prosperity Of 1856, they
are now reaping just harvest in q crop Of
empty houses and grass grown streets. The
report may retard immigration by preventing
those desiring q change of homes from COM
ing TO Iowa. But men who have so little
confidence in the resources of this great
Western State ne to be induced to emigrate
elsewhere under the conviction OF the truth
of the yumor, had better not come to Iowa.
The fact OF the untold wealth of this State,
as exhibited in it's exhaustless soil and we'll
watered surface alone, would be sufficient to
drive them into the speculation of buying up
all the lands they could see from the highest
knoll OF our undulatng prairies,-the rock,
by the way, upon which many farmer split
during the excitement OF 1856.
Notwithstanding the report, many persons
induced by interest or curiosity, or with
few surplus dollars in their pockets and
modicum of faith 10 their bosoms, are visit
ing as, and when they happen down 10 Daven-
port, the great central entrance to the State,
express as much surprise and cape with az
much establishment as our immaculate self
did few weeks since, when one Saturday
evening we were dropped down in the whllom
city of Keokuk. We had read AID heard no
much of the terrible condition of affairs in
that city that we had almost persuaded our
self we should find the stores closed, houses
tenantless and the citizens, like the dogs of
Constantinople, preying upon one another
and snarling at every passer by.
Keokuk has repudiatsd her indebtedness,
said We, and has become . rsproach TO eli
upright and prompt paying corporations,
therefore must her trade have ceased, her
manufactures become silent and her citi-
Gems idle. We walked through her main
street, and on every side saw ine buildings,
all occupied; huge stocks Of goods and every
evidence of that prosperity which for years
has marked keokuk as one OF the great and
growing cities of the West.
III keokuk be now dead, we reasoned,
what must she have been when alive? We
felt no feeling OF local jealousy, but pleased
to see point, whore those who seek our
State by steamboat, first reach it; the "Gate
OF lowa"-as the iamented John Russell
termed her before the doube-doors Of the
State were thrown open at Davenport--in a
condition to favorahiy impress the stranger.
reports more injurious TO keokuk, We
thought, have gone out than in relation to
any other western city, and if she can sustain
herself under them and still present fair side
TO the stranger, q view OF other cities OF shc
oeled West may remove them altogether.
We extended our walk up her principal
street 20 the colossus hotel, which stands as
monument of the folly to which even wise
men will be led in q time OF general pros.
perisy. Unfinished, unfurnished and un oocu.
pied, it stands overlooking the city, the rep
resentstive Of one hundred thousand dollars
badly, very badly invested. And where, if
we may except Dubuque, the especial favor
ite OF the democratic ofhce- holders OF Iowa,
who "there most did congregate," where
is there city Of like dimensions 10 the w est.
that can show so little real advantage for 90
large an amount OF money expended? Look
| at her Rapids--she can claim them 90 her
progenitor-how many thousands OF dollars
have been squandered 10 the vain effort to
improve them, and yet at this day they are
no better, no safer 10 navigate, than twenty
years ago when fret We crossed them at low
water without touohlng keel to bottom. For.
tunes have been expended there, and how
much more remains TO be invested in the bot
tom OF the Mississippi, We cannot tell. II
government would really Deueus the steam
boat interest let it build canal around the
Rapids; that 10 the only way in which these
| distinctions ever can be overcome. AL
steamboat men would respond amen 20 this
Improvement, while TO Keokuk IL would open
up richer placer than the gold mines of the
| Peak.
| But we are of. keokuk at this day, in
| spacious buildings and various avenues oil
wealth, is sign hung out at the corner oil
Iowa TO tell the passing traveller where one
day he may expect 30 find one of the largest
cities in the West. city, which, il that
canal be constructed, and no similar improve.
ment be made ut tne Upper Rapids, will be
called the Lowell of the West. Doll az go.
kuk now is comparatively, view OF bel
would satisfy any reasonable man that, the
pressure of hard times removed, and she will
rebound with new elasticity. Follow up til
river and look next upon Burlington, Their
upon Muscatine, and lastly upon Davenport
and the stranger will be prepared to say, thai
the reports 80 industrieusly circulated at tb,
East of the prostration Of Western towns. il
not without foundation, are nearly so, or els,
the towns show an amount Of recuperatioI
as unexpected as praiseworthy.