Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-05-23
WESTERN CORRESPONDENCE.
MoCOMR, McDOnough Co., Ill. I
Nav 9TH. 1860.

McCoMB, McDonough Co., Ill
May 9TH, 1860.
MRssRs. EDITORs Rock Island and
Burlington, as you are aware. are built on
opposite sides of the Mississippi river, one
in Illinois and the other in Iowa, and di-
rectly at the foot of the Island on which
stands the remains of an old fort, erected
by the government years ago, to protect
the inhabitants from the then warlike In
dians. This was the stamping ground of
the Sioux and other Indians for years.
Near this is the Black Hawk Rock, on Rock
River, from which Black Hawk watched
the movements of the whites, and from which
he sent deputation with white flag
proposing to retire from the country by be-
ing fairly remunerated for the lands be-
longing to his tribe, which had been some
what trickily obtained from Keokuck, or
some other chief of inferior rank. 1t is
said those messengers were either shot down
in their tracks or held as prisoners of war 4;
hence it was that the old chief was compel
ed to fight, however hopeless the contest
seemed to him. The result is we'll known
and the poor Indians have been compelled
to recede back and back until there is scarce
a single spot for them this side the Rocky
Mountains; even there they are not allow
ed to remain unmolested, and few years
more will number them amongst the ma
tons of the past-they will soon be extinct
and forgotten.
The town of Rock Island. like the few
remaining heroes of the revolution, has seen
its best days; many, very many of the
houses are tenantless, many others in a
state of dilapidatiOn and decay with rag
bags and old hats supplying the place of
glass. Few business houses are now pros
pering here, unless you call Lager Bier
Saloons such. s-..
Burlington is somewhat more prosperous,
having more of farming community i'm
mcliately back of it, and fewer rival towns
to divide up the business; but it too has
had an healthy growth, and ike the un-
healthy STRIPPING could not but expect a
baek-sett.
Across to the point of the Island from
either side, is the famous Railroad Bridge
about which there has been 50 much con-
tentiOn. The bridge cost between five and
six hundred thousand dollars and is a mas
ter piece of work, having a draw over the
chnnnel on the Iowa side, for the passage
of boats. So afraid are the stockholders
of the bridge being destroyed, that they
keep watchmen night and day, relieving
each other every tive hours; and on one of
the bridges is a large bell which they are
obliged to ring at intervals of an hour.
Since leaving Burlington I have seen
more corn in cribs than l ever saw in all
my life. At Young America they have in
store and have shipped already three hun
dred thousand bushels, and they estimate
half as much more to come in. At Mon
mouth there is still more, and at Gales.
burgh, this place, and other small places 1
have passed through, have seen immense
quantities, perhaps not less than eighteen
hundred thousand bushels. This is the
Egypt of lllinOis-this may be said as
well in regard to grain, as political matters,
Ior | have met more Democrats here than
elsewhere; but they are frank to aeknowl-
sdge that if Douglass is not nominated. /
hat their chance is slim, and if they lose
lim they lose the bell wether of the fock.
They were much disappointed that he did
not receive l80 votes on the first ballot in
he Charleston Convention The weather
has been very bot here, yesterday 81 deg.
n the shade; to-day So deg.
Here as as well las in the other corn
narts, there are from one to three horse
'Ower corn shelling machines, shelling at
he rate of from one hundred to three hun
lred bushels of corn daily, and cords of
he cobs are hauled to the houses for fuel.
AT Davenport met your old toHnsman,
:. H. Morley, ESQ, who is as active in
BUSINESS as ever. At Monmouth, 1 found
Ir. John Collins g. Sons who also were /
rom Warren. The elder Mr.. c.. was high !
Ip in the synagogue amongst the DemOe-
aey, once post master in Warren, but he
! now thorough going Republican. active
nd efficient Yours, B.