Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-03-30

Muscatns, March 20. 1860.
CoLp.-The thermometer has been down
to or degrees below freezing point for several
mornings past, with a stiff nor'wsster constantly
prevailing. This wintry visitation, though un
pleasant in ITSELF will have good effect in prevent
ing premature bossoming of fruit trees and a toe
early start of vegetaton.-Daily, eth.
RT The Desmoines Commonwealth, OF
the 22d inst, announces lecture on 'The Philos
ophy of Reform" by ". F. Davis, of Muscatine,
which was to have taken place the evening OF
the Esd, at the Methodist Church. Admission %
cents-proceeds to be devoted for charitable pur-
poses We doubt not the audience was we'll enter
tanned on the occasion by our talented young fellow
citizen.
CLOSE OF rHK BEEF PAoKlks BUsINEss.-
Messrs. Taylor and Dunning concluded their beef
slaughtering and packing business for the season,
and started on their return to Boston to-day with
a small lot of live cattle. We understand that
they have met with considerable encouragement in
the business here and will return next Fall to go
into it more extensively. We hope our farmers
and stock .raisers will be prepared for them.
AURORA BoRsALrs. "A magnificent display
Of this phenomenon was visible this morning,
between and O'Clock The whole northern sky
was illuminated with reddish light, reaching from
the horizon nearly to the zenith over which darted
at short intervals bright white flame. The effect
of this was beautiful. These who witnessed these
celestial pyrotechnics pronounce them equal if not
superior in grandeur to those seen in August last.
Daily, 2sM.
WHEAT STEAL1Na.-A man brought twelve
sacks of wheat to one of our merchants about day
light this morning for SALE which, it appears, were
stolen from Transfers stopping for the night abou
six miles from the city. Before he received pay for
the wheat the owners arrived, and he, no doubt
fearing he might get into close quarters, vanished,
leaving his wagon and horses at the Nevada House.
The scoundrers name is not positively known, but
he is supposed to be brother Of one of the horse
thieves hanged in Cedar county about two years
ago-DoAy, 2sh.J
a. The Directors Of the Musoatine
County Agricultural Society, at their last meeting
resolved to hold the next Fair in the woods. An
offer made by the proprietors of the Old Fair
Grounds, above Mad creek, on certain conditions,
was not accepted. The farmers have taken the
affairs of the Society into their own hands, and will
manage it so to give no foundation fol- the objec-
tions heretofore urged against it as scheme for
making money by persons in no way interested in
agriculture 1t is hoped that the farmers will now |
unite with harmony and zeal to make the next
Auscatine County Agricultural Fair worthy of its
name.
The CITY RAILROAD SUBsoRIPTIoN.-As is
generally known by our citizens, the city of Mus
catne has been sued for the interest in arrears
bonds voted to the NJ. i N r. r. Co., such arrears
amounting to something over $30,0oo The case
was submitted to the U. s. District Court at Keokuk
last week. and the counsel for the city are saugune
of obtaining decision in its favor. The defense
argued that the subscription was made on the part
of the city without authority of law and therefore
void. This looks like reputation, but such is not
the intention of our city authorities. They realize
the fact that the city has been badly cheated by the
railroad company, who insist that we must fulfil
strictly the conditions of the agreement while the
company exercises ts pleasure in complying with
its part. A compromise, by which the rights Of
both parties will be subserved is what our city au-
thorities are aiming at and they are determined to
have it. "A
~ The editor of the Poughkeepsie IN.
W Prsss Mr.. Pease, who, it seems, was concerned
in the banking house of Tallman, Powers Il
Mclean, at Davenport, which lately failed, gives
our sister city ia frst.rate notice. lover the left
in recent issue of his paper. He styles it the
smud cursed, money -forsaken city of Davenport
The following is an extract from his article:
"Our recent visit to Davenport showed very
If |
there three years ago. The enterprise of 1857, IN
1860 il become torpid stagnatloH. Whole blocks OF
fine stores closed; splendid dwellings without
tenants; the population reduced to less than w.
OOo Land that three years ago was held ut
thousand dollars an acre, would not now sell for
5000 cash. Building lots then held at 5000 loot,
have now no estimated cash valuation. Rents. 40
recently so enormous, are now, as may De readily
supposed, ruinously low"
The picture is, of course, rather exaggerated. 1t
is stated that Mr. Pease lost about s. 900 by invest
ments at Davenport. -
OAK GROVE LITERARY INSTITUTE. - We
were present last Saturday evening at the closing
up festival of this association, having adjourned
till the first Saturday in September next. After
the speaking and other exercises were concluded,
in company with the members and several invited
guests we partook of splendid supper, gotten up
by the ladies'. The tables were fairly loaded with
good things, to which we fancy we did ample
Justice. The committee Of arrangements spared no
time or trouble in making this one of the most
agreeable affairs of the season. Especial praise is
due to the ladies' of the Committee, Miss Hattie
Delzell and Miss Roanna Humberger, for the tasty
and well arranged appearance of the tables. Afts'
supper, the benches disappeared, as if by magic
and some of the young people amused themselves
by gripping the light fantastic toe,' till late
hour, when all returned home we'll satisfied with
themselves and everybody else, long to remember
the closing night of the Oak Grove Literary Insti
tute