The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-03-19
To KeOkuk and Fort Madison.

n y ACOA V1kA uHu = VIZ NAsAUsSVuss
Being now the Centre of Creation, we at.
Ottumwa enjoy the rare privilege Of
choice Of rontcs when We take notion to
travel. We can 60 by rail to all the points
Of the compass, and visit all the great cities
and important places about US in any direc-
ton with ease and expedition.
Occasion the other day took us over tho
X. Fl Des MONIES & Minnesota Railroad, to
Keokuk. We found this road mu:h i'm
proved, and doing apparently for hard
simes,a fair business both in passengers and
freight. The recent opening of an Eastern
connection contributes much to this. The
coal trade Is q considerable item. Coal Of
an excellent quality is obtained at the Coal
Banks, about 8 miles from Ottumwa, and is
all taken to Keokuk. We noticed on the
road very considerable amount of way
travel, indictive of thrifty and prosperous
towns on the line of the road, as well IS
the richess of the country through which it
passes.
We stopped of course At tho Dcming
House where on former occasions we had
found pleasant home, - we did on this,
for it is now kept by its proprietor, Samuel
.Egbert, in 80 admirable a'nanner and style
that it is the focus and fav,rite resort of the
travelling world We can recommend the
Deming as one Of the best kept public Houses
IN the State. u - s.,s-,4..
Keokuk is evidently recovering from the
effects of former hard times, and is lively.
The presence of SO many soldiers in the
hospitals contributes much to the business
ofthe place, but that is not the only source
other present prosperity. They packed .
large rumber OF hogs the past sea-
son, As we should judge by tho immense
piles OF barrels to DO met at almost every
turn. We forget the exact number packed,
but it was somewhere about 10000.
We were glad of an opportunity to visi,
the hospitals, where so many Of our brave
soldiers have been cared for, and from all
we could see or learn. they are now under
most excellent management. DR.. Taylor
the Surgeon in charge, informed Us that the
present number in the various hospitals was
about ! 100, and they were doing as we'll a
could reasonably b. expected. As they
recover they are discharged for the purpose
OF returning 70 their regiments.
In the evening Of the day we were there
the ladies' Of Keokuk had Sociabie to raise
funds for the soldiers It was held in Ode
Fellows Hall, very large room, which wa.
crowded to it's utmost capacity by the public
SERTED and benevolent ladies' and gentle
men of the Gate City. There we met sew
eral acquaintances, among them, brothe,
Howell, the veteran editor Of the Gate CITY
Mrs. Whittenmeyer, the soldiers best friend
and j. r. Buckingham, Route Agent on thu
Keokuk Road. To the latter gentleman VI
were indebted for numerous ;civilities. The
Sociable on this evening was rendered At
trsctive by tableauz, the piece selected fo'
t.. -ening being the presentation bv Queer
I abella Of jewels to Columbus. These
6ociables seem to be good sort Of An insti
tuition, and an admirable invention. com
bining amusement with tho more important
object ofraising money.
II We had expected. of course, on going t
Ksokuk. after the frightful story told BY
Claggctt ia his speech here, Of mobs &c.
TO find the city in commotion and giyer
oyor to riot and disorder. But 80 far from
this being the case, q more quiet and order
y city we never visited. We learned In FAC
that the place was never more free from
disorder, than it now ia. so much SO that
child could 60 anywhere alone at night Will
perfect impunity.
The destruction Of tho Ccnstitutisn Of
Ace has ceased to be talked about, even.
is scarcely ever alluded to in conversation
The Union men Of the place, who alluded {
Il in our bearing, pronounced the rsporte
version of that affair by Claggett in hi
speech It this place, to be false in many
particulars. The convslescent soldiers were
a. far from being mob As men can be-
sober. orderly. and conscientious men, who
would scorn aay wanton breach of the
psaoe, or doing harm even to . child, how
ever much they may have been mistaksn ~
10 the expodisncy Of the form ofredIsss
adopted There Il no doubt but that they
regarded what they didas : sscred duty,
devolsing upon thsm - soidisrs Of the Re-