The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1866-07-26
Louisa county, Iowa, and New Boston

Louisa county, iowa, and New Boston,
Keithsburg, and Oquawka, in Illinois
The three last named places are built on
immense sand banks, with scarcely Il
blade Of vegetation to be seen. m
Opposite New Boston the Captain CALI
ed attention to craft anchored il the
rivef, called the FLOATING Palace'-one
of those dens of disease and licentious-
ness where disease and disgrace, like
twin sisters, 60 hand in hand. To the
credit of Iowa, he said that when they
anchored off Fl. Madison aud Burling-
ton they were informed by the city au-
thorities to leave immediately, stating
that they and their craft would be sunk,
if they didn't. 1t is needless to say that
they made haste to escape the righteous
indignation of the people. They have,
however, piled their nefarious trade at
Oquawka, Keithsburg and New Boston
without molestation.
/ arrived at Burlington and put up at
the Barrett House. Had an opportu-
nifty, by gas-light, of running about the
city some. It is one of the finest, brisk
est business places I have been in in
are of good substantial character, and
they seem to be doing large business.
l left the next morning about 5 O'Clock,
on the Burlington L. Missouri River r.
r., for Ottumwa. On my way I passed
through Mt. Pleasant, Fairfield, and a
number of smaller towns in Des Moines,
Henry, Jefferson and Wapello counties.
L arrived at Ottumwa about noon, and
went thence ON the Des Moines Valley
r. II. to Eddyville-12 miles distant. I
had miserable dinner here at the
Slemmen's House-on cold potatoes. AT
=! p. m. | took passage with the West
ern Stage Line Company, for Charlton
45 miles distant. On my way | passed
through Stacyville, where was shown
TALLY completed, and known as the Fee
MAN Headquarters. They tell me this
town Of Stacyville is Fenian throughout.
Stopped at the Postotfice. which is a
dry goods and grocery store, with a beer
saloon in the rear. Called for a drink of
water. Was informed that the article
wasn't kept there. "A fellow passenger,
almost tamished for a drink, called for
the beer, and offered to treat me, which
l very respectfully declined in view of
pressing obligations elsewhere.
Thence to LeGrange, in Lucas county,
and finally to Charlton, where we arriv
ed at midnight, on Wednesday. Stop
ped here at the Charlton House, "tlle
first House in the city, 1t proved one
OF the most miserable apologies for a
public house l ever saw. 1t literally
abounded with bed bugs and badly cook
ed victuals. The chief waiter was an
ill-shaped specimen of the male biped
commonly called man. He was stopped,
had hideous features and an idiOtic stare;
anu when passing "beef steak, sir!' lac
displayed a pair of the dirtiest and most
highly OdorlterOus naked feet it was ever
my misfortune to encounter. The fe
male walters were quite as dirty, appa-
rently, but kept their shoes on, which |
admired in them very much. A well
dressed Baptist friend, who was a fellow
passenger in the stage, and who was
rooming with me, went into verbal eX
travagances when descanting upon the
biscuits and coffee. 1t does seem SO
strange that people will pretend to keep
"first-cla.s hotel and yet not know
how to make decent cup of coffee or
digestble pan of biscuit.
This being the extent of my journey,
as soon as l had my break fast | went to
the Court House and soon dispatched
my business. The Court House is in
rather a dilapidated condition-will bear
no comparison with ours. Hired a ilv-
cry rig and drove seven miles into the
country, to look after some land inter
ests for friend. The country about
here is very rougd compared with our
beautiful Cedar county. 1t is good farm
ing and grazing land, however. Stone,
timber, water and coal seem quite plenti-
full. Charlton is destined to be a good
business point. They expect to have
the Burlington & Missouri River II. r.
completed to this place in the course of
the winter. 1t is now finished Il few
miles beyond Ottumwa. l saw, in pass
ing along in the stage from Eddyville to
Charlton, that in a number of places
they were busily ut work, and huge piles
OF ties are ut Ottumwa awaiting the com
pletion of the bridge across the Des
Moines river, when they will be run out
on the cars and laid down at once.
Charlton has ten doctors, ten or twelve
lawyers, two select schools, besides a
common school, and quite a number Of
business places. They claim popula-
ton of 1000; think, however that 800
might be deducted from that numberand
then be much nearer the truth. The
country Is filling up rapidly; land is
raising in value from So, former price, to
SO and SIS per acre. Town property is
very high, with an upward tendency. At
Charlton formerly was located the land
office for the southern district of this
state, and was known as Charlton Post
Having my business affairs settled up l
had the pleasure Of leaving my barefoot
ed friend, and of enduring the melting
discOmforts of ride in crowded stage
to Eddyville, where | arrived about two
hours after midnight. In my next /
will write concerning Ottumwa Mt