Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-01-31


well SAID by the Peoria Transcript, ard is
just abou, as applicable to Davenport as to
any other place we know Of
For . city Of the size and importance Of
ours, We have larger number Of worthless
houses than any other city in the State 1t
10 true, We have some first class houses, but
these make the contrast between them and
the great majority Of dwellings in the city
the more prominent. IN most cases the
houses put up to rent, are sahbbily built,
and Of most forbidding aspect, both vith>
out and within. This should not be-
Rents arc sufficiently high SO that the owner
Of . house could afford to make it both in !.
viting from without and have it convenient
within. Instead Of this, the idea seems to
be to have as little beauty about the build
ing ss possible. and to put as little conve-
nence inside As can be got along with. The
result is, the tenant has TO 20 to the expense
Of putting in many things which should he
permanent matters with the house itself.
a man who pays fair rent, wants u
house in which he can live comfortably
Merely staying in house has no satisfac
ton attached. A large share Of our re. tied
houses are more like prison pens than hab-
ita,ions for Christian peeplc to reside in.-
The consequence is, those living in such
houses are continually on the lookout for .
better and more attractive dwelling.
Most of our people have . little idea Of
taste and the fitness of things. VIXEN they
rent house. they want the ususl convein-
ences belonging to such an establishment.
Ii they do not get it, they are disappoint
ed, and become careless in taking care Of
it. IL the builders Of houses % rent would
take pains TO make their buildings attrac-
tive aud convenient, they wou be the
gamers by il, not only in saving their build
ings from destruction, but they would be
aole to keep their houses filed with good,
paying and careful tenants all the time.
Ia this connection, it is gratifying 70 be
able to state that somo Of our tenement
house builders are making grand improve
ments upon the former clap trap style Of
tulding. II is 10 be hoped that all who 60
into business hereafter will do likewise TO
the honor Of themselves and to the glory
and prosperity Of our city.
"NEEDLEss DIVERSION Can a man res
puda'e his own expressed opinion! The
Davenport Gdzcttee vas once in favor Of a
working mems reading room, and. now it
says: "A working mems" reading room is
not needed in Davenport, any more tain is
"rich mans" reading room" Why this
Change, will it take back all that it has said
in aid Of the noble move on tue part Of the
working men for their own improvement !.
Tread softly With sore feet is an old and .
true saying. Not neeled - snL pray,
who is to be the judge if not the working
men themselves
They are canvas>iug among themseH yes.
and are meeting with success. We sppre>
hend ths. the attendance at the lecture BY
Rev. IL. n. Powers was not q correct indi>
cation Of the prevailing sentiment Of the
public. All the circumstances Of the eve
ming went to make the attendance small ,and
in justice 10 themselves, and to the speaker
of the evening. the woikingnncn, US We are
formed, are to about extend to Mr.. Powers
an invitation to repeat his lecture We
think it well worts. = hearing bv full
horse.
Books. = Al the subject Of Reading
Rooms and Public Libraries is before the
pubic mind, and has Of late been forced
upon the attention of our citizens in differ
cnt ways. it has awakened an interest in
the matter o! private house libraries An
other has scnsibly said "Give US house
furnished with books, rather than furniture
Both, il you can but looks ct any rsts."
To spend several days in friends house,
AMI hungry for something TO read, while
you are ,rcaling on costly carpets, and sit
ting down on luxurious chairs, and sleeping
upon down, is rs if one were bribing your
body for the sa,e OF cheating your mind
Books asc the windows through which the
soul looks out. a house without books 10
ike a room without windows. A book is
good company; it is full Of conversation
without !oquacity. II talks to you, not
through the ear. but another way.
DisArPoixTEB. Yesterday and last eve
ming until late our streets presented lively
appearance that would have done credit to
more northern climates Everybody seems
ed TO enjoy the fine sleighing to their own
particular delight and to the profit Of livery
stable proprie'ors, and much to the sorrow
Of fist horses. Youngsters gloried in being
able to catch ride, aud many anticipated
pleasant rides in the country when the
roads became worn down to a respectable
compactness. Visions Of fancy rigs. calico,
muii i,iwaterfall, etc.. on the left side. have
all disappeared under the influence of the
present spring.like weather. We hear
strange medley ofjingling bell and rumbling
wheels. The sober fact 10 that sleighing is
played out.
There has not been any ina.
terial change in our markets for the past
few days. The ruling prices are higher
than the shipping interest seem to demand
A. No. l., or Iowa Amber wheat brings
from 50 90 to $2.O5. At these prices ship
pers say they cannot handle it, but farmers
from Illinois can. They have heard much
Of Iowa Amber wheat, and arc anxious to
get it for seed. Let the Illinois farmers
come We can supply them with the
genuine article. Iowa wheat viii soon have
4 name equal TO that Of Minnesota.
RIVER CONVENTION MEETING. The dele |
gates to the River Convention. 10 be held q
St Louis on the 18th Of February, are re-
questcd to meet At the City Hall on We'd
nesday afternoon. at . o'clock, tor the pur
pose Of making necessary arrangements to
attend the Convention.
Pahlic Notice.
WHEREAS. The City Council having pass.
ed the following resolution: