Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-06-26
RE- oar rr.vessne Csrvespsee'

Leaving Davenport about '"e "'1''s
-, a trip through these counties,
.hor. description Of them which
n,, be in, resting TO your readers. ]
md lust finished my midday repsst when
call from shc sirce.-.Team all ready, -
Reminded me that too should be ready
although the thermometer indicated sc In
the coolest room, had made arrangements
TO he al Dewitt on the next morning. !
started from Davenport with hot sun and
Gear sky above me. There seemed to be
calm in the atmosphere; even the leaves on
that trembling Aspen tree as | passed seem
ed to be resting in quiet; still with fine team
the fair city Of Davenport Was soon left in the
rear, while the beautiful farms and pleasant
dwellings which greeted me from both SIDES
Of the Dubuque road - wended my way
towards tho Wapsie river, together with
refreshing prairie breeze swestly perfumsd
from the fields Of clover interspersed along
the route, bad caused me almost to forget the
sultry suGocating atmosphere Of the city.
The broad field. OF grain seemed to indi-
cate lvxusiant harvest FOR the coming fall.
The corn In the fields seemed little backs
ward, but tn. warm growing within bad
given it start which looks fair for favor.
able crop.
A ride Of six hours 1.-TWO Of which was
spent in crossing the Wapsipinecon bots
toms,) brought me to the town OF Dewitt,
l.. ~. q
ON the n. w. X r., 20 miles west Of the
Mississippi river This las the appearance
II quiet town with about 500 inhabit>
ants, containing quantity stores, the county
buildings a,d some very pretty private
dwellings, indicative OF taste aud refinement.
The trade OF the town is principally from
the farmers ii its vicinity who are general.
" independent with we'll cultivated farms.
A ride OF twenty miles in . north westerly
direction took me through thickly settled
farming community. mostly rolling prairie
land, with . black rich soil. interspcrscd
occasionally with narrow beit Of timber
and timber barrens with sandy soil, which
seemed TO enhance tho value OF the adjacent
prairie farms, whose neat farm houses, lasgs
anu cominOdious barns, and the herds 0
cattle, sheep aud horses grazing in the pas
lures. speak plainly Of the thrift and pros
perity Of the inhabitants.
Msquoketa has the appearance Of q
good business town situstrd on thu
south bank Of sthc Maquoketa river,
used in running mills, wooden factory. &c.
which gives 10 this place . lively and
business like appearance, seldom seen II
towns through the interior Of the State
without railroad connections. 1t has tn
appearance Of . lire torn, Boosting SOM
2,5U0 inhabitants, with some NICE bricl
blocks on the principal business streets
With the Maquokct. timter on the ON
side and a rich farming section and goo
water power, il certainly bids fair TO oecoln
an important point in the state.
The county seat Of jackson county islocate
at Andrew, eigh, mil, north, apparently 10,
ing little TO support It save the business o. III
county officials, and . small section OF farn
ing c,mmunity in in it's immediate vicini
containing some three or four stores all
two hotels, il exhibits rather q dull appear
ance. The town has, appar entity some tou
or five hundred inhabitants. except durin
Court weeks.
keta on the Cantonroad, is a cave. whic
Is exciting some curiosity, known b
Old settlers as B.rchcs cave" 1t is a
=. opening in the rock some ten feet squar
nearly on the edge OF . perpendicular rock
bluff, ledge from 90 10 70 feet in hcigh
giving to The scenery around very roinai
tic aud wild appearance. After passing
at the opening of the cave, i, widens, form
ing room apparently 30AS0 feet. in ii
centre # wMeh is large rock known q
fable Kock-smooth on the upper suriac
and about the heighth OF an ordinary tabl,
The opening is sand to branch off in yariou
passage ways going from half to thrc
iouiths of mile-onc OF which comes out Q
small opening on the opposite side Of Il
road. whore apparently some large rock
had fall,n together forming an artitici
, bridge, under which stream Of clear wat,
giides over Its rocky bottom, giving to Il
whole an appearance Of grandeur which W
paid novice like me for the time al
trouble spent in examining these curios
T tics.
I After leaving the cave the road pass
through . rough and heavy numbered Sc
ton OF country, where an occasional bla.
walnut and oak Of gigantic proportion
would loom up in their majesty, lookir
down with apparent contempt upon Il
! smaller companions for = distance Of son
: nine miles, bring US to the town of Canto
on the west line Of jackson County Ever
3 thing about this place exhibited the appea
, ance of decay. The mills here viii,
burned down last winter left some 80 fan
lies out Of employ ment, and rs no effort
i iat, h.s 10,
sandy and unproductiye, leaves the emp
dwellings and stores standing as a mon,
ment of lis past prosperity.
Six miles south of east brought us to Il
town of Monmouth, where il is elaine le
had been found in paying quantities. II
town is an outof the way place with nothir
to support il saye two country stores and
! beer saloon. visited the lead mines nj
saw some specimens Of lead ore-but n
inclined to think that it had been i'm port,
from the vicinity OF Dubuque on specul,
ton. being little suspicious Of the Yank,
spectators, like the oil found while diggr
. cellar on Brady Street, in Davenport son
few months since. but may be mistaken.
The town Of Fremont, three niles fro
Monmouth, was undoubtedly named from h
great explorer Of the Rocky Mountains.
contains some half d, zen dlapitated houses
and blacksmith shop, and might hav
been, il built IN one Of the Rocky Mountai
gorges, worthy OF its illustrious nsmesak,
Passing from Jackson into Jones Count,
the face Of the country is somewhat hroker
but thickly studded with residences Of far
ners. who are ''tru the bone and sine~
Of our country. The crops Of small graf
I'd fair for an abundant harvest, neye
apparently looking better at this season q
the year, whilest the corn aud the weed
were evidently holding a spirited contest a
to which should have tho ascendancy. bu
by the farmers help, the weeds must yiel
) and although the potato crops seemed al,
. yet the general tAlk among the farmer
seemed to be The failure Of the potato croy
from The devastation Of the potato huge; sti
oil nature seemed TO 30 drar Cd in her 'bes
holiday habiimcnts," and l felt the truth {
this old saving
"A little farm well titled.
A little hoHse we'll flied.
And pretty wife we'll willed,'
must be the height OF mans enjoyment i
this world-more anon. -
Memo FiKSD-Seven miles north {
, Blandville, Ky. resides family by the nan
OF Miller, consisting Of Q widowed mo, he,