Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-08-05
I,nvcn port ~ Seen by Oshers.
Cor Of tia Grand Rapids (Mich.) Democrat
BugTIs HousH.l


BugTIs HousR,l
DAVENPORT. Iowa, July ~.
A more pleasant day than this have sci.
loose from the rock bound banks Of the
Mississippi, and left the Sucker State be-
hind US, TO spend short time among the
snterprising people Of this new but flourish
ing city, it seemed - if ws were TO have
our fullest expectations Of its beauty and
prosperity more than realized.
Davenport 10 situated on the Mississippi
rlver. about half way between st. Paul and
ST. Louis. The business portion Of the
place. like our own Valley City. is under
the hill, and, like it too, is surrounded BY
high bluffs, upon which are many fine resi-
dences. From the bluffs back Of tie city .
tine view Of the beautiful valley Of the Mis-
sissippi is TO be had, while the towns Of
Rock Island, opposite here, and Moline, are
spread out before you, to be gazed upon a.
proofs Of the magic growth Of the west.-
Davenport contains 20. 600 inhabitants, o
large per cent. Of which are Germans, who
have done much to benefit and bcautify
the place. Two daily papers, the DEMo>
cRAr, which is the largest daily in the
State, and the Gdzette (rAd.) Both Of
these papers are conducted BY men Of abili-
ty and enterprise, who spare no pair.s to
make their papers equal to those Of NOR
pretentions published in our eastern cities.
You know everything almost is east from
here. Grand Rapids papers would be wel>
come as containing latest eastern news
Besides these there are three weeklies, one,
the True Radical, being in the interest Of
oil the new and detestable "isms' Of the
dav, two monthlies and . soldier paper.
Like Grand Rapids this is rnanuiactur
ing place The amount OF capita! employ ed
10 about 100000; the number Of hands
employed 800; the value Of the articles
tuanufsct ar.d is about 81 ,500,OOO per an
mum. These figures are taken from an ably
| written article IN the G0zetts, aud are as
| near accurate IS can be obtained. Within
the past SIX months more than 200 houses
have been erected at cost Of over $500 600,
. fact which sp AXIS volumes Of praise for the
enterprise Of its citizens. There is now in
process of erection several fine public and
griva,e buildings, among which is the new
church for Bishop Lee, the spire Of which
will be nearly three hundred feet high
Perhaps il might not be out Of place 20 men.
ton in connection with public improve
ments, Mr.. j. J. Burtis, who has done o
much TO beautify the town and 10 now do,
ing more than anv other man. Mr.. b. ID
the very gentlemanly proprietM Of the Bur
tis House, fine, large four story brick
building, built by himself, and over which
he has presided since its completion, about
ten years since. Mr.. Bureis 10 now building
. fire Opera House. which 10 to be IS feet
front by $50 feet deep. The auditorium viii
be about 75 feet square. The plan is very
similar to Crosby'- Opera House in Chicago
When finished i. will be the opera house o
the West The cost Of the building 10 esti.
mated at 100000.
OF course it is not necessary to ssy that
this eI Iterprising citizen is, and always has
been. . sound, square Democrat, for every
one knows that who has ever heard of him
Among the many public buildings worthy
of mention find the First National Bank
building, which is the finest in the city i
is occupied by the Bank. the upper story be-
ing used By Major Howard L. STAN Der
y.of the 2Sth Infantry As . recruiting flee
Griswold College. under the auspices oI
Bishop Lee, OF the P. +. Church, ia finely
situated OF the bluff, q little further along
is = large brick public school house.
The Chic go, Rock Island 4 Pacific rail,
road is completed from here to Cofax whicl
is within twenty >two miles Of Oes Moines
the capital OF the State. II is to be bull
from there to Omaha, leo miles west, Al
fast as tho work can be pushed forward.
cannot close this without expressing
INF most sincere thanks to "Dick" Richard
con of the DEMocRAr, and Coils. Impy an,
Littler. Of the Gazette, for their many cour
tesies and favors. HAIRY