The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-09-12
Correspondence Kenosha Telegraph.
Keokuk--A glance at its history---Its pres
ent prospects. Gibbons Opera House etc.
KEoKUK Iowa.


|
sippi, at the foot of the lower rapids, and q
| the confluence of the Des Moines river; thi
city possesses peculiar advantages as CON
mercial point and with its 'valley road
reaching its iron arms ITO miles to DE-
Moines city-the capital of the state, trav
ersing the richest agricultural district {
Iowa; its proximity to the most populou
portion of northern Missouri; its eastern
railroad connections, and above all, its un
rivalIed facilities for river transportation, il
shipping the produce of the country to tn
southern markets at very low freights; ant
receiving in exchange the sugar, rice ant
cotton of louisiana the coffee aud spices 0
the West Indies, and the iron. nails ant
glass of Pittsburgh at less cost than thes
staples can be laid down for in Chicago
must ultimately make Keokul1 the chic
city-the commercial metropolis Of Iowa
No wonder then that sagacious business
men and capitalists came here at an early
day with the most sanguine pectations
and that speculation ran riot in Sc and 81
for many persons suppos ed that this was tt
be Il successful rival of ST. Louis, if not in
deed outstriping her, and so population
poured in to the ''Gate City" as it was ap
propriateIy called, and real estate advanced
very rapidly, corner lots changing hands al
fabulous prices, but Unfortunately as was
the custom of the times on credit each sue
cessive purchaser giving a mortgage, and
which was of course considered good az
gold for was not property doubling in price
every six months
And thus nearly all the real estate
in the city was literally shin
gled' with mortgages, debts were piled up
mountain height as it was, till prudent men
began to hesitate, tho linIid became alarmed,
and the far seeing Giyining the approaching
Storm began to take in sail, but too late;
the crisis was upon them the crash could
not he ayerted, and the ruin vas fearful
aud universal Perhaps 10 city in the
west suffered more from the terrible revu!-
sion of 81 than did Keokuk. But the ma
terial improvements-the graded streets,
the long rows Of substantial stores and shops,
the hundreds of houses, the splendid hotels
built during the period of delirious excite
ment remained: aud after period of great
depression, the business men with the en-
ergy of the Angle Saxon race, went to work
to secure what might be saved from the
Notwithstanding out on the safe rule Of buy
ing and selling for cash, they have gradu
ally built up trade on a sound basis, and
venture the assertion that no town on the
rsser above St Louis has a safer or more re-
liable set of merchants than this, or that en-
joy in higher degree the confidence Of
eastern manufacturers and importers, and
the trade of the city has grown rapidly the
past three years
There are now five Wholesale grocery
houses, doing i'll the aggregate business
of over two millions; three wholesale dry
goods houses; TWO iron and two crockcry
houses, all of which do almost exclusively
q iobing trade; then there are three stove
aud hardware stores that sell at Wholesale
and retail, as do also many stores i'll the
branches above named. regret | have no
data on whicn to base an estimate OF the
amount OF capital employed in the various
departments of trade, but it must be i'll the
aggregate quite large
That keokuk has entered upon period
Of unexampled prosperity, no one can doubt
who sees the volume of business transacted
here, the activity displayed i'll various
branches of manufacturing, and the extent
of building in progress.
In passing up the main business street |
counted twelve first class brick stores going
up, and being flushed for occupancy this
fall. These stores have iron fronts, and are
most of them of great depth, and will be
finished in the best style. The most con
spicuous building erected this season is
Gibbons Opera House.
Until the present time the good people OF
Keokuk have not enjoyed the advantages
Of hall for public entertainments con,men-
surate with the size aud Importance of this
thriving city Last autumn Mr.. T. Gibbons
the idea of erecting building for
this purpose which should not only supply
the want, but should at the same time be a
credit to the city and a lasting monument
to the enterprise and liberality of the pro-
iector. 1t is situated on the corner of Main
and Sixth St is 70 fit front OH Main, and
140 tt OH Sixth.
The first or sidewalk floor is divided into
three stores, the fronts of iron and French
plate glass-the broad arches over the doors
and show windows are supported by mas
sive iron columns surmounted by corinthian
caps on which the arches rest, and produc-
ing a fine effect. The second story is devo-
ted to business purposes as lawyers offices
etc. The third story is reached by broad
and easy stairway from 9th St, will COM
prise the auditorium, so by 100 feet, 26
feet high, and will seat about 1000 persons,
the ceiling is arched, aud with the side walls
is to be richly frescoed. On this floor is
also the ladies and gentlemen's dressing
rooms, the ticket Office and a banquetiDg
hall 20 by 80 feet. Above the auditorium
is an attic story to be used as property
room" for the convenience of the theatre, -
and the whole surmounted by Mansard
roof covered with slate in variegated colors.
The designingsof this imposing building
is by Mr.. Isaac G. WyKotf the well known
of this city, who is also the su-
perintendent of construction. The mechan-
ical execution, the iron fronts, window
caps &c, and the mason work-the wood
work and the painting is all by
''home talent" and reflects credit
upon the artisans and mechanics of Keokuk.
When the internal fitting up is completed
and ready for use, the entire cost will
amount to about sixty thousand dollars
Among the many buildings erected this
season is a fine Baptist Church edifice at
cost of about twenty thousand dollars and
the German Catholic are building large
brick church in the gothic style but did
not learn what it is to cost.
Also | notice very large brick school
house in the southern part Of the city just
finished, and indicating that the interests
OF Education are not neglected.
This city can boast of two excellent no
tells, the "Fepfer house, aud the ''Deming'' /;
the first of which is not excelied 10y any no.
tel IN the state. Its spacious and well fur
nished rooms the good order and prompt
attention to every want, and the rich and
varied CUISINE will render il favorite with
the travelling public while mine affable host
TEPFER, with BRADFORD in the Office retain
the IuauaOnment of IF