Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1868-07-10

dulges in wholesale pardon of
rebels, and the Democracy meet in
New York city to repudiate the Ma
tional debt, and repeal portion of
that document adopted by the found
ers of our government ninety-two
years ago, which declared that "All
men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their creator with GER
tain inalienable rights, among which
are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness" The success of this re-
peal depends upon the people next
November, and if we read correctly
the signs Of the times, the Democrat
ic platform instead of the National
debt will DO repudiased.
To-day is grand day for Montana.
Mr.. A. j. Holmes, a talented young
lawyer of this city, delivered the
Grafton. The Fort Dodge Cornet
Band furnished excellent music, and
l.. Racquet, editor of the Democrat,
read the Declaration of Independ-
ence. We suggested to him, that he
might omit that portion relative to
the equality of the human race, II 1t
conflicted with his conscience to read
the same. A large crowd is in at
tendance, and fire. works conclude
the days programme.
A recent visit to Fort Dodge gave
us view of a very fine section of
country, and town which Mt no
very distant day, is bound to be one
of the finest of Iowa's fine inland
cities. Probably no county of the
State is so rich in mineral resources
as Webster. We found ex-Lieuten-
ant Governor b. +. Cue, editor of
the North West, at home, just in the
act of putting forth the first number
of his enlarged paper, which Is now
one Of the finest In the Stale, while
Mr.. Cues ability and popularity has
given it a circulation and an influ-
ence equalled by but few. In COM
pany with him, we visited the gyp-
sum beds north of and within three
fourths of mile of town. Large
quantities of this fine stone is being
quarried for building purposes, and
as soon rs the Railroads are complet.
ed through this section, steam mills
will be erected to cut up the stone
and manufacture Plaster Paris. Mr..
Brown, of your city, is now getting
out stone at this quarry for his resi-
dence In Cedar Falls. Mr.. Cum
minis, the gentlcmanly superintend-
ent, took great pains to show us
around and answer our questions.
I'll give a statement with regard to
snakesin this quarry, which although
some of your readers may consider
"fshy," we assure you Is perfectly
reliable. The northern portion OF
the quarry gives the appearance of
having been worn away by torrents
which must have passed. over the
stone for ages, and large assures and
cavities have thus been worn into the
solid rock. These cavities afford
good shelter during the winter to
reptiles, and hence they come here in
large numbers from all parts of the
country. In the month Of February
last, the workmen commenced ope-
rations, and the warm days soon
brought forth his snake-ship from
his winter quarters. Hundreds
would come forth ut once, and their
forked tongues would protrude from
every nook and corner. They would
roll down the bluff and sides Of the
rock and thus impede the progress of
the work. The "Blue-racer,n and
"Black VIPER" were among the
choice varieties. and range from
two to six feet in length. Several
times pcr day the workmen would be
compelled to quit work and slaughter
snakes. From forty to one h.ndred
and sirty were killed daily for seventy
days. Averaging their work ut one
hundred per day, we find that scOca
thousand snakes were killed in q lit
tie over two months. Men were de-
tailed every night to bury the dead.
When 1t Ii known that the bite of n
"black viper" is sure death, the beau
ties of that kind of work will be bet
ter appreciated. ...
The best of cannel-coal IL found in
large quantities, and fire-clay of q
superior quality has recently been
discovered. Large quantities Of pure
limestone are here to be found; also
sandstone in great abundance.
The work of grading the ID. & s. G.
r. r. to this point, Is now nearly
completed, and men are still at work.
Ties arc already on the ground, and
the work of completing the road will
probably not be delayed long.
Webster county is well timbered,
and the crops look we'll except where
the everlasting grasshopper has made
ihAh iShb 1AAIhos WV
moro than one fourth of the wheat In
this section has been destroyed from
this cause, and other crops will be
nearly as good rs usual.
Much more might be said with re-
gard to Fort Dodge and the surround
ing country, but we have not room
to say more now, and will quit this
subject by recommending those who
visit this town to stop ut the st.
Charles If they would have good
opinion Of hotels.
AS the time approaches for the as
sembling of the Republican Congress
sionai Convention, the people and
candidates are eager to know how
political matters stand. Among the
candidates we notice Judge Chase, Of
Webster City, Col. Scott, of Nevada,
Charles Pomroy, of Fort Dodge, Mr..