The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-09-23
Letter from the West.
DAVENPORT, Scott county, Iowa


DEAR WH1G:-You will see we have
taken a new stand point to write from
Well, we are in world of changes, and
none more so than what is now called the
West. The above town is the county town
of Scott, situated on the Mississippi. 1t
reminds us of our old familiar town of Port
Deposit, being lumber market, where
pine RATS descend, similar in every respect
to those which congregate there from the
upper Susquehanna. We walked out on
number of those familiar craft, and felt
quite at home, even in this far-off land
Davenport, town of some 16, 900 or 5000
inhabitants, shows signs of much business
and thrift. There are quite large num-
Der of extensive merchant mills and saw
mills, sash factories and grain elevators,
and host Of fine steamers, which ascend
and descend the great Mississippi, from
New Orleans to the head of navigation for
such vessels-above which the flat-boat and
raft continue up to the extreme head
waters. Davenport contains number of
first class stores and shipping houses,
engaged in the river trade. The buildings
are mostly LARGE rick-three to four sto-
ries, and some higher; some large churches
and schools, speaking we'll for the morals
of the people. This being the Middle
Division of the Chicago and Rock Island
Railroad, and the terminus of the Daven-
port and St. Paul Railroad, there are large
repair shops connected with those roads,
employing great many men, besides one
of the richest counties in the State, is
point of much interest.
Rock Island, directly opposite, contains
the U. S. Arsenal and many other import
ant Government buildings, and is one of
the oldest towns in Illinois. 1t also can
boast of some large manufacturing estab-
lishments, consisting of cotton and wooden,
agricultural implements, iron foundries,
sc. They, too, have many large stores
and some residences that would not dis
grace any of the eastern cities; and with
regard to churches, they seem to excel
many larger towns and cities. From the
display of fine stock and products of the
country, at their annual fair, the past week,
you would imagine they would soon take
the lead of the East in agriculture and
stock-raising, as we'll as in many other
departments.
The fair at Davenport, for Scott county,
now going on, is said to be one of the best
in the State, and is thought by many to
often excel the State fair. 1t certainly is
on grand scale. know it would do your
proprietor good to view some of the supe-
rior stock and specimens of agriculture, as
we'll as the finer arts.
Since my last communication, there have
been some important changes in the mail
service, and as all men are interested more
or less in this feature of our governmental
operations, it may not be amiss to give it a
passing notice. The registering of mail
matter, so extensively engaged in bybusiness
men, has become an important branch of the
service, and in order to meet the import
ant item of speed in transit from San
Francisco to New York, where large
amount of coin is daily sent, it was found
necessary, in order to prevent delay, and
instead of having this matter lay over for
transfer al three or more points, to have
register clerks to receive all registered mat
ter at Omaha, on the trains arriving daily,
receipt to the clerks arriving, and continue
with the same until met by the next set of
postal clerks at Iowa City, Iowa, and trans
fer the same while running-not causing
any detention whatever to through or regis,
tered matter. Upon trial this has been
found to fill a vacuum much needed in the