Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-04-12
From Iowa City.
iowa Cry. April 6, Is

words concerning this place, and OF
the University, would be of interest
to some OF your readers, l take the
liberty Of penning you few lines
in reference to the same. Our city,
like all other large interior towns
with but one line of railroad, is
rather dull; but trusting in the flu
turc and in the Southwestern II. r.,
which, starting from Clinton, takes
southwest course through this
place to Oskaloosa, business is re-
viving; also, buildings are under
way and others in contemplation,
and the people Of Iowa City are de-
termined to take a long step for
ward and to make their city not
ouly the "Athens of Iowa." in an
Intellectual sense, but also in those
other ways which tended to make
the Capital Of ancient Greece the
home Of learning and Of arts.
Longfellow's saying in Hiawa-
tina, "that disasters come not SIN
gly," seems to be verified in our
city in the case of fires. The morn
ing of the 9th of March saw the
finest Hotel in town (the Clinton
House, a mass of ruins, the eth a
large Touring mill, three miles up
the river, burned to the ground;-
besides, we have had several
smaller fires which have done
considerable damage. There is no
organized fire department of any
kind, and all the citizens do in case
of fire is to stand idly by and
look on. 1t is to be hoped that the
severe lessons Of the past month
will not be barren of good results,
and that Iowa City will soon have
an effective fire department, under
whose protection the property OF
her citizens will be safe from harm.
Last night was an occasion long
to be remembered with Joy by the
friends ofthe University. At chapel
service in the morning President
Thatcher announced to the students
that a telegram had just been re-
ceived, stating that, after an earnest
discussion, the bill appropriating
$4,000 to the University had
passed the Senate, the vote standing
40 to l. The announcement was
greeted with glad hearts and smil-
ing faces by the 400 students there
assembled, and it was determined
to have general Notification. The
stars and stripes were hoisted on
the dome Of the old State Capitol,
and on South Hall. The G. A. r.
suspended their large flag across
the street, and on it was printed, in
large letters: "Come to the College
tonight" $4,000" Alarge flag
was placed over the door of the
! Post Office, and in Clinton St., at
the head of the avenue. Material
for large bonfire was placed. The
evening was ushered in by firing OF
cannons, illumination of the Uni
| versity buildings and the other
public places in the town. "Young
America" took charge of the bon.
fire, and enjoyed themselves as only
boys can. About I o'clock an i'm
mensc crowd, led by the city band,
moved through the campus to the
steps in front Of the center building,
| which were decorated with Chinese
lanterns, and notices. Here, with
Ezekiel Clark as chairman, the time
was pleasantly occupied until $3.50,
with music and speaking. Presi'
dent Thatcher made the closing ad.
dress, and seemed as much at home
on the stump as in the pulpit. He
is religious man and one who
does not throw aside his religion
for public duties, but carries il
with him into everyday life, believ.
ing that as the mind is educated
the heart is also, and that this ap.
preparation would give him in.
creased facilities to advance this
work; he entered into it with all
his energies, was present in the
Legislative Hall when the measure
was discussed, eagerly watched the
tide of public opinion and worked
untiringly for all the interests OF
the University; and when l look
back months ago, when this meas
ure first came before our legislators
and remember the earnestness with
which he invoked the blessings OF
God on our rulers, that they might
devise liberal things, can pardon
the enthusiasm which led him to
say: 81 like these bonfires, this il
Elimination, this music; they are
more fitting to express our Joy than
the most eloquent Words" while
he ascribes the success of the meas
urc to a higher power than that Of
man.
When he first entered upon his
duties in the University, good ma.
ny of the students did not like him,
but since that time he has steadily
grown in favor, and to-day he il