Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-10-03
As Others See Us.

Cedar Rapids Times, has been making a
trip over the new line of the
B., C. r. & NJ Railroad, and IN his pa
per of last week gives the results of his
observations of the several towns and
stations between Cedar Rapids and Post
vile. The following are his Impressions
of Independence The article may be ia
ken as the average estimate Of our city,
its necessities and advantages entertained
by strangers who visit it, and contains
food for m editation:
Here we find town of three thousand
cellent business houses which carry large
stocks of all kinds of merchandise and
seem to do thriving trade. The Wap-
siepinnacon here affords very excellent
water power. The dam is substan-
tial wooden structure The only manu-
factory run by this power is a
Touring mill, a four story brick, with
five run of burrs, and with a capacity Of
twenty-five bushels of wheat per hour.
Notwithstanding the many substantial
business interests of Independence, there
is a general appearance about the place
which indicates that, considering the loca-
ton and its general and particular ad
vantages, the citizens have not made the
best use of their opportunities, and in
looking over the town and noting the
many inviting chances for business in
vestments laying round loose" one is
led to the conclusion that the monicd
men of the town are of that kind who
would rather loan their money to farm
ers and business men at twenty-five per
cent. and by and by get the property by
a foreclosure of mortgage, than to invest
in business enterprises which would
build up, beantify and enrich the place.
From what we saw we are inclined to
the opinion that there is q good open
ing in Independence for a few widc-awake
business men who have some money and
are not afraid to spend it.
Chief among the attractions of hide
pendcnce are her churches and public
school buildings. The former are neat,
substantial structures and the latter will
compare in size and architectural beauty
with any in the larger towns in the State.
While here we took the opportunity OF
visiting the
INSANE ASYLUM.
This beautiful structure is situated about
one and one-half miles from the town, up
on an eminence which gives fine view
of the town and surrounding country,
Arriving at tho Asylum we were met by
DR.. A. Reynolds, the resident physician,
who kindly showed US through the insti-
tuition. We found everything serupu
lousy neat and clean, and the inmates
as comfortable in all that pertains to their
physical wants as it is possible to make
them with the present limited number OF
rooms furnished. The number of in
mates at present is one hundred and ten,
about equally divided as to the sexes, and
comprises all grades of insanity from the
raving maniac who has to be restrained,
to the quiet and inoffensive unfortunate
whom a visitor would not judge as in
sane. There is at present but part OF
one wing of the building finished, and
this is. by far, too limited for the accom-
mediation of the present number OF in
mates. This, together with the Eeces'
sity of keeping both sexes in one wing
makes it difficult to do entire justice to
the unfortunate there at present; and as
we looked through the apartments oc
cupied, and saw the disadvantages the
Superintendent labored under, we were
surprised that he succeeded in making
them as comfortable as they are. Our
legislature of this winter will do very
unwise thing and great injustice to this
class of unfortunates if they fail to make
an appropriation for the completion OF
this Institution at the earliest possible
day. The part of the building unfinished
although under cover, is not gaining any
thing by its present exposed condition.
and the longer 1t remains so. the worse II
will be, involving larger expense, and
materially imparing the strength and du'
rability of the structure.
We will not attempt q description Of
the building. Suffice it to say that it is
of cut stone, of beautiful architectural de
sign, and supplied with all the modern
conveniences for Institutions OF this
character. The heating apparatus IS
marvel of completeness; the kitchen, ba
kerry, wash room, ETC., are ample and
well supplied with everything to facili
tate the culinary and laundry operations
of the establishment. and when compile
ted, this will be an Institution Of which
every citizen of Iowa may be justly proud