The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-29
business. and official denortment generally.

business, and official department generally,
made himself quite popular. Mr.. Paxton
is not only an efficient officer, but he has a
pleasant way about him that relieves much
Of the harshness naturally attaching to- the
position. IF you are compelled to hang a
man, there is nothing like going at it in a
gentlemanly manner,
Harvest will commence Immediately
after the Fourth, and the crop prospects
throughout the entire large and rich
prairie belt, south. west and east of here,
never promised better. Corn, although
backward, will give an abundant yield.
Our farmers generally are in excellent
spirits, with nothing to trouble them but
anticipation of the grasshopper pests.
Last week, was withdrawn from the
passenger train over our branch railroad,
the express car, in consequence of its not
proving a paying institution. This sub
iects us to some Inconvenience, the worse
felt of which was the failure to receive the
daily newspapers until the day after their
issue. This, for the present, has been
remedied by the enterprise of Messrs.
Macy & Co., news-agents at this place,
they having made some arrangements
with the employees Of the railroad, SO that
we are now having our papers in the eve
ming of the day of their issue.
Our band. having disorganized, last fall,
is again recognizing, and making night
hideous with discordant practising music.
We have the material for an excellent
band, also the instruments, but it is a
difficult matter to keep up any organiza-
| ton over one season. 81
At the last meeting of the town board,
a committee was appointed to visit Rock
Island and Davenport, with view to the
purchasing of some fire apparatus. The
committee have executed their commits
sion, and at the next meeting will report
in favor of hand engine witnessed at
Davenport. At present we are entirely
destitute of any fire apparatus whatever.
MIR. Arthur, of the Banner, intends ere
long to have steam power to meet the in
creasing demands of his paper Mr.. Ar
thur is young man, and comparatively
young in the newspaper business, but, add
ed to very decided ability in the profession,
he possesses that intuitive tact, that
energy and vim so essential to the success.
full conducting OF newspaper, and as re-
suit Of such management, the Banner is
one of the best weekly papers in this
region, with constantly increasing patron.
age.
Before closing this desultory letter ]
think it but proper, and q part of my
province as a news gatherer, to say some.
thing of the religious aspech of affairs il
Aledo. Under the old regime the very
atmosphere was redolent of a sanctimon
ious aroma, that painfully impressed one
with sense of fearful! wickedness. The
inspiration Of the surroundings was suf6ci
emily heavenly-like to give the homeless
physiognomy an angelic appearance; thu
"wickedest man in town" enjoyed a sens,
of security amid such glorious company
everything, in any way partaking of ''tht
world, the flesh and the devil" wa
banished with a loud flourish of trumpets
and had affairs continued but short TIM
longer, each and every individual antici
pated transportation direct to anothe
sphere, as was Elijah of old. Alas TO
human calculations! Satan appeared il
Aledo, accompanied with long bacchan
nalian train, and pandoras box of evil
we're let loose upon the community. In
stead of rising up in solid phalanx to NEE
the hosts of the enemy, disaffection struc
the ranks of the faithful, the elect becam
demoralized, and now, sad to relate, tn
chorts of Satan have gained complete pos
sessive of the town, and are strongl
intrenched behind the ramparts of publ
opinion. 1t is a sad-a very sad-a gloom
picture! One short month ago an
this was temperance ID town; now, bee
saloons and billiard halls are springing u
all around and about us. Business b.
/ increased a hundred per cent, but OF
! what about the religious aspect of the a
fair. What is to become of us2 Whith'
! are we tending? ALEDo.