Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-19

1t is certainly attractive and impresses on
J very favorably for its ideal charm,
LAKE PEPIN.
the world famous wonders is now stretched b,
fore us, and the scenery becomes grander an
grander in all its attributes and the culmina
: ing point of natures most beautiful and ms
ed in the grand salon of the beautiful Eagle
, where richly laden repast awaited our dis
posal. 1t would be an act of discourtesy wer
TO forego the mental pleasure of adding m
feeble voice in unstinted praise of the par ex
, cellence of the culinary feature of thes
steamers. The preparation of the edibles, tn
, manner of serving them and the decidedly pc
lite and attentive corps OF the coloreG gentr
: who were not overbeariDg nor boring in thei
endeavors to serve us, speak volumes for tn
discipline, the management and the personne
of these fine boats. We were soon passing
the quaint town of Alton, for the clear rint
of the mate.s voice upon the evening air as
sured us of that fact. By s'the morning il
the bright light" as L dreamily listened to tn
rich melody of the darkies singing that fasci
mating song, we were at Hannibal, Mo-, on,
of the most thriving towns along
the river. The points of Louisiana
GAINESVILLE, Cap AuGrs, Hamburg and ORATOR
being passed through the night. Dame
nature seems to have been lavish in her rict
array of natural beauty encompassed between
Hannibal and Quincy-the next point at which
our steamer lands. l have often visited this
beautiful Illinois city, and have heen particu
larly struck with its many charming and at
tractive features, both in the city proper anG
the fine suburbs. The drives are delightful
| the roads like the Eastern boulevards in point
| OF width and smoothness. We soon left I'LL
nois' pride, as l heard some passengers en-
Enthusiastically call the city ''shining like
| gem" in the dim distance. We were now an
preaching the commercial city of KeokuB
with its magnificent government works, the
engineering triumph Of the upper Mississippi
river, as papa has often told us in dwelling
| upon the beauties of scenery and the splendid
| and thriving places along the river. We had
a very special invitation extended US by
United States civil engineer Meigs, the com
mander in charge of the government works, to
visit and 'inspect'' them, but we regret.
| fully declined the kind invitation as our point
of destination, st. Paul. we were compelled to
reach as speedily as possible. However. we
gained magnificent view of them
as the "War Eagle" passed through
them. They are eight or nine miles long, and
| the Tourists Guide Book" published by the
| packet company, tells us they cost the gov.
ernment 81, 100000. A small Vanderbilt for
| tune! Keokuk has grown wonderfully DUR
ing the past few years, and its public buildings
and Opera house are highly spoken of by tour
and the town. A number of pretty places
| were passed between Keokuk and Burlington,
| forty miles above. The famous Nauvoo island
and historic Fort Madison on the Illinois
| shore, and Montrose on the Iowa side. Keo-
kuk is at the foot Of the lower rapids and
| near the mouth of the Des Moines river, about
whose existence learned so much in nv dear
old school days. Burlington impressed me
very favorably from the deck of the steamer,
from which point q magnificent view was
afforded. AS we approached the landing my
attention was attracted toward a very pic.
turesque and aesthetic looking boat house, in
front and around which l saw spider-like
boats, spinning their wavery webs so quickly
that could hardly realize they were skillfully
manned by experts-they must surely have
been! learned that this boat house is owned
by the wealthy young men of Burlington, who
find excellent opportunities in its beautiful
home for the cultivation of their mus
cular proclivities. There is an air
of hustle and business push about
the city, which, together with the ele,-
gance of the residences and fine streets must
make it very desirable and withal charming
city in which to enjoy society and live COM
fortably. Many picturesque elevations, in
tensely high hills and a prosasion Of rich
foliage commingle in harmonious blending
before ones vision as we glide so gracefully
and smoothly through this portion of the
tine. The soft, musical elegance of this name
is surely indicative Of something in conso-
nance with its sweet sound. l had heard SO
much of the pretty location OF this young
city, particularly of the peculiarly striking
picturesque bluffs which crown the limits of
the place, that I determined upon seeing for
myself. 81 came, I saw, and was conquered"
in the perverted apharism of We Roman war
rior. There is an indescribably alluring charm
about Muscatine, which must be seen and Wis.
tied to be appreciated. Its richness and lux
urlance of its shade trees lining the river
banks for a long distance, hidden behind
which are most beautiful homes, seemingly
carefully embellished with terraced lawns,
temptingly suggestive of s'lawn tennis,n Gro
quet and kindred summer pleasures. 1t is a
poetical looking place, dreamily resting mid
bower and green. What level stretch of
country is seen way back for miles on the
Iowa shore. We are now on our way to the
tri-cities of Davenport, Rock Island and Mo-
line, as the guide book kindly informs me,
and which must be something wonderful
Judging from the lavish praise laid at their
door. Here we are at last. gazing upon the
beauties of the town of Davenport from my
favored spot on the steamer. The location OF
the town is certainly to be envied, for upon its
gently sloping hills are reared magnificent
residences, and many commanding edIfices,
which look like colleges, seem to look in Sc
rene complacency down at our steamer as we
approach the landing. The business portion
1t lively appearance. We now cross to the
opposite side and land at Rock Island,
noted largely for its manufacturing and its
close proximity to the far famed Government
Arsenal island, the most beautiful arsenal and
largest government island in the world
large number of passengers got off at Rock
Island, to spend day or two, as Capt. Jerry
Woods one of the jolliest whole-souled,men in
the world, informed me, to visit the island and
enjoy the scenery hereabouts. We are now
passing the massive iron bridge stretching
across the Father of Waters, connecting
Davenport with Rock Island. We are now in
the upper rapids, and the view Of Arsenal
island-the clear, grand stretch of country has
not been equaled on our journey thus far.
The island is all--and even more in it's gor-
geous pictuTesqueness-than has been written
of its beauties. The national armory aud arse
nal buildings can be seen by glimpses through
nature's richly recovered verdure. Its historic
interest is great, and was deeply interested
and highly edited by the charming descrip-.
ton given in the Illustrated guide book. by
Col. u. w. Flagler, of whom [ have often
heard papa speak, as one of the best historians
of the age. Moline soon comes in view, and
the country intervening between it and Rock
Island is fast filing up with pretty suburban
residences, and the day is not far distant
when it must be one town. Moline's manu-
features bring it into great prominence, aud
she has contributed her share toward the
fame of the tr-cities. This portion ofjthe river
seems to be greatly gifted in its swelling hills,
crowned by little boroughs, appearing in
charming succession. The great numbering
points of Clinton, Fulton and Lyons, are
next in size and apparently in Importance, as
the steamer ascends the river. These towns
are prctttly located and command attention for
fI,air ivfa Dill
vue is soon passed, and Dubuque next comes
| in view. The metropolis of Iowa, with its
$4,000 inhabitants, seems to be a delightful
and lourishing city, noted for its manufac-
| lures, so | am told, and surrounding scenic
beauty. McGregOr and the mellowed town of