The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-07-19
Letter From "The Garden"

PAULINE. Kan, July Oh, 1888.
To the Editor of the Banner DEAR
SIR Since came here the weather
has drfted to the other extreme, from
too dry il has rained now until people
wish it would hold up little. We have
have had abundance Of warm weather
thermometer up in the 9Oos,
The Shawnee Company teachers ex
animation last Friday, closed up the
Normal Institute that has been carried
on for month. They are we'll up in
the school work. am reminded OF a
letter in paper sometime ago, compar-
ing the leading genius of Kansas with
that of other States OF the West. The
writer referred to said that in New Mex
leo and Colorado they started with ga
loon, IN California with a hotel, street
cars, or motor road, but in Kansas they
started with q school house. think
perhaps that il may be so in this part
for have noticed, what seems like a
good supply of neat and substantial
school houses, and more are talked of to
keep pace with the growth OF popula-
ton. i..
| spent week in Davenport. Iowa,
last month. found some growth in
the fifteen years since was there before
but It's increase is nothing like as RAPID
as Topeka.
Scott county that in which Davenport
is. was organized in 1888, but few settle
msnts of Importance had been made
much before that time. In 1916 Fort
Armstrong had been erected upon Rock
Island where the government arsenal
now Is. This caused some dissatisfac
lion to the Indians, as it was the best
island in the river and particularly in.
teres,ing to them. A few miles below
Davenport. just opposite the moutb of
Rock River, the town of Rockingham
was laid out. InlSsS-9 it contained some
% or 80 houses and for u while there
was bitter contest between the two
towns over the question OF the county
seat. The citizens of Davenport finally
settled the queslio by an agreement to
build the court house and jail without
expense to the cuunty. A treaty OF
peace was ratified during the winter Of
lS40 by Q ball given in the holelat Rock
ingham. 49,
The county now began to improve
rapidly; roads were laid in all directions
and immigrants began to dot the back
country With log hopses and wheat
stacks.
A writer in August, 1910. said OF Dav
export Two years ago it had but one
family, now upwards OF thirty, and three
large store building. a large hotel, two
groceries, two forwarding and commits
sion houses and an elegant brick chapel
commenced"
Feb. 80, 1854 was an interesting day
to the people Of that locality, for it wit.
messed the completion OF the Chicago 4
Rock Island railroad TO the river, thus
making the first connecting link between
the Mississippi and the Atlantic.
As manufacturing and commercial
centre 1t is one of the most important.
The three cities. Davenport. Rock Island
and Moline. the two latter in Illinois, are
all included within circle, the radius
OF which is four miles and the pNpula-
ton yearly 10 200, with tho iOland of
about 1000 acres In the liver Just be-
tween them. The government buildings
on the island are substantially built OF
stone. some ten or twelve in number,
and are occupied as dwelling, soldiers
barrack, store house, and manufactur
ing establishments for military uses.
The three cities together have over 100
factories of all kinds, with capital Of
SI6 SO4. 900, and employ 9,S43 hands to
whom they pay $4,36l, 800 per year.
Lumber Is the largest industry; eight
mills cut 191 500 900 feet per year. Next
comes pillow making. Five factories
employ 1850 men; in 1887 they made
100000 implements. There are 700 hands
engaged in the cigar manufacture; they
turn out 100000 In time of war the
government arsenal will give employ
ment to 90, 900 and can arm and equip
$780, 900 soldiers. .........
A famous resort for visitors is Black
Hawks watch tower, made notable by
Indian legends as well as by the beauty
of scenery. Near it is coal mine.
Yours truly,
G.. E. BRECKENRIDGE