The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-09-18
IN EASTERN IOWA.
An Oskaloosan Tells of His Jour
nsy Through the State.
special Correspondence.

Clinton, Aug. 10.-Although over a
month tardy you may like to have my
promise kept good to give you de-
scription of our recuperation trip.
DR.. Clark was on our train out of
Oskaloosa, on his way to Rose Hill.
where he was called in consultation
with DR.. Wright OF that village, We
had very pleasant visit with the
doctor and a description of his north
ern outing. There was nothing spec
ial out of the ordinary in our ride
eastward until we reached the Missis-
sippi river, except tne evidence of the
recent high waters and the unusual
good condition of the crops.
At Washington there was a citizen
Of Columbus Junction advertising the
first efforts of the Columbus Junction
Chautauqua What we could see of
the Junction, when We reached it,
showed the ear-marks of enterprise
and prosperity. Tie next thing to at
tract out attention was the peculiar
formation of the hills between Let's
and FontiIand. Before we could solve
the problem Of their mysterious
shapes we dashed from among them
into the open level and broad valley
which we decided was the Mississippi.
The change was so sudden and the
view so different and grand with the
majestic bluffs towering above us on
all sides like silent sentinels- it made
us feel as if we had entered new
world. After several minutes ride
across the table-land we reached
Fruitland. a small town near the cen
ter of the open valley. Just why it is
called Fruitland we failed to learn;
there is no evidence of fruit growing
anywhere near, but sweet potatoes,
cabbage and melons abound on all
sides. One small field of grain where
a threshing machine was at work was
the only deviation from the above or
der. 4 further run of six miles, part
of which was through railroads and
lumber yards brought US to the rail-
road station in Muscatine. This town
is said to be the home of the Iowa
watermelOn-it seems to us that it
may we'll lay claim to being the home
of the Iowa sweet potato, cabbage and
button as well. There is said to be
several button factories. We saw one
near the depot, from which a swarm
of men came at the noon hour. Dur
ing the six minutes stop we learned
that the town was having very pros
porous year and that labor was at a
premium. The water company adver-
tised a few days before for one hun
bred men and only got fifteen. From
Muscatine to Davenport the scenery
is not so grand as below Muscatine,
but as We reached Davenport orchards
and vineyards became very noticeable.
At Davenport We took the boat, "City
of Winona," to Clinton. Beginning at
Davenport and extending eleven miles
up the river is what is called the Rap
ids; there is said to be a fall of 81
feet in the eleven miles. There is
water power enough to generate suffi-
Gent electricity to light, heat and fur
nish motive power for all the factories
and electric roads in a city as large,
or larger than Chicago, yet it all
passes by unused while numerous
smoke nuisances project themselves
skyward from Davenport, Rock Island
and Moline at a much greater combin-
ed expense and many the times the
discomfort that would obtain did they
make use of this great natural water
power.
no riN
the Illinois side. We passed Port
Byron, the boyhood home of towns
men, the Sheppards. 1t is beautiful
little town, but we are told it does not
compare with it's early day history.
On August 18th we went to Rock
Island on a boat excursion, thence to
Black Hawk Watch Tower, a park |
two miles south of Rock Island. The |
park derives its name from the great |
old Indian chief, Black Hawk, who |
built a watch tower from iron pipes |
on the top of a bluff overlooking the |
Rock and Mississippi rivers and COM
a sweeping view over great |
scope of country. The town was built |
many years ago and is still IN a good |
state of preservation. The town park
in Rock Island is what the ladies |
would call a perfect dream; it is much |
larger than our own and has only a
very few large trees, yet they are sufi-
cient to shade the numerous seats in
the park; there are walks in circles,
right and obtuse angles and straight
walks Flowers, shrubs and statuary
abound everywhere. The most m
posing piece of statuary is that of
Black Hawk on the south side of the
park. We have not visited Rock Is
land. The government island be-
tween the cities of Davenport, Rock
Island and Moline; the island is nam
ed from it's foundation; it is covered
with a good, deep soil and contains
about 1000 acres. On the island the
manufactures about ey-
erything used in warfare, except bat
tleships and large guns. Visitors are
freely admitted and shown over the
island and works.
If convenient we viii in future let
ter compare some of the cities we
have visited with Oskaloosa. Permit
me to say. right here that oskaloosa
win never suffer by comparison with
any city. Yours truly,
J. T. COyenY.