The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-30
Why Go Abroad Or East or West When th'
Mississippi Welcomes?
By Howard G. kegey in the Sunday Des Mones Register
and Leader

turbulent current OF the great Father
Of Waters
Perhaps the most Interesting point
along the river, especially 10 Iowans.
is the tri-city functional Davenport.
Rock Island and Moline point
where three busy. modern cities. lying
n triangle and separated from one
another by q thread OF water half q
mile wide. are brought into close
touch with enc another by virtue OF a
feTry that makes seven minute daily
trips back and forth across the river.
Davenport is one Of the richest and
hest factory towns in Iowa and Moline
AID Rock Island vie for their share
Of the Illinois riveT-;own nsanufae-
turing business. while the latter has
the advantage of possessing the great
government arsenal. which is located
on a wooded island that is supposed 10
belong 10 Rock Island rather than TO
any other nearby town
! IN the summer time, Ehen the yaca-
ton season Is on. the old sidewheeler
edges in to the landing. unloagis its
passengers. takes on crowd. utsers
a few hoarse boots as a signal for
the draw-bridge TO open, and then,
with pulsing boilers. it sets its big
water wheel TO turning and, flashing
the stream into 2 fine spray, 1t turns
round and sets its nose in the direc-
ton OF some point OF human interest.
Colored decshands. perhaps. with the
customary choppy stride OF the steam
boat rooster, hustle around and get
things in comfortable shape. while the
be1ated passenger. who ran four blocks
and leaped over the Ieyee and onto
the gangplank Of the boat just as it
was being hauled in, catches his
breath and begins to look around at
the scenery.
Mark Twain was river pilot for
years- In this little extract from his
Life on the Mississippi the late hui
morist says: We move up the river,
always through enchanting scenery,
there being no other kind On the upper
Mississippi. The water is beautiful
olive green. The majestic bluffs that
overlook the river, along through this
region, charm one with the grace and
Tarfety Of their forms. and the soft
beauty of their adcrnment. The steep
Terdant slope. the base OF which is at
the waters edge, is topped By a lofty
rampant Of broken trrreted rocks
which are exuuisitely rich and mellow
/ in color mainly dark browns and dull
greens. but splashed with other tints
And then you have the shining river
winding here and there and yonder, It's
sweep interrupted at intervals BY
clusters of wooded islands threaded
| by silver channels, and you have
! giiInpses OF distant villages asleep
upon capes. and Of stealthy RATS
slipping afcng in the shade of the
/ forest walls. and of white steamers
vanishing around remote points And
it Is all as tranquil and reposeful as
dreamland, and has nothing this
worldly about it-nothing to hang 9
] fret or worry upon. :
In his description of the river sun
sets. which are truly gorgeous at any
season OF the year, Twain expressed
I himself as follows: They use the
broad, smooth river as a canvass, ant
paint upon it every imaginable dream
Of color. from the mcttled daintines:
and deiicacies OF the opal, all the wa.
i up, through cumulative intensities, te
binding purple and crimson confia
/ grations. Ill Of the upper Mississippi
Il region has these extraordinary sunsets
as 2 familiar spectacle 1t is true
sunset land. am sure no other coun
i try can show so good right TO the
name" And then Twain throws in ;
shaft of humor thus: The SUNRISE
i are also said to be exceedingly fine
III 90 not know" After nightfaIl tn,
river is covered with boats an,
launches that keep up a constant hun
that is music 10 the ear. Up on tn
I top deck Of a big excursion boat, G
nice place 10 keep cool on a sultr
s evening" one has an endless proce:
sion OF things Passing before him. A
the big boat loads OF excnrsionist
drift past, whooping and yelling, ar
dancing, one is reminded that perhap
Ia veil known author had just sue
an incident in wind when she spok
about ships that pass in the nigh
: and speak each ether in passing
On dark summer night, as far a
E the eye can reach. you can look alien
e the Rock Island or Davenport shor
s where tall skyscrapers face the va
a erfront, and all that can be see
n through the inl1y blackness are mi
a lion tiny lights cleaning from Z
g many windows. Affair up the strea,
e a row of electric lights reveals Il
a dark outline OF the goFernmel
: bridge. OF in another direction sir
y liar row of lights shows a big dra'
n bridge. while hoarse whistle ema
j sting from cluster OF twinklers awe
e down below tells YOU that some YEA
e river DiIot is calling for admittance