Dubuque 1854

DUBUQUE

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 7/23/2016 at 22:39:43

Dubuque Weekly Observer, October 27, 1854

Dubuque is a flourshing and enterprising city of about 8,000 inhabitants, with all the et ceteras pertaining to a western settlement of people from divers countries under heaven. Building is going on with considerable activity. The houses and stores going up are of a superior class, and the work upon them neatly and substantially executed. Behind the town the bluffs are of a towering height; nevertheless the industry and perseverance of the place are cutting them down, and making roads up them to the fine prairie region above. But to lead Dubuque speedily on its “manifest destiny, “ its municipality must be Bostonize the flats before it; that is, dam out the Mississippi and pitch the bluff rock into the bottom. All those flats and channels should be covered with streets and stores, and the wharves of Dubuque shoud bound the islands. Of course this would affect the interests of the holders of existing wharves, who would do their utmost to prevent the improvement. But their opposition ought not to be allowed to weigh against the health and general prosperity of the city. Dubuque must have a better landing, or visitors will give it a bad name, which in trade or commerce is equilivant to a death warrant against a dog.