DAVENPORT DEMOCRAT DAVENPORT, IOWA MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1873 BUFFALO __________ The Busy Little Village Down the River ___________ For calling Buffalo a "village," let us beg pardon at the start. It is a "city," has about 700 inhabitants; a Mayor, aldermen, and city officers, records and institutions. For nearly forty years it has been quietly located on the bank of the Mississippi, ten miles below Davenport, has an excellent steamboat landing, well laid out streets of compact, sandy soil; has several nice church buildings, and excellent school house, a fine Turn Halle, quite a number of manufactories, and excellent stone quarry, and is near to the best coal banks in this part of the State. It is a thrifty place. The houses are not large or pretending. The householders, for the most part, own the land they live on, and the houses they occupy; verily they have the reputation of owing but little, because they have an old fashioned custom of paying as they go. This is called "slow"; but being "sure," it is believed by many to be the best way after all. During a brief stay in that place recently, our long-time friend, Captain Clark, who has lived there many a year, and whose father founded the city full forty years ago, showed us around, among THE MANUFACTORIES. Shue & Co. run a lively little saw mill, cutting out about 15,000 feet of lumber daily all the season through. This finds a good market in the city and the country round about, and is a profitable business. Lee & Russell do a pottery business, making about 7,200 gallons of stone jars and jugs a month, which find a good market in Davenport and other places in this part of the country. The goods are of the best quality and their manufacture employs several hands. The burning of the pots uses up.....[cannot read rest of line] unsaleable refuse "strips" from the saw mill which is an advantage to both concerns. There are two breweries-one by Hoffbauer & Co., and another by Mr. Bartebecker, who do considerable business in brewing an excellent quality of lager, which finds a ready market and creates a home safe for large quantities of barley. Both began in a small way, and are building up a large and profitable business. Messrs. Gill, Wilkinson & Co., are putting up a glass factory. The building is 47 by 70, will have 4 pot furnree, and have a capacity of 150 to 160 boxes per week. It is proposed to have it in operation by the first of January. The firm consists of three blowers and one melter from the Rock Island Glass Factory. The citizens of Buffalo are raising $2,000 to aid the enterprise. The working force will consist of three "gatherers", three blowers, one flattener, one melter, one cutter, and such helpers as may be needed. The sand is to come from the river four miles below Buffalo, where an excellent article is said to abound; the lime comes from Port Byron or LeClaire. It is a real enterprise, which, when in successful operation, will do much for the business interests of Buffalo. Beyond this there is a good wagon shop, blacksmiths', tailors', sadlers', and other mechanical operations carried on in Buffalo. STONE Moreover it has an excellent quarry, which turns out a good quality of building and road stone. Large quantities of it have been taken to Muscatine. It is probably the easiest work quarry in the county, and its tone makes excellent lime. COAL. In the bluffy country, just back of Buffalo, are extensive coal mines, that are now giving employment to about six hundred men who earn good wages. Their principal headquarters are at Buffalo, and this fact alone shows how extensive and profitable a trade is carried on there in dry goods, groceries, and other things in general use. There need be no idle people in Buffalo. When work gets scarce about town in winter, as it often does, laborers can always find relief from loafing at the coal banks, where there is abundant work, at good wages, all the winter long. This is worth a great deal to Buffalo, and adds greatly to its thrift. MERCHANTS These are quite numerous, and all who have goods to sell are said to be doing a thriving business. Henry Dohrman has been the leading merchant there for many years and has a store and stock that is equal to almost any demand. PROFESSIONAL Of course there are ministers and doctors in Buffalo. The Rev. Mr. Hardy, of the M.E. Church is the leading preacher, is a man of much ability and gives great satisfaction among the parishioners. The doctors have a fair business and do their duty as far as possible. No lawyers have yet reported for permanent duty in Buffalo; neither are there any banks of issue, street cars, or women's rights conventions but these well all work in time. THE SCHOOLS are excellent; about 250 scholars in attendance under the excellent tuition of Mr. Ayres, a Howard graduate, and Miss Whittey. The school house is a fine one, and if the young Buffalonians don't prosper on the road to useful knowledge, it will not be because their parents have not provided them with abundant opportunities. THE WINE CLAUSE. Moreover do they make much good wine in Buffalo. There are no very large vineyards, but a good money small ones that in the aggregate time out nearly 150 barrels of the pure juice yearly. Among the best are those of Dohrmans, Springmeyer, Boies, Ficke and some others to us unknown. The soil is excellent for vine culture and in time the Buffalo vintages will be among the most popular in land. LOTS AND HOUSES. City lots bring a good fair price in Buffalo- are really looking up. Some sales were affected recently which would rival those of suburban property in our own city. Building is progressing, a few more houses are added to the number every year, and the old ones are kept in good repair- all having a thrifty, comfortable look about them which marks a well doing village. CONCLUSION. Buffalo is a good place, and under the pressure of its coal interests, the excellent farming facilities round about, its good river facilities, and the certainty of its having a railroad in a few years, it will continue to develop. Put on all the steam you can in good judgment, gentlemen of Buffalo, and you will be proud of the result. Keep to work; avoid contention and extravagance, spend less than you earn, invite active industries and therefrom will come the abiding prosperity. Cathy Joynt Labath Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm