Local Matters

For market reports and other interesting matter, see fourth page.

LAST DAY. – Dr. Wagner, by request will stay at Le Claire hall to-day only, to make examinations from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m.

GENTS’ furnishing goods, trunks, hats and caps, in great variety and for sale very low at Kranse’s, No. 36.

VICTORINE LOST. – On Wednesday evening, on Rock Island street, between Fourth and Sixth streets.  The finder will be rewarded by leaving it at this office.

GEO. W. ELLS & Co. have just received 3000 rolls of wall paper and borders – new styles and cheap; also a lot of new books – ‘Margaret Howth,’ ‘Cloister & Hearth,’ “Recreations of a Country Parson,” &c. &c.

E. S. PIPER. – The Muscatine Journal says it was reported there that this distinguished individual had been tried at Milwaukee and acquitted, in consequence of the failure of the parties fleeced to recognize him.  He was expected to arrive yesterday at Muscatine where there would be no trouble recognizing him.  We very much doubt if he will ever again be seen in Muscatine.

PORTRAIT PAINTINGS. – We have frequently referred of late to the excellent crayon portraits by Mr. Rouse, and also of those of Miss Julia Johnson at the Le Claire House.  Besides these we have another artist in town.  Mr. E. S. Moore, Third street near Brady, who takes portraits in oil colors.  We noticed yesterday that he has a number of portraits recently taken, which are pretty accurate – in some particulars very lifelike.

THE RIVER has been rising very fast since Saturday evening.  On Sunday afternoon the water rose eighteen inches.  This was caused by the breaking up of the ice in Rock River, which as it came out, gorged and forced the water back.  That river was entirely open Sunday evening.  We understand the Mississippi was open at Muscatine on Sunday, the ice having moved the day before.  At the rate at which the water is now rising here, there must be a movement here soon.

SCARCITY OF HOUSES. – Have the property holders in town any houses to rent?  If not, are they going to build any?  The supply is not at all adequate to the demand, and almost every dwelling house, cottage, and shanty in the city is occupied.  It is very reasonable to suppose we will have a liberal immigration here the coming summer, and of course if they cannot be accommodated with houses, they will have to go elsewhere – a very undesirable result.

PARDONED. – The sheriff of our county received a pardon last evening for Dr. Morgan, who plead guilty at the February term of the District Court to the charge of assault and battery and burglary, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, in the Penitentiary.  He will be discharged to-day, to be, as it is hoped, a new man.  His pardon was granted for good conduct and important disclosures made, which has enabled honest parties to get their own, and resulted in the punishment of guilty persons.  Morgan is an assumed name.  His family are respectable, and they propose to take him back to descent society.  He is a favorable appearing man, and belongs to an Eastern State.  The talents that he has abused, when directed in the proper channel, will make happy an unhappy family, made so by his conduct.

INSURANCE.  There is considerable rivalry among the several insurance agencies in our city, and as all the best companies in the United States are represented, and each agent claims to have the best, the matter of insurance will be determined by the advertisements of the respective agents.  The solidity of the companies is generally judged by the semi-annual statement that each is required to make.  By reference to advertisement it will be seen that insurance agents of our city are Messrs. Robert Simpson, Henry B. Hoffman, John L. Swits, and Wm. H. Ross.  We understand the Mr. J. G. Crane, formerly in the business here, is about to establish an agency in our city.  Success to them, it is a business that can by widely extended by the proper effort in the right direction.

GENERAL BANKRUPT LAW. – We understand that petitions are in circulation in our city for the passage by Congress of a general bankrupt law.  It depends altogether upon the nature of such law whether it will be of public benefit.  If, as in the older governments, a uniform system of bankruptcy be established throughout the United States, based upon such provisions as will secure the relief of honest but unfortunate debtors, upon the surrender of their property, and an equitable distribution of the same among their creditors, it will be well.  But if a loophole for dishonest men is to be provided, similar to the last enactment we had, far better that the subject be not approached.  We doubt very much if anything can be affected this session, but those interested can try.

SCHOOL BOY CLEAR THROUGH. – The Muscatine Journal says, that during the prevalence of the measles in that city, the boys soon learned that it was only necessary to have the measles in a family to insure a boy a week’s vacation.  The number of families infected became alarmingly numerous, and about one-half the boys in the schools there got leave of absence.  It soon turned out, however, to be a school-boy dodge to get rid of lessons, and measures were immediately taken to return the youngsters to their books.  Perhaps the reported prevalence of the measles among the families of the boys attending our schools, may be traced to the same source?

STRASSER’S CONCERT. – As will be seen by reverence to the programme published in another column, the concert to-night at Metropolitian Hall, by Mr. Strasser, presents a rare bill of fare for lovers of fine music.  Mr. Strasser is himself a fine artist; as a violinist he has very few equals, and has secured for this concert a number of other talented musicians, who rank in the first class of instrumental and vocal performers; and we trust our citizens will give Mr. S. a full house.  Miss Dutton, who for her age (only 10 years) has no rival as a pianist, will appear for the first time.  All lovers of the divine art should hear her.  Miss. Hirschl has already been before the public.

MR. CHARLES J. ROGERS, formerly a resident of Le Claire, we perceive is the Union candidate for City Judge at the coming municipal election in Dubuque, of which city he has been a resident for a year or two.  He was a candidate last fall for Representative on the same ticket, but the ‘secesh’ were too strong for him.  The same may be the case now, there being so many Union men off in the army; we never had much chance to argue with Charlie politically while he lived in this county, but he’s in the right boat now, and we congratulate him that his political affiliations are not with those, so plenty in Dubuque, who have sons in the rebel army.

SALE OF PROPERTY. – Messrs. Kent & Co. sold a small house and a lot on Saturday last for $650 cash, being the third time the same piece of property has been sold within the year by the same agents, and each time, we believe, at an advance.  Considerable property has changed hands in our city within a week or two past, and generally has brought the cash.  Those purchasing have done so with a view of settling here, and because they had been assured property is now really below its intrinsic value.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 25, 1862, p. 1