The History of Peru

Coal Shaft-Advantages for Manufacturing-City Debt-Review of the Census-Bridge-The Future-Moral

he present condition

able of a census tak

r of inhabi

years of

e years and ove

ty-one ye

s, 1

les,

e United S

German

n Irel

n Engl

n Scot

n Fran

Russian

n Swed

ritish Pr

roe

parents counted

deaths i

PATI

hs, 30 Fa

, 326 Br

s, 71 Sho

pers, 4 Co

, 44 Merc

ts, 20 M

Justices of

akers, 2

35 Por

ants, 5 B

9 Tobacc

hts, 2 T

6 Saloon

, 5 Tai

, 4 Phys

13 Lumber

1 General

7 Civil En

s, 3 Ba

s, 5 Jew

, 9 Cler

gent, 1

, 11 Pe

r, 1 Con

pers, 4

1 Tavern

, 13 Ship Ca

kers, 6

ers, 6 Bric

aver, 1 F

aker, 1

h, 1 Mus

kers, 2

, 8 Dru

an, 1 Rop

Age

, and one of Masons. The City possesses a commodious Public Hall, erected in a substantial manner of Milwaukie brick, at an expense of over $12,000. It is divided into a Council Chamber, a Public Hall for meetings, lectures, concerts, &c., a room for market stalls, and a calaboose o

s and teneme

and tenemen

Goods

eries and Pro

Provision Stores (one se

Merchand

and Ti

ware S

iture

and Find

and Feed

and Boo

acco

a large and com

un

ake

and Sadd

Maker

lor S

h and Wagon

per S

liner

Ba

te Land

ery S

er and Drin

guer

w Of

ysic

a united capacity of about 200,000 bushe

, (employing s

ch Fa

ng Mill

ewer

uring

ber Y

at Y

ees are domesticated. The quantity of grain purchased direct from the producers, and shipped-exclusive of that purchased by the mill-was 582,641 bushels in 1857, against

ing employment to about three hundred men, during the Winter and Spring in packing and shipping, and sixty men in Summer and Fall, in

er of that interest, Dixwell Lathrop, Esq. In 1855, a thorough examination was made by J. G. Norwood, State Geologist, which demonstrated the existence of three veins or strata, underlying an area of about 500 square miles. These veins vary in thickness, from three and a half to seven feet, the central being the thickest, but the value of the coal increasing with the descent. The existence of another strata, sti

roved kind. Their facilities for raising are equal to three hundred tons per day. They are working the lower, or best vein-four and a-half feet thick-exclusively, which they have reached at probably its greatest depression, three hundred and forty-six feet below the surface. Analysis and tests, made at many gas works and manufactories, are conclusive in establishing the fact, that

rthern Wisconsin, is but sparsely supplied with timber, and that growing "small by degrees and beautifully less;" that this country is already interlaced with Railroads, all having a connexion With the Illinois Central, upon which the coal can b

y direction, and penetrate a country which, for hundreds of miles, has a greater capacity for production, and consequently for sustaining population, than any other country of the same extent on the surface of the Globe. Laborers, mechanics and artisans can purchase the same degree of comfort here as in Chicago or other commercial and crowded centers, where of

of the City of Pe

k Island Rail R

ouse bon

nse bonds of

s voted for i

g Scrip (a

l. $

taxable property, real and personal, as appears, by the assessment roll, was $1,752,306. It will be seen that the financial condition of the city is by no means desperate. When the rail road shall pay its divid

ssippi, and run without much reference to the location of existing towns. The consequence has been, that nearly all the towns upon the river have had their trade temporarily diverted, to a greater or lesser extent; and "prairie towns" have started up, to compete for the trade, at almost every station. These have enjoyed an ephemeral advantage, from their supposed superior healthiness. That this is a mistake, the mortality of Peru, as exhibited by the census table, for one year, 1857,-which is a fair average of every year except those when the cholera prevailed-abundantly shows. That these towns, while they have in no instance wholly stopped the increase of those on the river, but only divided their natural accessions, will shortly react upon their older sisters, and, in their turn, contributed to their advancement and prosperity, is inevitable. This is already manifest in the relation which Peru now occupies in reference to Amboy, Sublette, Mendota, Arlington, Tonica, Wenona, and other towns on the Central, Chicago and Burlington

ose health is influenced by the fatigue and exposure of protracted voyages and journeys, and by a change of climate and habits. By a comparison with other towns and cities, and with the entire country, it will be perceived that the aggregate mortality is remarkably low. In Boston, according to the report of the Sanitary Commission, for a period of nine years, the average annual mortality was 2,53 per cent; in New York, according to the annual report of the City Inspector in 1853, it was 4,4 per cent; in Philadelphia, according to the report of the Board

luable trade which remains is that from the south side of the river. This is sometimes interrupted for months together, as has been the case the present season, leaving merchants to look despondingly upon their crowded shelves, and mechanics to stand idle in their shops. (Most likely they console themselves at Kaiser's-but this is not to be printed.) What means shall be adopted for the accomplishment

nate and energetic rival? Or will both places languish in premature decay, while neighboring towns stride onwards in their march to greatness? Will the manufacture of inordinate quantities of gas continue to be necessary to remind the world of their existence? These are questions that must be answered by their own citizens. Certain it is, that if they properly appreciate and energetically grasp the advantages which nature, and a rare combination of external circumstances have placed within their reach, it will be a long time before the antiquarian will have to grope through superincumbent accumulations for evidence of their previous existence. Not merely by the exchange and

cement, progress and prospects of Peru. Let us look

ouses and shops are situated, in the rear of which runs the rail road.-Most of the dwellings are on the bluff, upon a plane inclining towards the river and somewhat broken with ravines. Formerly, as now, the street under the bluff was generally avoided as a residence by the more orderly and quiet citizens. This became the rendezvous of all the congregated rowdies and ruffians. In the night it was almost entirely given up to them. Orgies and revelry were always in order. As this part of the town was, and has continued to be the most visited by strangers, the steamboats landing in front then, and the rail road running through the rear now, the fame of its doings soon spread throughout all the land. The reputation, thus acquired, clung to it; and while no place has had a larger proportion of quiet, orderly, intelligent and refined citizens, no place has had a more unenviable reputation, unless it be the sister town of La Salle. So true is it th

ursuits, yet it is believed that the clergymen, lawyers, doctors, merchants &c., hav