POLITICAL SYSTEM. Ill 



ence consists more in the actual exercise than in legal grada- 

 tion. The power to be exerted is little else than appointment 

 of minor officers. Those little democracies, erected in some 

 of the States under the name of towns, where all the powers 

 of the local government are exercised by a vote of the peo- 

 ple, are wholly unknown here. 



Lee county is situated in the point between the Rivers 

 Missisippi and Des Moines. It is very thickly populated, 

 notwithstanding a large portion of its lands were reserved to 

 the Half Breeds of the Sac and Fox Indians, and there was 

 consequently a difficulty in obtaining title. This difficulty 

 has been overcome by purchase and partition, and the settlers 

 now are owners of the soil. The Des Moines Rapids ex- 

 tend over a greater part of the Missisippi boundary, upon 

 which are situated several towns which promise to be among 

 the flourishing places of the State. Keokuck is below the 

 rapids. It is seated on the bluff, which here comes quite 

 to the river, and by its steep and high ascent, makes a very 

 inconvenient site for a town. But the advantage of its situa- 

 tion overcomes this unkindness of its topographical charac- 

 ter, and bemg at the mouth of the Des Moines, and at the 

 foot of the lower rapids, at the point where both the obstruc- 

 tions of rock and ice begin, and having a good landing, it 

 must of necessity have both a rapid and a solid progress. 

 Nashville, on the rapids, has a better situation, though this 

 also is built on rather a steep ascent. Montrose, at the head 

 of the rapids, the site of old Fort Des Moines, is situated on 

 a low ground, in a wide part of the river opposite the Mor- 

 mon town, Nauvoo. Here there is a broad and handsome 

 plat sufficient for a large city. The town has a very slow 

 progress, and will not keep pace with some others on the 

 river. Fort Madison is the most populous town in the coun- 

 ty, situated about twelve miles above the head of the rapids, 



