Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-11-18
Du BuQur, W.T., Nov. Q, 1887.

- Du BuQur, W.T., Nov. Q, 1887.
Dear SiT:---i have just a the pleasure cf
seeing the U. S. Surveyor, who has been en-
gagged in sectioning the LAID in the "Black
Hawk Purchase or Iowa District Of Wis.,
consin. He is a pentlehisn whose profession.
for number Of RS sast, IL the employment
Of the Government, sslas rendered him pecu-
liarly qualiie to Judge of Pie relative value
and advantages Of lands in THE various portions
Of the Union. His opinionI therefore, touch
ing this delightful part Of tie world, is enti-
tied to the utmost weight, icing in fact to be
regarded as official; and thebfore can not but
prove interesting to you andbur many friends
who are directing their attention to Wiscon- !
sin. He has been engaged b the various SUR |
veys of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
Kentucky, and Wisconsin, adds of course
intimate with all of them; bur none of them,
he says, can be compared with the Black
Hawk Purchase. Such a countryas he finds
it to be, he had not supposed to exist under
Heaven. In fact, so delighted is hewith its
charms, that he informs me he has Selected
himself farm, about twenty-five mileswest
of Du Buque, SURPRISING in loneliness aey-
thing he can compare to it,--whicl, however,
Is not superior to many others in the same
neghborhood. As a conclusive evidence Of
the adaptation of this country to the growth of
Fruit, he mentioned having seen several .'thick-
ets' of wild cherries and plumbs, of very fine
size and flavor, and in such abundance, that
many wagon loads of either, might have east
ly been obtained. Tho latter he found SO SUI
peror, as to induce him to take several Of
them with him, to place in the gardens of
Cincinnati. You have heard so many fatter1
ing accounts Of this country---so far surprising
anythin you can realize at the east---that you
naturally suppose them exaggerated, and think
there must be ''some mistake.'' This was
precisely my own impression, when GENTLE
man OF New York, who had just visited Wis
consin, told me, on my way to the west, that
ne preferred this part Of it to any thing he had
ever seen in his own State.
But l have long since been convinced ofmy
error; and my most ardent wish is now, that
you and all your neighbors may speedily 'sbe
brought from darkness into light
Our friend MEG. thinks it is two years too
soon to come here: but assure you most con.
fdently, that at the rate in which our popula.
ton is now increasing, there will not be sir
gle acre Of land in the whole "Purchase," at
the expiration ofthatpe period, unoccupied! You
cannot possibly have an idea of our advanta-
ges, otherwise nothing could induce you to
torego participation in them, bysremaining
in poor old Pennsylvania. Let me beg Of you
for your own sake, to pisit us ask no more.
No man ever yet saw the Iowa District, with
out being at once satisfied that nothing could
surpass, if equal, its charms. Recollect,
am not now describing splendid lot in a pa
per city, which l am offering as great favor,
for some or 10 thousand dollars; but bona
ide property, belonging b Uncle Sam, which
he will sell you for the pAlty sum Of $l.25 per
acre, and which only ask you to come and
look at. cannot endure lhe thought Of allow
ing my old friends at the east to let the present
opportunity Of securing 10 themselves afflu-
ence, pass unimproved, 80 long as any exer.
tons Of mine may have the effect Of directing
their attention into the channel which will in
evitably lead industry To surer and greater
reward than can be promised in any other par
Of our confederacy.
have written to Prof. Rafinosduo, Sec'y o
Of the Philadelphia Land Company, and to thu
Trustees Of the N. Y. Emigrating Society, in
viting them to examine the merits Of Wiscon
sin before locating their respective colonies
| Both these associations appear to be actua
ted by the most laudable and philanthropy
motives, and should much regret to see thei
plans crowned elsewhere with only porto
Of the success which selection in this regio
would ensure. The truth is, I really know q
nothing here which the bounty Of Heaven ha
left for us to desire; and to nndertake to prov
to you our advantages over those Of any othe
portion Of the globe l have ever seen or near
Of, Is much like attempting to shew, that tn
sun shines at noon day.
The Miners Bank Of Du Buque has Just 90
into operation. discounting literally and pay
ing specie. Can you say as much for any Q
your old and long established institutions
The advantages Of this place are such as K
strike the mind Of any one possessed Of com
mon penetration, with firm conviction the mo
ment his eyes are suffered to rest upon it. A
few days since, the proprietor Of one Of the bes
hotels in Albany, N. York, happened to land
here: He looked about him for short time,
and resolved to say good bye to Kinderhook.
He purchased lot, and has contracted for the
erection Of splendid Hotel upon it early next
season.
i We want mechanics here of all kinds, -
well as Iaborers. Men who arrived here year
or two ago, with nothing but their tools, are
now worth several hundreds, if not thousands,
of dollars. Nor are instances Of this kind on
|ly of occasional occurrence; but the irvatiable
and certain consequence Of the exercise Of or.
dinary prudence and industry. Please shew
this letter to our friends and acquaintance gen.
orally, and If you think proper, hand il to your
editor for publication. / pledge myself for the
correctness Of all its contents.
Every truly Yours,
JOHN PLUMBE, j.
ILLINOIS RMLRoAD.--The RAILROAD from
the Illinois csal mines to ST. Louis is nearly
completed. Two cars have already arrived,