Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-06-17
We publish the following letter received by
us few days since:

us few days since:
MEssRs EDlro Rs:-1n passing up the river and
inquirng the price of Town Lots at the different
sites as far up as Du Buque, was greatly surpri-
sed 10 learn that the value oflots does not bear
relative proportion to the prices at other towns
OF the Mississippi.
Considering the excellence of this location and
the superior advantages which Du Buque has above
othsr places from its accessibility at any time, its
cesSlin.ss, and especially its being i'll the centre
of The richest mining country i'll the world, l am
induced 10 inqire.--espccially for the Information
Of nv,fiienls at d;stance) whcther this dispro-
porfini inprice is owing, as have been informed;
70 the uncehainty Of yo,. titles, and whether there
isany reason for fear or caution M this account!
also, whether this depends upon any anticipated
delay in procuring governnenttitles by which rights
to property NAV be established. I remember to
have heard it objected by a gentleman while at
Chicago, that there were conflicting Spanish or
Ffsnch claims to the lands about Du Bu1ue, and
iha, this operated against this section of country.
II wouldbe gratifying to many to know more on
these subjects than is now before the punlic, you
will therefore confer obligation by replyng thro'
your paper. A TRAVELLER.
ia answer to the above queries from trav-
eller, we would briefly reply, that notwith-
standing tho immense advantages which Du'
Buque possesses over almost all the towns al-
luded to in his letter; fortunately for its pros
perity, the attention of spectators during the
late mania was not directed to it, because it
wasorig;nally settled by large number of nil
ners, the greater part of whom took lots ard
built their houses, for the purpose of making
permanent residence. In consequence Of
which pioperty in the town was distributed
;dto great many hands---and rendered valna-
bic by Improvements. Very little property in
Du Buque changed owners during the rage
for land speculation. People here estimated
their lots at about their real value; and houses
haveunifor'nly produced such rents as would
justify their purchase by persons having mo-
ney, at the prices demanded, thus the regular
order Of business IN the mining country has
been little interrupted by the prevailing mad
ness for speculation-.:.he consequences Of
which arc n6w 80 severely felt by almost eve-
~ othe. part Of the United States. The land
Spectator. and the builder Of paper towns was
prowling about through the country looking
for town sites which might be purchased at
the minimum government price.--he expected
10 realize. in almost every instance, a fortune,
by the expenditure Of a few hundred dollars in
the entry Of quartcfsection Of land, in news.
paper pufIs and photographic maps --Ono nay
readily perceive that Du Buque was not tho
stage upon which such operations could be
performed. The fact is, we asked enough in
this town for lots and in other placesbelow US on
the .M..::ssssissippi, they asked ton much. Time
has burst the buiiniie Of speculation, and pro-
perty in towns laid out by spectators without
any advantages of business or location, is now
estimated at its proper value, which In most
Instances is about one quarter Of what was de-
manded six months ago. Congress- passed an
act on the Cd July, 1886. giving the inhabit.
ants. Of Du Buque and other townsin Wiscon.
Gin named in the act, prescriptions to the town
lots occupied and improved by them, so that
title by occupation and improvement will be
perfectly good. and no apprehension should be
entertained by any wishing to purchase prop.
erty and settle here on that account.
We can assure out correspondent that there
IL no Spanish or French grant to lands at OF
near Du Busue.--That the claim of the heirs
ofDu Buque and Choteauis but '.baselesa
fabfic~ which was decided upon. by Alber,
Calrafin when that gentleman was at the head
Of the treasury department, and declared to
lhaveno validity. Il appears from the papers
in that case, that Julien Dn Buque was only
4 sena,s at will Of the Fox Indians, by the
permission Of tho Governor Of Louisiana, and
held by no .snu,e which ever could emile his
heirs or assigns to the fee simple. Dubuque
died In 1910. and the country which he occu,
pied was abandoned 70 the Foxes in 1912, and
not again settled upon until thayear 1882.
In consequence Of she melting Of the snow
Al tl,s sources ofthe Mississippi, the river ha,
been rising during the last week. Avery high
Stage Of water 10 anticipated by those who