Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-06-10

!; morning star shining through the mouth OF tn
cave! The alarm was Immediately given. Mr.
d Gatewood, with a party of his laborers, hurri
I ed to the cave and to the pit, on whose shelly
ing edge We're seen evidences enough of som,
heavy body having lately rolled into it. The
4 offer Of a reward conquered the terrors Of on,
4 workmen. who was lowered with ropes to the
bottom Of the pit, depth of fifty or sixty feet
and Wright's lifeless body was drawn out.
\ From the Rockingham Register
| The following letter from Dr. ]. J. Norman
formerly of Tlanisonburg, will be read, we are
persuaded, with great interest:
PALMYRA, Mo-, ArKfL j, 1887.
Mn. WHARrMAN,-
Sif:-Before leaving Virginia, last fall, Ipro.
missed many ofmy friends in Rockingham 10 write
them, descriptive of this country. 1flcisure per-
mitted, would gladly comply with each of these
promises in detail, but as my engagements will
not conviently allow me to do this, and belev
that all, or most of those promised, are readers
of your paper, have thought proper TO address this
letter to you, and TO ask you to give it nsertlon
If, in your opinion, its matter is of sufficient gen.
eral interest to justify you in dongso. My friends
TO whom extended this business sort of PROMISE
will, hope, receive it in discharge of my obliga-
ton, while trust il may not be entirely unin,er-
eSting Or useless t8 others.
A general description of Missouri and por-
traiture of all its general advantages and dsadvan-
tages as applicable n the whole, or to different
parts of the state in with Others, would
require space far beyond the ordinary limits of
letter; nor is this, perhaps, the kind OF informa-
ton which would be satisfactory and ussful to
my friends. 1t is the little detail information in
relation to new countries that persons AT distance
most ,-those things that enter as were into
~, Io,
of the life of those who settle in them from such
data general conclusions may be formed with much
correctness
In speaking of this country, shall as far as pos
sible, confne myself to detail Of facts, leaving
my friends to form their own conclusions.
The country to which my remarks shall have
particular reference, is called here the country
Of The upper .MississiYi,'' or tina, country which
stretches from the conuenc Of the Missouri north
wardly, to the mouth of, the Dcs Moinos, distance
of l60 miles.
Frcm personal observation Of different parts of
the state and from general Same, remark that this
particular section Of Missouri will compare advan
tageously with any other portion of its territory as
respects beauty of surface, richness of soil or gene
raj proportions of timber and prairie. OF its adj
yaniages for spring and stock water and water for
machinery, il will compare with any other fertile
portion of the state. In commercial point of
view, its commercial advantages over every other
north and west of st. Louis, obvious. The safc-
~ and facility of navigating the Mississippi, in
comparison its great rival the Missouri, uni-
fnrmly admitted. While transportation upon the
first is safe and expeditions, upon the last II to-
dious and dangerous. cannot better illustrate
this than by stating the fact, that company has
been incorporated and is now actually engaged in
building a rail road 100 miles in length, from
point OIL the Mississippi, 1870 miles above st. LOU
is. to a point on the Missouri 100 miles above the
same city, without reasonable prospect of freight
ing the produce from the country lying upon the
Missouri river across TO the Mississippi.
OF the soil of this country, fame hassaid 30 much
that any thing that could add might look like
s.wasteful and ridiculous excess''-lt is certainly
rich--rich almost without exception, though vary.
ing in quality to some extent, bu. not to the Same
that we witness in the Valley of Virginia. ! am
sure that have not seen one hundred acres Of land
in this section of the state that would be called poor
iMsVirginia.
The general surface of the county is plsasingly
undulating rolling :--portions OH the Immediate
borders of water courses are low and wet:--it is
rarely hiliy with the exception of the bluffs usually
beIting the low lands just alluded to.
In this region of the state, with the exception OF
the upper and more northern carlion Oft, the most
desirable lands have generally beer entered, but
good second ard third rate entries may still be made
In the northwestern part of tho district Of which
am treating, there is large body Of the finest land
in ths state that has not yet been brought into mar
kci.
The price Of secondhand lands is creator here
than in any other part ofthe state equally distant
from market. The usual price Of farms may be
sad to be from 81 10 SIS per aero. Inferior stu
atoms sometimes bought for less superior ones
often sold for more.
The first settlers of this country were either poor
addicted TO hunting, and little regarded tho re-
the older states. Every thing in bull
ding, subduihg the forest and supporting them-
selves was effected with their own axe, plough and
riffs, and hence we often end here what we often
see IN the Valley Of Virginia, houses without oven
one glass window, tho light and air being admit
Ted BY door opposite blazing hearth.
Still some Of the log houses with puncheon floors,
Cupboard roofs and wooden chimneys, are very de-
,rable for the fresh emgrant anxious for shelter,
md who comes prepared to erect for himself more
comfortable dwelling
Emigrants coming to this country 10 settle farms,
hould be prepared to endure hardships ito tent
tut, or sleep in under thcif wagons, il neces-
AIRY, they should be able to purchase farm part
y improved. Their extra capital they may in ,
,est inlands bought of the U. States, at Upper
,cre, which in the opinion Of the most ludlciops
md sobcr-ninded mon here, will increase in val