The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-08-15
Iowa.
Correspondence of the Herald.1

Correspondence of the HeraId1
BLOOMINGTON, Iowa, July 81, 1913.
Iooa-Hs Lnputance-Pcpulatiom- Not get to be-
come State-O6fce Ssekers-Settlement of a Me,o
Country Cl,mate-Soa- Crops
DEAR HKRALp:-
/ read your valuable paper regularly, and then
lend it to my neighbors, who are anxious to know
"what the Herald says" particularly of market
and money" Yes, away out here in iowa, this
north west corner Of the world, the Herald is eager
y sought and where is it not sought for? But we
seldom see in the Herald a communication from
this far distant country.
This country is worthy of notice and "we the
people" are, too. The first claim to notice which
will give, is, that although our first settlement is
but ten years old, I'VE have grown with such rapdty
that we now number. at safe estimate, $4,000 The
settlement of Iowa commenced at Burlington, June
1888. The number of inhabitants in 1888 was 81
00O and in 1910, 43 ,000 No territory has ever had
SO rapid settlement, and no country ever offered
more inducements. Our climate, soil, mineral pro-
auctions and navigation are the causes Of this great
attraction. Our inhabitants are the enterprising
AVID intelligent from all the States east of u.s. and
some from the south. And | would say 10 yonr
readers who suppose we are set of wild heathens
and hwless .'rabbe rousers," that we have come
from their midst and have done just as they would
have done had they come and settled here; i. e.
we have built good houses, made farms and towns ;
have made good wholesome laws; have built court
houses, churches and jails are law abiding and
church going people, and hence our ails are seldom
occupied.
There is no prospect Of Iowa becoming State for
some years yet 1t is frequently urged by gang OF
hungry office seekers who infest this Territory but
their project has twice been vetoed by large popu
lar vote. The sound-headed yeomanry of Iowa are
not so easily duped We have seen too much folly
| Western yxyIo
dom OF the United States Senate, who have the
supervision of our laws and the dsapproval OF our
folly, when they detect it, as they have occasion
ally in our little banking schemes, etc. My respects
to- Fem for that Another and still greater reason
whywe do not become State, is, that the general
Government pays about half our taxes.
The Black Hawk purchase contained about 2s5
townships; the Keokuck purchase, made in 1888,
contained about 30 townships this is nearly all in
the market, and much of the good land bought and
under cultivation. The new purchase made last
Western frontier, and is as large or larger than
all the rest OF the settlement. It embraces all the
lands of the Sacs and Foxes this side the Missouri
and north to the Winnebago and Sioux country.
When we get another purchase from those Indians
on our north,we shall have the premises for State
than which none can boast of better. We shall be
| a second Ohio! No! we shall be an Iowa there
should be no comparison.
tor four or hve years. The traveller through these
luxurapt prairies is dehghted-ave, fascinated with
the spontaneous production OF flowers, grass and
heritage, which every where crowd his path-with
the bright green Of the distant rolling prairie and
the richness of the SOIL When the hot weather
comes, which is commonly not till June the farmers,
from whatever valley or mountain they may have
emigrated, are astonished at the rapidly of the
growth OF their crops. But examine the soil-here
is the hidden secret-it is mixture of fine sand,
clay and black vegetable mould, to the depth Of
one, two and sometimes more than three feet.
Iowa is natural wheat country-but last winter
il was mostly killed in the southern parts while in
the north it ia good-the farmers have just harvested
a fine crop Iowa wheat is a superior quality, and
winter and ship at low freight in the spring, they
had better send up the Upper Mississippi. The same
with pork, lard, etc.
this time will reserve them for INV neSt. will
write again soon Of our mighty river and of our fu-
ture greatness, now in embryo Adieu.