Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-03-18
gG@NU lIG AEILIsa

01-The following epis,le is from old and es-
teemed friend and associate, now residing the
"far wes,," ,ha, was. few years ago. We thank
him for The favor, and shall be pleased hear from
him often as leisure and inclination may permit.
The present" proposed will be thankfully accep-
ted.
FIT MADISON, Iowa, Feb, p, ls42
M Dear Sirs:
Eighteen months have elapsed,
since l left Richmond, and they have been, pre-
sumo fraught with changes TO all of US: TO me at
least they have been full of imports, and have
wrought a very material revolution IN my desti-
nv, if not in my fortune. l find myself cii
zen Of the far famed Iowa, of that land Of prom
Use, about which SO much has been said and writ,
ten. You very naturally ask me for my impress
sions Of the Country, aud as fiaiter myself tina,
am capable of conveying tolerably accurate
idea Of this region, lis and its prospects,
and as promised to write you description Of il,
and believe have materials 10 fill sheet, Will
devote leisure hour to your editicalon, and TO
the enlightenment Of your be ed understand
J ing, in regard 10 this Ell Dorado of our hopes
! No man Of intelligence cast his eye over the
map of this country, aud scan It's extent and trace
| It's boundaries, reaching from the Missouri on the
west, TO the Mississippi on the east, and inersect-
ed by numerous streams of various magni,udes,
pouring their waters into these ighiy floods,
without being convinced that its geographical
situation, in regard 10 tho purposes OF trade, Is
unrivalled by any section of country west Of the
Allegheny mountains. IF he then should travel
j, and behold the fertility OF its soil, might
say almost inexhaus,lble,) adapted TO every kind
of grain common to the northern climate, TO the
raising Of hemp, and to the raising of stock and
especially sheep; its mineral resources. consist
ing Of iron, lead, tin, coal, iimeston and marble
its small and beautiful prarles; its delightful anC
well ,imbered groves, and lis numerous and rapI,
streams, alfordng splendid milling privileges, ant
the endless variety Of scenery that meets the eye
E and enchants the vision, he could no, fail to be
come convinced that noble destiny awaits IT, ant
9 iha, it must inevitably be a great and mighty
State. OF its resources there is no doubt the,
are inexhaustIbe. /, has ,rtha Itself, every com
It poneni necessary to constitute wealthy aud pow
erful State. But to them are added those othe
. natural advantages, which, wiIhou, the aid of ar
q will give it character Of great commercial i'm
I, porance. allude its facilities for transports
n lion which can no where be excelled, except o
the great lakes. and on the Atlantic borders.-
Many of the streams dividing the country in W
rious directions navigable for tiatboats, an
;. when these advantages do not occur, roads ca
it be made, with little labor and expense Noih'n
e is easier than to make good roads in tbs countr
and roads too, far preferable in the dry seasons,
;, metaed ,urnpkes There no hlls to CT
down, no ravnes 10 fill up, no wlndlngs and tur'
e. ings to make, rough and stony places To asoi
m but broad expause of country TO traverse in
- direct course, sufficiently unduaing to drain
:, the water, with soil that makes firm hard roa
70 without the labor of forming embankments al
S. bitches. By these means, without the necessity
I'd canals and railroads, the whole of the surplus pr
duce Of every description Of this region of cou
!; try, can be easily and cheapy transported TO OF
ne the other Of the great rivers tina, bound IL,
and there it has open and free way TO the en-
e' Of the Earth.
.. But a small portion of Iowa is settled, a ma
be row strip along the Mississ,Ppi.-The rest is
a. unbroken wilderness, inhabited only by the unit
" tored Savage and his game, the deer wolf, the pa
he ,her and The buffalo. But few of the resou'c
re- even of the inhabited portion of the Territoi
lat are yet developed they still slumberIng IN
et- bosom Of the earth. But i, needs only the mas
touch Of enterprise and industry, to call them
oil to life and clo,he them 10 vigor. Nine years Al
1ia there was not white man in the Country, sa
no few Indian traders and now we have tow
villages and populus ghborhoods counties fl
30 with peaceabe and INDUSTRIOUS citizens, and ST
IN ed with the signs Of improvement. Farms ha
III opened as if by magic: and in few years,
'eo wild flowers Of the praries have given place
cultivated fields and fruitful gardens. Tween
her five years since, Indiana bowling wild
las ness, and now she is rich and great State.
to courage and enterprise Of the hardy pioneer g
a. dued the .'slashes" and the 'beech fats. pene
liza.
CIV. 'eo 'hose ''nPei'i'os 'o'e''-' "0'o VIC se1
ped rays of the sun had not shooe Tor ages, and ca