The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-06-28
From Sidney's eng Emigranrs Journal. !
IOWA.
By GEORGE SHEPPARD.

After receun,ing the successful efforts of
tho Temperance Emigration Society and
the Potter's Society to establish settlements
in Wisconsin, Mr.. Sheppard speaks thus OF
Town -
Of.hc neighborng State of Iowa, CON-
pnrativcly little is known in this country !;
although il is, think, superior in mnnv re-
spects TO all the other Western S,atcs.* Il
is as beautilulas Illinois or Wisconsin, and
more healthy than either; its soil is pro.
nounced, bv competent authorities, the rich
est 10 the Union. Il has apparently great
mineral wealth; il has an ndmixturc oi
prairie and timbcred land, with an abundant
supply of water; and ], holds out ndvan,a.
ges ms pastoral country. Up 10 the pres
ent time sheep feeding has not been sue
ccssfnily pursued in America.
| a glance at some Of the principal coun.
tics Of Iowa may assist the intending emi-
grant in bis choice of settlement. Lee
county is one of the most thickly populated.
mud, commanding both the Mississippi aud
Des Monies Rivers, enjoys a good CONNER
cial position. In the interior are many
ilourishing villages. 1t is understood that
some caution is necessary in the purchase
OF land from settlers in this county. in con.
sequence Of certain half-brced Nndian) res
ervatons; but Of course no difficulty exists
when the purchase is effected NJ the govern.
ment land office. The furnishing town of
Burlington, on tho Mississippi, invests Des
Moincs county with import sncc in bust
-
too level, and its soil too heavy, for the
general purpose Of agriculture. Dubuque
next To Burlington in population and
tlsiness--is also on the Mississippi. In
Jackson county, between Dubuque and the
Mnqnoketa River, there is plenty Of timber
and water, and prairie farms. Muscafinc
comfy is we'll settled and we'll watered; in
some tracts il is deficient in timber, and in
others is rather unhealthy. Between this
county and the Maqnokcta --includng
Scott and Clinton conntics--thore il fine
and fertile region, with several rising towns.
Davenport, f"r instance, is in Scott comfy,
opposite TO Rock Island. Illinois. Among
the interior counties, Van Buren, il the most
deserving Of notice, on account of tho cx
tent Of the improvements which have been
there effected. Il il immediately lehind
Ice county, and ON the Des monies River.
Jefferson county is 10 the north &C Van
| Buren,, aud is handsome. we'll wooded, md
waiercd bv the Chccnuqne, with numerous
tributaries. Linn county, again. is highly
cAtolled, rs having more desirable pro.
portion oftmbcr and prairie land than mos,
Of its neighbors. II is no, necessary toe.
numeratc the remainder of the thirty nine
counties which compose the State. Their
general Textures are Of course similar 10
those already noticed, and their relative
positions can only he asccr;aincd by a ref.
erencc to map. The northern part of
the Statc--ihat If, above the Iowa River
is. in my judgment, the best adapted at the
present time for settlement by British emf
grants. The population is less than in the
southern division, but tho soil is much supe-
rior. The precise spc, for location cannot
with safety he indicated ; but am warrant
ed in recommending the emigrant to pass
Burlington. and land nj Davenport or Du-
buqne. The former will readily conduc,
him TO tho choices, parts Of Scott md Gin
ton counties; while Dubuque should he
chosen by those who desire most easily to
reach the picturesque scenery of the Ma
quoketn, or who have fancy for the lead
diggings. Those counties arc usually con-
sidcred the best which are contiguous 10
the Mississippi; but il must be borne in
mind that the Dcs Moiacs nndJowa Rivers
are navigablc TO some distance BY boats of
light dranghl and the Wabsipinccon Is by
many said TO be improvcablc at compare
lively small outlay.
Tho aggregate population Of the State
cannot be much less than 2OO,OOO.t The
produce Of Iowa 10 varied and abundant.-
Wheat and maize are tho crops 10 which
the settler first turns his attention. The
rema rkablc case with which muizc is cult
vated, and the numberlcss uses TO which il
is applicable, renders il a crop Of the utmost
importance 10 the cmgrant; besides which,
it is the best sod crop, that IL, the crop
grown on the turf when newly turned by
the breaking plough, and before cross
ploughng has been applied. Wheat, again,
thrives amazingly, and is almost always
regarded % cash article. Il is customary
to speak Of il ns producing from thirty to
forty bushels to the acre; but, though have
no doubt that, with care and industry, crops
Of that character may bo raised, am bound
to add, TINT what saw Of the western coun-
try, left conviction that not moro than
twenty bushels nre ordinarily Obtained
Eve6 that, however, 10 large crop, consid.
ering the slovenly character Of the farming,
In Wisconsin, PLANTED potatoes with great
success, and the soil and climate Of Northern
Iowa are, think, equally favorable for the
growth Of that root. Turnips, too, sue
cecdcd we'll, but their importance as winter