Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-09-18
Correspondence of the Chronicle
Western Notes.

MR. EDITOR In my last, written at
Burlington. (Iowa.) believe | promised
your readers my ideas Of this truly great
State. Iowa is great in extent, great in
recourses, grea, IN enterprise, and still
greater il. expectation. Twas disappointed
with Burlington, however, which has hllh-
erto been the boasled metropolis OF the
State. Iexpecled to see much more of
city than what it is. Its location, on the
banks of the Mississippi,s rather comman-
ding, but will require many years of the
enterprise that seems 10 evince itself there,
before it presents the appearance, that
had pictured to myself before saw it.
Several potent rivals are springing up along
the river, so that The Burlingtonians will
oc Obliged 10 besir themselves, if they de-
sire TO maintain their former position.
keokuk, which is located al the outlet Of
the Des-Mones (De Moin) river, is i'm
proving very fast, andis doubtless gaining
ground upon IFS nelghbor. Musca,ine
bloomington and Dubuque. are also
evincing commendahle spir, Of enterprise.
The towns generally are neat comfortable
looking. and have much the wholesome
appearance OF Pennsylvania taste and
neatness.
| have said so much Of Il lauda,ory
character o. the Lands liz Wisconsin and H.
nois in my former letters, that am al
most afraid 10 give due credit 10 he soil ind
..aia,ai advantage, OF this Sale, for fear
your readers will conclude that was either
easily pleased, or iha, | feel disposed to
disparage my native State but | beg
leave to assure them, that carry with me
as much State pride, and .parliality for old
Pennsylvania, as any Of her boys dare
have, but it is not Of character 10 make
me blind 10 superior excellence.
Iowa is magnificent farming country.
Corn and other summer crops are always
abundant and luxuriant. Wheat some.
times fails, owing 10 the want of a sufi-
clancy Of snow to protect it from the frost,
but it is generally believed that more care
fuI cultivation and skill would in a great
measure obvate the difficulty the soil being
so productive that farmers grow impercept.
IDLY careless. and very frequently make
one ploughng answer for two crops. Ii is
a common occurrence to see wheat sowed
in corn and oat s,ubbles, and narrowed
down, and when not destroyed by frost,
produce sure CROP The Des moines river
country has delightful soil and climate,
and If the river were made permanently
navigable, or Railroad were constructed
through il, The country would be every
thing that man need desire but then YOU
may almost go where you will in Iowa land
you find The same character OF soil and cli-
mate. The praries are almost universally
rich and fertile, while The poorest land and
most broken, is along the streams, which
is timber land. The more northern part OF
the Stale is fully as good, and having more
snow, is perhaps preferable as a wheat
country.
Take Iowa as State, i, presents many
inducements for emigration thi,her. Men
who have good'larms in Pennsylvania Of
their own, are as well off where they are
but a farmer who has 10 rent, or crop for
the shares, who can command a
few hundred dollars, can not fail to
better his condition by going there. Ime,
with men there. who knew to have shaved
themselves in Pennsylvania for years on
poor farms. and had but little more than
took them out, that are now the owners oI
land whose equal in quantity. quality, and
location. could not be purchased in Penn
sy'vanla for thousands /; and there is very
lille risk; it would be difficult to find a.
poor land in Iowa, as some men are obliged
TO support themselves and families upon by
cropping on the shares.
Were Ito venture an opinion as 10 which
part OF the State would be at this time the
most preferable 10 migrate to. think
would say, taking INTO Consideration soil
health, and geographical position, tina, th'
counties Of Muscatine, Cedar, Dubuque
ana that section Of the State, have the ad
vantage, while at the same time Washing
ton and Henry counties have fully as goo
son. and are as healthy as any ether an
should . Railroad be built from Dubuou