Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-12-24

OF endurance, we adjourned to dinner.
At night german band Of young men called
the Turner's, some eight or nine hundred in
number, had torch-light procession, the effect
of which was splendid. They proceeded to
the Irving House where Kossuth is staying and
gave him fine serenade He appeared upon
the balcony and made short speech amid
thunders Of applause" as the theatrical bills
say, after which the crowd dispersed and the
curtain fell upon the first act of "Kossuth in
New York. G.H.Y.
|
From the New York Tribune.
IOWA.
There is hardly an equal section of the hab-
liable globe SO interesting to the Philanthro-
pist, at the present time, as the youthful State
| Of Iowa 1t rcaches from the 9lst to ihs 22d
degree Of west longitude (from Greenwich and
from40 deg IS min to43 deg 36 min of north la
titude. 1t extends, therefore. about 300 miles
braces an aerea of $4,000 square miles
Its climate is that Of the est parts of
Pennsylvania and New York, and although
not one of the largest States in the I'm
ion, it probably contains moree of the
first-class arabic land, in healthy climate
than any other of the United States, and far
more than any other equal section of the globe
elsewhere. Nor is this all 1t is bounded on the
east, in its entire length. by the noble Missis-
sippi, and on the west by the majestic Missou-
ri, and numberless fine streams flow irto one
or the other of these great rivers from various
points in the interior; while the Des Moines
rises beyond the north west corner ofthe State
where its waters commingle with the branches
of the Missouri, cross the State diagonally and
fall into the Mississippi at its south east angle.
There are ten very considerable streams which
arise in the westerly part of the State, and
flow eastwardly, transversely into the Mississ
ippi These streams have, universally, rapid
currents, and abound in fine mill sites; and in
two respects they give to the inhabitants of
Iowa very great advantage over their neigh.
bors in Illinois. In the first place, they far
nish an abundance Of pure and wholesome
water; and in the second, they supply plenty
OF motive power for running saw mills, grst
mills, and woolen mills for the manufacture of
yarn and coarse clothing .which::are an inconcei.
new settler; they furnish him with building
stuff and clothing in the first instance. an 4
they enable him to turn his own spare timber
trees and wood to the best advantage afterward
Whereas, with the exception of Rock River, and
one or two others, the streams of Illinois are
sluggish and almost stagnant Besides the
supply of river water, the rain from heaven
which fall upon the undulating surface of Iowa,
persoiatfs = mera sandy or gxavellv ssoil than
that of Illinois. and gushes out into innumer-
able coplous springs, COOL. clear and whole
some.
In regard to its pure water and the frequen.
cy of its mill privileges" it seems to me that
Iowa need not shrink from a comparison with
the Middle or Eastern States, and that it has in
this regard striking superiority over all the
rest of what is called 'the Western country"
There are two great facts in regard to Iowa
which ARE of immense Importance. Its climate
is universally good; and its soil is universally
and uninterruptedly of the finest quality-and
l challenge any man to prove the same things
to be true in regard to any other equal section
of territory in the known world. It's Wheat
SiSP 40 pSAiSNCu W uS HIoIc SuIc tIidIl lHiil VI
Illinois; ahd as for Barley, Oats, and Indian
Corn, there is no such thing as fixing any lin
its to its productive power. Nor is this all
its Coal fields are boundless--its Lead Mines
are inexhaustitle; and it's Forests, containing
White Oak and Black Walnut, Maple and
White ash are the finest in the world.
With such soil, and climate, such rivers
and other resources, where is the land which
can be named in comparison with the State Of
Iowa? Where is the spot on the carths sur
face, where all thai contributes to the comfort
and happiness ofman can be produced in such
ease and ab, ndance? Not one, l fearlessly an.
swer. ..
More than this-Congress, with wise liberal
ity has made munifcent donation in addition
to the ordinary grant of a 10Th section for the
use of Common Schools, ,SaS 500, 900 ACRES OF
LAND for Educational pur Des; and the State
has shownits proper apprsy yiation of the value
of the gift, by its iudicious course in the selec
tion and disposal of this great property The
education of youth seems to have been the first
great object which engaged the attention of
the first Legislators Of Iowa. And in this re.
gard they have certainly taken step in ad
vance Of even most of the New England States
seeing that they have created public Office,
whose incumbent is elected by the People. and
whose whole time is to be devoted TO the great
business of Public Instructio and who is
clothed with extensive powers and responsible
and onerous duties. The present incumbent
is Thomas II. Benton, Jr., a nephew of the dis.
tingushed Senator Benton, and so far as have
had the opportunity for. judging. he devotes
himself to the duties of the Office with careful
industry. The last Biennial Report to the
Legislature is now before me, and have de-
duced some interesting facts from it which
may append to this paper. The Roman Cath
olics have some institutions Of their own, part
Iy for education purposes-one of their mona
stories is established not far from Dubuque,
and presents quite an attractive appearance
as you pass oyerthe great road leading from
Dubuque into the interior, in south-westerly
direction-it is q Trappist Monastery. had
an opportunity of conversing with the Princi-
pal few days ago. as passed down the riv-
er to st. Louis. He is learned and courteous
gentleman. about 40 years old, and very in
teresting parsonage. l do not know how many
snch establishments there are in Iowa; but il
they are numerous and under the lead of such
accomplished men, they must have a powerful
influence good or for evil. The Protestants
seem to be aware of the important bearing