Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-12-18
Progress Of the Wesf.

We OF the West are enphatically
"tast peoples" we only require TO be set
fairly a-going. and whatever the work in
hand may be, from the building of a
pig-stye TO the construction of railroad,
we do il in double quick time. Within
the memory of persons not yet past the
middle life, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan
aud large portion of Indiana has acqui-
red a.popnlaion of over million; Illi-
nois 100000; Missouri 100000, whist
Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan are close
upon their heels. I'm the same space of
tiGe, Indiana has constructed over 1000
miles of railroad, and viii soon have
double that quantity. Illinois has built
her magnificent canal, and within the
next five years will have more than
lhodsan miles cf railroad in operation.
Michigan has over five hundred miles of
railroad and is daily extending them.-
Missouri is now building five hundred
miles of railroad, whilst Iowa is enteriag
upon such Improvements with great en-
ergy and zeal. How many farms have
been opened, how many churches and
school houses have been erected, how
msuy noble cries have grown up, how
Lany steamboats, have been built. how
much actual wealth has been accumula-
ted, We will not stop To enquire. But
Ihe world has never Witnessed such pro-
gress IN any other portion of the
globe. Nor has it been sickly, hot
he'd growth. destined to short life and
speedy decay. On the contrary, il
has been the result OF purely natural eau
Fes--a temperate and healthful climate.
fertile soil, the finest rivers in the
world. aud a geographical position which
gives us the command nf the markets
10Th at the North and South. In addi-
'lon 10 all this, we have inexhaustihle
mineral treasures of every variety, and
found IN almost every locality. Ii is no,
difficult, therefore, 10 account fox western
progress Men are prompted BY the
strong motive Of self interest, 10 abandon
the crowded cities, the worn out fields,
aud densely populated districts OF older
countries, 10 breathe fresh. invigora,ing
air, to turn up the virgin soil. and exhum
the hidden treasures Of this glorious
Western land. The new SCENES in which
they are placed, the bread theatre which
is opened before them for industry and
the rich rewards it promises
To sasacity and skill, inspire them with
renewed energy, and prompts them to
undertakings which. under any other cir
cnmstances, they would not have dream
ed of. Hence. il is no unusual thing to
lind al the West men distinguished for
energy and enterprise, who, before they
came here, were not remarkable for
these qualities. Everything here il pro-
gressire, and men catch the spirit Of the
age, and become themselves unconscious
~ progressive. This state of things
must continue for many years to come.
Indeed, The West is every day becoming
more and more attractive, not ony 10
the people of the East and South, but
10 the inhabitants of Europe; and, in
our opinion. The tide of population aud
wealth which Will pour into the Valley
of the Mississippi, within the next tween
ty Years, will almost defy belief. The
early emigrants had TO encounter the
hard-hips and perils of frontier llfe.-
Those who come hereafter will encoun-
ter none of these privatlons. They will
find lands marvellously rich. a, very
low price, interseeted with railroads, and
with all the advantages of cheap living.
COED markets, an abundance OF church
es and school houses, and cultivated
society. What more could the heart of
man desire! Twenty years hence,
those of us who survive that period, will
look back to the present condition of
things with more astonishment than we
now do To the state ol affairs twenty
years slnce.-H. Louis Mtelfgencer.