Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-11-04

It's Appearances and Prsasctisns.

subject, and propose, before we give detail
of the spontaneous productions of Iowa, t.
glance again at its general appearance.
Compared with the EsstsNs States, lows
isa level country. There dfsho,mountaios
or very high hills, though the nmbered land
10 very generally cut up With hills and
ridges. The banks Of the smaller stream,
are sometimes precipitous, but never very
high.
II Rivers are numerous in Iowa. Az ID
GENERALLY known, the mighty Mississippi
bounds the State on the East, and the Mis-
souri, and Big Sioux on the West. The Des
Moines river, (navigable at certain sea-
sons, runs in q, north-westerly direction
through the centre of the State. The Iowa
and Red Cedar, (which form . junction
about twelve miles from thrir entrance into
the Mississippi, and are both navigable at
high WATER also run in . northernly direc-
ton through the centre of the present in
habited part Of the State.
They are both beautiful, swift running
streams, of clear water. At Cedar Rapids,
on the Rod Cedar, (about sixty miles from
this placs,) Unlimited water-power can be
obtained, and several mills and manufacto-,
riss arc already in operation. In the northJ
ern part of the State, Turkey and Upper Iowa
rivers empty into the Mississippi. We are
unacquainted with this part of the State.
The Waupsiplneeon, . large mill stream,
empties into the Mississippi in Clinton
county. The Maquoketa, also good mill
stream, runs through Jackson county.
We have said there were but few rocks
or stones to be seen, except in certain To-
calities. Yet we have been informed that
about one hundred and Fifty miles north
of this place, there is . district Of country
thickly strewn with enormous granate boul-
ders. These lost rocks are of greet size,
and resemble, when behsld from afar, vsri-
Gus familiar objects sppertsining to every
day life. Not unfrequently is the traveller
deceived into the belief that he 10 approach.
ing prairie settlement-so closely are the
outlines Of dwellings, out-houses, and
stacks counterfeitsd by these long-timed
occupants Of the prairies. Looking from
the high divide between the Wspsepinison
and Turkey rivers, toward the former, hun
drcds of these objects are within range Of
the eye.
It is said that this deposit Of boulders
is confined to district some forty or Fifty
miles in width, stretching nearly east and
west, through many degrees Of longitude;
and that along the north western boundary
Of Iowa the rocks increase in frequency,
until in locality, they resemble huge vii.
lsgs reaching across the width Of the pain.
The scene at this point, when enlivened by
. glorious morning sun, 10 described % in
expressibly solemn, from the fact that the
imagination is 80 firmly impressed with
tho idea that these are human habitations
deserted by their tenants and left to decay,
that no effort Of reason can shake of the
delnsion.'
What curious freak Of nature has left
these everlasting mementoes ct her work,
in the places where they are found, 10 a
subject for philosophical research. We
have heard it suggested that at the time od
the deluge,- or the "breaking up> of thel
great deep," there must have been mighty
food from the north pole towards the equal
tor, carrying these immense boulders and
lodging them at these places in its csreer
The fact that the boulders occupy . uniform
position, and from small stones increase in
magnitude the farther north we 60, war
rants this hypothetical conclusion.
Iowa produces an ordinary quantity and
variety of spontaneous fruits. Among them
the strawberry may be frst mentioned. It
grows in both prairie and timber land, and
becomes ripe about the first of June. In
certain localities it may be found in mex
haustible quantities. The wild strawberry
is regarded as great luxury, and but lit
tie if any inferior to tho cultivated speci-
men. Birds feast on this delicious fruit,
yet much Of it"wastes its sweetness on the
desert air.,
Raspberries and dewberries grow in mod-
CIos0 YuuutAsI0o uus tuo pidVAUcIIy 10 tuo
staple fruit. Plums and grapes grow very
generally, but Iowa can beat the world,
perhaps, for producing crab-apples. This
acrid fruit, which grows in every thicket,
is but little used except by some Of our
economical housewives, for making pre-
serves, &c. Cherries and hsws Of several
var:ties, basel nuts, hickory nuts, wslnuts,
scorrs, TO-, also abound.
Rich in agricultural and mineral resour.
ces, Iowa promises to 30 one of the best
States of the Union.
The northern part Of the State is rich in
mines Of lead ore, while the central and
southern parts, besides being we'll adapted
to agriculture, abound in coal fields. No
place in the sastsWess presents such In
ducenents 10 the emigrant As Iowa. It's
climate, soil and health are a. good as any
portion of the Union; and in enterprise,
intelligence and morality, the citizens of
Iowa occupy position in the front ranks.
Besides.the unrivalled natural commercial
facilities Of Iowa--bordared by the greatest
rivers in the woodland having several
nsvigable streams within her limits she
will soon be trsvsrsed by railroads, bearing
her products from almost every crib and
granary to the best markets in the Union.
An unsxampled degree Of prosperity has
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