Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-12-09
Visit to linton.

lew days since, in company with several
OF our citizens, we paid visit to Upton,
the handsome and prosperous seat of justice
of Cedar county. On the journey, we no
ticed that new farms and new houses were
being made in every direction, betokening
rapid settlement and improvement of the
country. The large prairie just to the north
of the city, which, few years ago, presen-
ted vast waste, is now dotted over with
farms Inducements. Although vegetation
wore the yellow tinge of decay, the air was
balmy and serene, aud everything presented
lively and pleasant aspect. AT Mud
Greek, l2 miles distant,) we had view of
the M. & M. railroad from Iowa City to
Davenport, partly graded Hands are bu-
silly at work n several places on this line,
and the contractors seem determined to
push forward it's construction with all pos
sible dispatch.
We arrived at Upton about the middle of
the afternoon, but being chilled and wearied,
contented ourself with the Inequalities of
the ssEaglc."
In the evening, we took stroll through
the village. After nightfall, the sky to the
eastward was brilliantly illumined by fire
on the prairie-a common bu. grand spec
tace. Upton is situated on an undulating
prairie, surrounded by timber at intervals
of between one and two miles, on the east,
south and west. 1t is healthy and pleas
| ant location, and is surrounded by region
of country unsurpassed in fertility of soil
for agricultural purposes. The principal
buildings are two or three hotels, (among
which is the sssEagle," kept by j. G. Belts, J
an equal number of churches, a seminary
and large steam grist mill.
| We almost forgot to state that the beauty
and fashion of the village. assembled at the
Court House, on the evening Of our visit,
to recreate in the pastime dedicated to
Terpsichore. The affair was designated
ssthe last railroad ball, )" and the tick IT'S were
headed BY the following quotation: "Farc-
well long farewell to all our greatness''-
(referring to the great loss Upton will sus-
tain if tn, Lyons Company run the line OF
/
From personal inspection of the assembly,
we infer that the ladies and gentlemen Of
Upton are not less good looking and &C.
compllshed than s'the rest of mankind"
The citizens of Upton were in great
alarm on account of the unex pected change
in their railroad affairs. 1t appears that the
book containing the subscriptions which in
| duced the Lyons |. G. r. r. Co. to run their
road through Upton and promise to make a
depot there, was mutilated in such man
ner, by certain persons Withdrawing their
subscriptions, that the Company would not
accept it, and resolved to vary the contem-
plated line of the road, leaving Upton 10
its fate.
1t further appears that those persons
who Withdrew their subscriptions supposed,
as the Company had expended considerable
money in grading the contemplated line
through Upton, they would not vary it on
any consideration. But they were mista-
ken; and the indig asnt Company now refuse
to 90 on with the work if the subscriptions
which were withdrawn are restored, and de
clare that Upton must subscribe $50 ,000(al-
most an impossibility) or give up all hopes
Of obtaining the road. Messrs Culbertson e.
Friend, merchants of Upton, have made a
proposition to the Company of this ilk: They
will erect and complete depot and accom-
panying buildings, mt cost Of not less than
Sis 600 and donate the Same To said Conn
pany, providing said Company will permit
them to select the location, the same to be a
suitable point for stopping and in the vi
entity of the centre Of the county.