The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-11-09
n TRlr TO TIE NORTH wEsr.

TRIP 10 TIE NORTH WEST
Having just returned from trip to the North
West, we propose TO give our readers the bcne
fit OF our observations on the country through
which we passed. Our route lay through Ben
ton, Blaekhawk, Bremen, Butt r, Floyd and
Ccrro Gordo, and in all of our travels through
Iowa, " hch have not been confined 10 small
portion Of the state, We have never beheld u
more lovely country The lay of the land for
beauty, convenience and profitable agriculture,
could not be more advantageous. The land lies
high above the beds of the streams; the rrai-
ri,s are rolling; the streams are numerous,
rapid, clear, and skirted with variety of fine
tiinbcr; the soil is deep and of quality to pro-
duce the most rapid and thrifty growth of vegeta-
ton; and the lands along the direct route
from Cedar Falls TO Clear Lake are being set
tied upon aud improved with uncxampled rapid
i,y. Go where you will upon any part of the
above named route, and you viii meet the immi-
grant wagon vending its way TO some newly
claimed and favorite Locality, or fall in with
companies OF old and young men performing
their first tour of observation through the coun-
try. The hunters wagon too is no, an uncom-
mon sight on the head waters of our rivers
where game of every description is found in
abundance. No objection can be raised 10 the
beauty and fertility of the country, but some
who have been Used in densely timber,d region,
and are strangers to prairie country seem dis
appointed at the scarcity of timber This is an
objection which may with proprieiy be made to
a majority of the country in the West. The
prairie generally predominates, and where the
disparity between prairie and timber is not too
great, it may be considered an advantage. But
as you 90 north from Bremen county, the tim
Der is more scarce than lower down on the
Cedar However, in the absence of timber,
there is bountifu supply of stone along the
banks of the Cedar, which may be used for
building and fence purposes, and from certain
Indications in Floyd county, we should not be
surprised If future observation ana research
should bring 10 light large masses of stone coal,
which is by no means a bad substitute for wood
as an article of fuel.
This country certainly bids fair to be rapidly
filled up with Industrious, enterprising and in
,cIligent settlers, and to speedily become one of
the chief sources of our agricultural wealth.
BENTON CoUNrY.
This county, lying directly west of Linn
County, which has enjoyed long and favorable
reputation for its agricultural wcal,h-and justly
$, too-possesses high claims to merit. 1t is a
county of the same size Of Linn, with high roll.
ing prairies, numerous heavy bodies Of timber
advan,ageously located, the Cedar river running
through its northern extremity and its numer-
Gus little tributaries winding and circling into
every part Of the county. The soil is unsurpass
ed for lis richness.
Vinton, the County seat, which has only been
laid out some two years, confirms a population Of
from one to two hundred inhabitants, principal
ly from the middle states. The town contains
some thirty or forty buildings, three or four of
which are occupied as stores new two story
brick has been erected this summer by Messrs.
Green and Jones, designed for store !; steam
saw and Touring mill is about 10 be erected the
contract for building Court House and Jail
which will cost from eight to ten thousand dol
lars, is about to be let some twelve hundred
dollars have been subscribed by the citizens for
the erection, as soon as spring opens, Of a
church edifice, for the Presbyterian congrega-
ton, and a general state Of prosperity and hap
piness seems to pervade that little community
Of iaso and oydc, loving inhabitants. We met
Messrs. Jones, T,Iford, Chaplin, Mckay and 9TH
ers, and if we know anything about what it re-
quires to drive young town ahead, and make
a new country prosper, we should say they are
the men TO do It.
CEDAR FALLS.
The next town Of any note after passing Vim
ton is Cedar Falls, tho county scat Of Black
hawk Co., possessing an elevated situation on
the Cedar River, and surrounded by large
grove Of heavy timber. Here the Cedar is
damned, and a race some fifty yards in length
cut, upon which is erected mill for saving out
lumber, and grinding the wheat and corn into
-four. more extensive water power and one
more easily improved we have never seen in the
country. A Touring mill upon more extern
sive scale than the one now in use, is very
much needed at this point, for it is the centre to
which people from large district of country ga
Their to have their grain converted into -four.
Here is an excellent opening for some enterpris-
ing man Of few thousand dollars capital, who
may be DESTROYS of engaging in this branch of
1.,,
population than vinton it has four stores Mr..
Mullarky, who is Postmaster, and is driving a
vigorous business in the line Of merchandising,
has erected large two story frame building the
past summer, and from the preparations making
we should judge, that many buildings are to 60
up next year. The town was filled with s.ran-
gers when We were there, and they seemed
highly delighted with all they saw. One thing
they need both in this town and Vinton, and
that is good public house. 1t is unpleasant
and frequently inconyenent for private families
to open their doors to strangers, and the know
ledge Of this fact renders it disagreeable to trav
oilers. With the unsurpassed water power that
this point possesses, its favorable locality for
health, and surrounded by well timbered and
highly productive country, we cannot but real
ize that this is to be one of our most hourishing
interior points.
MAssrLoS CO., Bank.-Maj. Mobley Of this
city, has handed us a despatch received by him
from ST. Louis which says g Do not take he
Massilon % bank notes." So look out.
Loss OF THE BRlG ScoviLLE ON LAKE
- This brig was lost on bake Huron
rday, on the Canada side She had
puds and topsail sheets in severe
The w. s. w., and was driven ashore