The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-11-16
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MORN
ING POST.
BLUFF STREET, DuEueUE, lova !
September 25th, 1853.

to descend more to particulars, and especial
y SO, since have been and still am the frequer
h recipient of letters from the Iron City and else
q where, seeking information and encouragement
from the direction. The latter | never give
but the former do most cheerfully.
!, There is we'll settled and recognized prin
ciPle in the north west, which operates not
little against us, when any Of ourselves be
! come the medium of information, and it i
this: each mans own town is THE place, whe
ther presently or prospectively considered. L
8 the travelling public and those who are thinkn
Of migrating, this is especially well known, ant
therefore it is, that aught that may say o
+: ourselves, is received it not with mistrust, a
7 least with very many grains of allowance. Ii
view OF this, and lest you too, might deem Ev
EN- ME- enthusiastic, enclose for your peru sal
the opinion entertained Of US by an entire stran
ge5 and per consequence an impartial observer
viz: the editor of the Buffalo Courier, who in
company with some of bis New York friends
touched at this point short time since, willis
en- route TO st. Paul, in guest Of the truth of th
Italian proyerb, d. nocelL0 tvtio par 6sl,o
"THE GALENA AND CHICAGO UNION
RAILROAD.
! From the Buffalo Courier
To travellers, and business men, and those
not interested as stockholders the virtual term
mus OF the road under notice, is on the banks
OF the Mississippi at the extreme northwes,
corner Of the illinois and opposite the city OF
Dubuque, in Iowa, and in the very centre OF
the lead region of the upper Mississippi
The extraordinary rise and progress Of the
Territory of Minnesota, and the impetus thus
given to emigration to the whole Valley of The
upper Mississippi has produced like increase
III business, and settled an imposing array OF
towns all along the river in north eastern Iowa
and western Wisconsin; and when first a rail-
road communication is opened with the east,
the tide of travel, that will pour through this
trunk route, between the northeastern States OF
our Confederacy and the vast north western
Territories can scarcely be estimated by any
present means ofjudging. The summer travel
to this point too, hereafter, is to be no small part
Of the business of that season. Disparaging in
nothing the mighty attractions Of the Niagara,
the magnificence and sublimi.y of the White
Mountains, the prestige Of fashion and time
that hangs over Saratoga and Newport-the nat
ural beauties of Lake George, and hundred
other popular summer resorts, it cannot be con-
cealed, that as wide and varied as are the at
fractions of all these places, the great word who
take wing on the advent of summer have found
| themselves wearied with this round, and are
seeking with ayIdity some new scenes to fly to.
Such one will be opened ON the completion OF
this line of railroad, and another on the compile
tion Of Saut Ste. Marie Canal!
A word about Dubuque. 1t has unrivalled
advantages of position; those being, situation
in the very heart of rich mining country, on
banks of a first class river--having farming
country in the rear of the finest quality, heal
thy locat on, and it will be the terminus of
road from the east and another from the west.
The observer of events cacnot fail 10 have
noticed the rather unequal, interrupted march
OF the Star OF empire along the northern paral.
lei OF latitude 42-in its journey westward. 1t
is within the memory of men, on the summer
side of middle age, that it shone over Albany,
and drew the admiring eyes of mercantile men,
to that growing western city on the banks of the
Hudson. There for some time it shone, then
moved slowly westward for Buffalo To this
point agein, in the extreme west, there was an
other gathering of the pioneer men of enter-
prise and industry But the Star rested there,
scarcely longer than at Albany and marched on
to Chicago, where its splendors attract men
with the impulse and violence Of the times. In
| few years it will cross the Mississippi, and
Dubuque be the great talk of the city of the
west-soon however, to become eastern in its
character and business, as Albany has been, and
Buffalo has been, and Chicago viii! be-"
The foregoing extract denotes intelligent OBJ
servation, and when considered with reference
to the foreign character of the writer, in all that
might warp his judgment, or direct his inclina-
tions, is entitled to the fullest credit
Now, for the benefit of some of my old friends
with whom you are in daily intercourse, and
who have written or requested me to write, and
for the benefit of such others as may be looking
westward, will give the reasons in chief, which
must lead every impartial mind TO the same con-
clusions arrived at by the editor of the Courier.
In the first place, we are seated on the west
bank of the Mississippi river, about mid way
between St. Louis and ST. Paul, where we are
as efectually circumscrbed by our lead region
as you are in old Pittsburgh, by your Of coal
and the one equally as nexhaustible as the 9th
er. In both OF these important advantages, we
are further susta ned by another which may jus
| tify be considered as still more material, viz
back country extending clear across the State to
the Missouri river, which, in point Of fagricultur
al attractions, will bear no Intavorable compar
ison with the choicest garden spots of the world
/ With soil rich and productive to superabund
ance, unite surface of high rolling and alnos
uninterrupted prairie lands, and you will at ono,
account for the swelling tide of emigration which
pours with ceaseless flood into its bosom. Ant
speaking of prairie lands, allow me to advert tt
a very erroneous notion entertained Of them BY
myself, prior to my coming westward, and doubt
less still entertained by very many others il
the old States 1t is that prairie lands and low
swampy, marshy lands are one and the same
no idea can be more erroneous. The beautiful
iy undulating prairie lands of Northern Iowa
are as dry in point of desrablity, as the choices
farms of Washington or old Westmoreland, an
the air that breathes over them, is a pure an
bracing, as that which fans the I" Summit o
r your own boasted Alleghenies. But to our tow
D again, Of which do not wish to lose sight
ssThe virtual terminus of the road uader no
tice (says the Courier) is on the banks Of th
J, Mississippi, at the extreme northwest corner
e Illinois, and opposite the city Of Dubuque, i
Iowa. &c. To understand this rirtaal termin
alton, it behooves you to know that Dubuque
the western terminus of the great Illinois Cer
trail Railroad, which, when fully completed, wi
be the longest in the world, / believe, aud
e not surpassed by any even in contemplation
save the incompatible Pacific scheme. I
q reach it's western terminus, this great road pa
> ses through Gaena, which town is the termIr
j. US of the road spoken of by the Courier, SO tn
" in truth, the terminus of the Illinois Central c
" the east bank of the Mississippi, and immedia'
st ly opposite Dubuque, may be said 10 be the ri
to tuai terminus of the Galena and Chicago Unjo
N Road also. So rapidly is the Illinois Centr
10 Road progressing, that in the early part Of Il
/ summer we fattered ourselves with the con
es dent hope of seeing locomotive in active Sc
$, vice the resent fall, from this place as far in
i, the Interior as Galena which is situated on
. yer river, six miles from the Mississippi, Al
nd eighteen from Dubuque Workmen have be-
he i'll constant employ during the whole summer
ch the depot, and are actively engaged at this tir
nd in pushing it forward TO speedy complete
,er SO you will perceive that the day is but sh'
nd way off when you can take the cars Fede
wv street for Dubuque, and leave them only
,le change trains, ere you will be landed oppos
Of the Queen City of the Northwest, where I
m most splendid steam ferry the western W
AN ers will be waiting your convenience TO conv
al you across the river to partake of our hospit;
ar ties 1t will be quite au fat, whilst speak,
lad of this steam ferry, to note the follow
item, viz: The river at this poin: is full