The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-07-07
70. Tie Gd1ee8.
scorr AND cxpA1 CouHTIgs, 1Tc.

Fo tie Gdteee.
SCOTT AND CEDAR CouHTISs, 11c.
Mn. SAxpER.: The business in which !
am at present engaged, makes it necessary
for me to take frequent, though short excur-
sons, in the country through different paris
Of Scott and adjoining counties. Ny last
which was near week since, was to the
east aide of Cedar county.
When I last visited the west side Of our
county, about eight years since, there were
but two or three houses between Duck Creek
and Sloper's, some seven miles from town,
and none between Sloper's and Hickory
Grove. Then, the beautiful undulating and
fertile prairie, treeless, bushless but not
fowerloss, lay untouched by man; now what
a contrast!
The moment you ascend the top Of the
hill north Of Davenport, the eye beholds
scene OF beauty and grandeur unsurpassed,
if equalled, by any have seen in the west
Here sea Of luxuriant grain Of various
kinds opens upon your view and fills you at
once with pleasure and delight. Now a
field of an hundred acres of waving corn
and now an hundred acres Of wheat, Of
barley, oats, rye, potatoes, &C., all appear
ing much better than have been seen before
in this region. On almost every farm from
the city for seven miles out are fine and
comfortable dwellings, either of brick, frame
or log, with the necessary supply OF barns'
stables, sheds and other requisite conve-
niences.
After some seven or eight miles the prai-
ries enlarge and Of course farms are notso
plenty. Here are some of the very best
vacant lands to be had at from % to s. per
acre. Twelve miles from the city on the
Upton road to Iowa City, you come to
Hickory Grove. l shall not attempt des-
cription Of this beautiful grove, suffice it to
say, II exclaimed, if there is peace to be
found in this world, the heart that is weary
might hope for it here"
There are but few settlers or good farms
between Hickory and little Round Grove.
The country is beautiful and watered by a
pure stream Of running water, and | am in
formed that much Of this vacant land can be
had at from s. to S. per acre. Five miles
from Hickory Grove 10 kize =. THIS old
Virginian lives on the north side Of this
beautiful little round grove, and is man
such as we read of in times of old. You
would infer from the name that he is a
Dutchman. Not so. He will meet you
with an old-fashioned welcome and treat you
to some of the best he has without stint
Here is one Of the finest springs of pure,
cold water, gushing from clean, white rocks,
that have seen in Iowa.
After leaving Kizer's going west, you
come to a large field on the north side OF
the road and when beyond that you enter
again on one of those delightful and rich
prairies so desirable to the agrculturist.
Here the mind has full scope for ample
exercise Of thought. Here may one discant
in silence on his own insigniticance, of the
ills of life, of near and dear ones lost or
estranged, Of projects that have failed, OF
the painful steps We yet have to trace ere
we reach our last resting place. How often
has my bosom swelled with emotions Of awe
and admiration, and my thoughts been lifted
up in sublimity, when have ascended the
last terrace Of such hills and swept my eye
over the wide spread and blue expanse that
lay above and around me.
Yes, my dear sir, there is to me, very
poetry in the solitary stiffness ofscenes like
these. But there is soon to be change
The low price of lands, their rich quality
and healthy location will soon be observed
by the intelligent emigrant and brought
under cultivation.
The Mississippi and Missouri Railroad
will pass only four miles from this place.
My only wonder is that it has not long since
been taken up and improved. But short
distance west Of this are government lands
Of the best quality.
Farmers of the East, and especially you
who are wearing out your constitutions,
your bodies and your agricultural tools on
land McAdamized by the hands of the grea,
Architect of nature, why not sell, or if not
give away your land and come to the west!
Here is land cheap and plenty, rich too, for
yourselves, children and children's children
True our roads are lined with emigrants
from almost every State in the Union, but
still there is room.
Butyo say, "your Railroad from Daven.
port west is not going to be built" All
indeed, and who told you this! Not an
intelligent man in our county entertains FOL
a single moment the responding thought
For myself will not believe till / know
positively such is the case, that the people
Of this city and county will permit calam.
ity so fatal to their interest to visit them as
would be the abandonment OF this grand en-.
terprise. If, however, contrary to the belize
and wishes of the majority Of our citizens
such should be the case and they vote down
all appropriations to carry the work forward
then farewell to the present and future pros
poets of our promising, young, and beautiful