Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-12-02
Fron the Bidisford (Ms.) j lurnaI.
Letter from IOwa.

We have the pleasure of laying before our readers
interesting Latter from former we'll known citi-
zen of this County, resident in the new and -four
ishiog State Of Iowa:
hfuScatine, Io,oa, Oct. 18th 1853
III re am on the west I'm shore of The great F,her
OF Waters, in what is destined to be of the finest
States in the Union. This city is one of the largest
towns In the State and has present about I'VE thou
sand inhabitants. The river here makes long curve
and this town is situated on the inland portion of the
curve, and thus has secured to the trade of larger
extent of canntry than any other town in the State
unless railroad intcrferes with the natural state
of affairs, and forces the trade from its natural char.
nes,an event which the good psope intend to guard
against by building railroads from this point to the
interior. They are now Surveying two routes from
this place west, Of which will probably soon be
built, If not BOTH The business of this place aside
from the produce trade which large as at any other
place 10 the State consists in steam manufactures of
various kinds There are two Steam Saw-mills here
that make yearly about three million feet of lumber
of all kinds, which rhoy sell for from fourteen to tbr
ty dollars per Thousand. l have visited one of the
mills, and the gentlemany proprietor, Mr.. Chambers
gave me all the information required. He has in his
mill an up-and-dowa saw that saws the logs into
plank from six to eight inches thick, they are then
sawed by circular into boards from six to eight
inches wide, for fencing, and are worth at present
fron fifteen to eighteen dollars per thousand The
same quality is worth with you about twelve dollars
Under the same roof is Lath mill, and one of the
best Woodworth Planning mills l have ever seen All
the Labs are sawed into 1ahs which are worth three
dollars per thousand al the mill.
In the upper part of this mill. and driven ty tic
same engine, is Furniture manufactory, which turns
off any quantity of bedsteads, chairs &c. Sc So Won
perceive you can get bed and board at this MILL ard
Chambers to accommodate you. Aside from the lun-
Der saw mill there are several lumber yards that got
their supply of lumber from up river; there are two
steam Hour mills here, running night and day lat least
can vouch for one for board just across the street
from it, and sleep by the music Of the engne) that
nrnp YltOh fnt hraAr har
Of the very best qualities and there is steam barrl
factory in town to make the barrels for the Flour
There is also an Iron Foundry in town, but how ex-
stensive il cannot say, never having visited it,,
There is surplus Of two things here, which you end
in most all places, old and new to wit: dry goods and
lawyers.
There is very little steamboat navigation on the
Mississippi at present. on account of low water. A
few boats run between places above its lower rarids
but no boats can at present pass them. When came
dowa the river there was boat ON the Upper Ratids
almost in the channel fastened on the rocks and our
boat in passing it struck with such force that although
very near losing my legs, and taking dive overboa
which, as the Frenchman said when he got drenched
in the Ohio, would have been very inconVenient.
think there was never greater migration to anyt
State IN the Union than there is to this State now
with the exception of California, which is an excep
ton to all rules should judgs that from twelve to
fifteen emgrant wagons have csossed the river mt this
point daily, since have been here bound for the in
tanu ccunties, 10 make themselves permanent homes
in this garden of the west.
They are men of energy and industry, who have
subdued with their brawny arms the sterncr soil
of the more eastern States, and selling out at pre-
mium have come here where they get cheaper and
more productive, and more easily cultivated lands,
where they and their families can enjoy all the CON-
forts and many Of the Injuries of the older States
and in few years become rich from the inevitable
rise of Real Estate Aarge majority Of the emigrants
l have met and talked with, are from Ohio, and
riding through the country night begins to draw
her sable curtain you win the smoke arising in all
directions from innumerabIe camp of these hardy
travellers, and on nearer approach YOU see the big
white wagons drawn up hv the side of some creek or
spring and tho horses carefully hitched aud calmly
munehing their provendsr, while the women, cheer
fully singing, prepare the frugal meal, and the men
whistling Hail Columbia, pitch their tents for the
night. Is is estimated that about two thirds of this
State is prairie, and nethird timber land The prai
ries general thing more or lass r,lpg. with
here and there slough that drains them very nicely
They are covered with very tall grass Of ii com
ing no to my neck while horseback but as gene
raj thing, where it is not ID down hv cattle about
four feet high. They produce in the Summer asor,
very great variety of wild flowers, viii fade and
give place to different hnes almost every month
These large tracts of unculvated lands make beau
ful pasturage for cattle, and the grass makes very
goodlhay. The great objection which most Eastern