The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-10-20
IOWA CORRESPONDENCE.


We make the following extract from
letter contained in the Boston Transcript
and written from Fort Des Moines, under
date Of the 9th ut
In travelling over the vast extent OF un-
occupied lands yesterday, how often the
wish forced itself upon my mind, that we
could empty some parts Of our crowded
cities on these beautiful prairies! Forty
acres Of land as rich and fertile as the world
contains, can be had for fifty dollars, and
that too in country which, in less than
ltwenty-four months. will be connected by
iron bands with the great Atlantic seaboard.
Think Of this, wealthy Bostonians; how
easily you could gladden. the hearts of your
Ipoor relatiyes Think Of this, men of iron
hearts, who earn your bread by the sweat
I of your brow. Give up tobacco and grog
for twelgemonth, and secure home for
Your farniics Labor of all kinds here is
| high; and along all the lines Of railroad
from 81 to Sl,25 is paid for common hands
| A few weeks labor. and home is secured;
ard BY the liberal laws Of this State home.
| stead is exempt from execution, whatever
changes of fortune may befall its owner
| From Newton to Fort Des Moines the
! many settlers along the ute At the forks,
or junction of the Keokuk road, there is
nice farm, occupied, if recollect right, by
a person Of tie name Of Mitchell, who ap-
pears to have plenty Of everything around
him. The Des Mones river, from this point,
looks to be only about four miles eff, and I
fspurred my little pony along, hoping soon
t arrive at my destination. The expecta-
ton made the road seem long; but about
sundown, nearly tired out, arrived on the
east bank Of the Des Moines river, and be-
| held one of the most picturesque landscapes
and prettiest villages in the West. Nature
has done everything for this beautiful town.
It is situated at the junction of the Raccoon
fork, which flows along the south side, add
ling much to its beauty. Ialighted from my
pony and sat on the ground, awaiting the
| ferry boat and admiring the beauty OF the
scene.
The old block-houses, formerly occupied
by the garrison, stand along the bank ofthe
Raecoon, at the edge Of the town, which is
situated on the second bench from the river.
Several stores, well stocked, appear to be
doing f1ourishing business; and Govern
ment Land Office, established last winter, is
overrun with anxious settlers, with their
pockets full of "yellow- boys 70 pay for
their new homes. Large numbers Of land
agents, landsharks, spectators, or land war
rant dealers, as they are variously called,
(according to taste and fancy. as Sam Wei
Ter says,) swarm this town, and are hun
CRY looking set of fellows, owing, probably,
to the small margin between the buying and
selling price of land warrants at the present
rates, and the little room for profit. -
This town is destined to be the largest
interior town in Iowa, notwithstanding the
short sghte policy Of some Of the inhabi,-
ants, who seem to think that nature has
done so much for them, that they have only
to sit still, and "bide their tme," and reap
the advantages Of all the great projects in
the State, without any exertion on their
| part. There are very extensive coal-beds
| in this vicinity and Of excellent quality.
can make the same remark in regard to
hotels here, that did at Iowa City; the hope
of having better is all that makes them tole-
rable now.
There is something about the general ap-
pearance Of the people here, that makes one
feel that he is nearing the frontier. An
occasional bucksEin coat, and long rifle,
and the more common use of horses than
wagons, are among the peculiarities. Deer,
III nc ~ uDOuIiu III Tie NlGIlilN. Hdu
sight of only half dozen deer on my whole
route; but am told that November and De-
cember are the best months for this kind of
game.
Several parties Of engineers are now sur
veying the route for the Missouri and Missis-
sippi Railroad from Iowa City to this place;
and the friends of the road assert that the
entire work is to be put under contract i'm
medately on completion oil the survey. An
election takes place here on the 10Th inst,
on the question as to the fropriety ol Polk
county issuing her bonds to the amount of
$3.50 goo, for aid to the Lyons Central Rail-
road Co. Similar bonds, to the amount of
two millions, have already been issued, or
proposed TO be issued in this infant State,
and if negotiated will be likely to involve it
il trouble. | am determined before re-
turn to cross this entire State. My next
will be from Kanesville, or Council Bluffs
City as it is now called. BosTos Boy.
.
FATAL AccIpENT.-A man by the name
of James Smith, a mechanic engaged in
the building of the hotel at Port Byron, H.,