Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-07-21
Farmers Column,
From the Iowa Farmer & Horticulturist.
The Future Markets of Iowa.


Our State, as an agricultural and pro-
ducing community, with soil of unsur-
passed fertility, with less swamp and
other waste land than could possibly be
imagined in so large an area, is capable
of not only sustaining an immense popu.
la,ion within itself. bur of exporting an
amount of surplus produce limited only
by the extent OF its laboring population.
The present area of our State is near
ly 81 200 square miles, or thirty. tUo
millions acres of land, less than mil
lion of which is incapable of cultivation.
large proportion. of course consists OF
timber land. but this when cleared off, is
almost as tillable as any. In 1910, our
population was 43, 900; in 1850, 1922
900; in 1853, il is not less than 25O, 600;
an increase which has parallel only in
the States of Wisconsin and California;
the latter possessing the attraction of its
gold deposi,es, the former of cheap and
uninterrupted communication with the
seabosrd, advantages in which we have
not hitherto shared. ...
Already. with thousands of emigranls
coming into our territory who necessari-
ly have 10 be sustained for at least twelve
months before their labors aid in swell.
ing ,he common fund. and with other
thousands passing through bound for the
Pacific coast with Iheir herds and flocks,
consuming as they go vast qoansisies of
grain. the amount of produce shipped
from our river towns is very great. Ii
Is cheering to the hear, of citizen of
Iowa 10 see the good steamers. ladened
to their utmost capacity, slowly putting
down 30 their por. of destination. Al
ready the number Of vessels engaged in
the carrying trade of the Upper Missis-
slppi is greater ihan that OF any other
river east. west. NORTH or south of ST.
Louis, trading TO that port.
Ii this trade Is so great in our infancy.
what must it be when we begin TO as
sumo the habilimenss of manhood
With soil such as We have described,
and hearts and hands proportoned. who
would attempt to set bounds to our fu.
mre pros .,erity and importance! Our
people. with bat few exceptions, are on
a par, in point of all that tends 10 make
a mighty commonwealth, with our soil.
Few~or none but the mos, sagacious and
enterprising OF men have the courage and
energy 30 found new States in the west,
and of those who have gone before US in
This glorious duty, none have been in ad-
vance OF those who have pitched their
tents for life in the State of Iowa.
With this knowledge before us-wi.h
men. climate, soil, everything 10 render
US happy and prosperous, which way
should we look for the most available
and profitable markets for what must in
a very few years be a heavy and impor-
tan! trade! 1t ls already common say
ing among farmers, that no man can pur
chase farm. cheap as land is even here,
stock /: and furnish il with Implements,
and support his family bv raising grain,
much less realize fair interest upon the
investment Of his money. Corn, as an
instance. is worth rs cents bushel, on
the seebord, or one cen. and half per
pound. The carriage alone on the arii-
Gle VIII devour ,he entire proseeds of
shipments. leaving nothing whatever for
the producer of the grain. Wha, is true
of the East. applies with equal force to
our markets nearer home. But though
grain may not pay profit for shipment,
there are other articles of produce iha,
will. Beef cattle now readily bring from
four 10 tive cents in our streets, (the same
selling Tor nine 10 ten cents per pound
on the seaboard. and at this price dou-
bic the money can be made by The farm
er that can be made by raising grain. -
AT this rate, could i, be maintained for
any length Of time. the farmers of Iowa
could not fail 10 become wealthy. What
Is true OF beef cattle is equally true OF
sheep, mules. horses, and other descrip-
tons OF stock, ah.>of which are now
high, and consequently advancing in
price, with every prospects of further
increase.
Conversing short time since with a
returned Californian. and informing him
OF the vast numbers ofcat,le. sheep, &C.,
driven through our State this spring, he
that numerous as were the Cal
iiornia drcvers of 1853, they were no.
thing to what would come hereaf,er.-I
hundreds of men in the Golden State
were laying up money for the sole pur-
pose OF coming 10 Iowa and Illinois 10
purchase and drive cattle and Sheep
Ehis trade IS the most profitable of any
now carried on in California and is one
which we are assured il is impossible to
overdo for the next twenty-five years.
The droyers come, not with The rags Of
eastern shinplaster mills. TOO often mere
phantoms and shadows of a currency,
but with solid gold which cannot easily
take wings aud disappear. even while
you clutch j; in your hand. They ask
no credit, and pay fair and remunera,ing
prices. The further west the cattle are
found. the better they snit their purposes,
and the more readily are they sold. No
market need be sought. for the purchase
er seeks the vender at his home, and at
once pays his money and drives off hts
purchase. The heavier The stock on
hand. the greater the attraction Cor the
buyer. No more profitable and salts
factory business need be asked bv anv