Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-11-25
Of the Pittsburgh Christian Advocate.

=
DEAR BRo. CLARK :-Agreeable to promise, made
at the solicitation cf many of ycur readers before
left Ohio, now proceed to give my First IMPRESSIONS"
OF this far eli Ia nd" have teen sorry since
my arrival here, that l pledged myself to furnish
anyt thing for your columns net that there is not
much deeply interesting in ITSELF but that such is my
inability 70 spread II ON paper. Rut must keep
the word OF promise TO tho ear, il should even
g.break IL to tie hope"
Well, am not disappointed in my high expecta-
tons of this beautiful country-it is all, ard more
than all anticipated. How shall like it after a
years residence, can only judge by the fact that
lcaUeS here lunles it Le to get more .of
good thing by going farther Wes after having lived
Nhvrc that length Of time Sisco ming here, have
travelled in the interior of the State about Eve hun.
drei miles, and through ten different oouaies; and
in all that distance have not seen many acres of
waste land "a 10 often met with in the older States in
| passing through single township. Tho soil in tn.
time lands (Which Is always adjacent to the sreams)
is by no means so rich enduring the prairies.
Indeed the soil on tse praries is only unequalled
for richness and depth, tavssging from to- feet)
but lnexnaus,ibe, and OF the easiest possible tiage
have seen fields that have been planted with corr
for hfeen consecutive years, that are just as prolific
now as when their virgin soil FIRST yielded reward to
the husbandman. Inc scarcity of lahorers here is a
| serious drawback upon good farming. Hands 50
f-w, and labor 50 high, tina farmers often glad to
give every fifth bushc OF corn for the husking and
| cribbing.
|
many of whom received iuto tie Church in the days
OF other years all of whom agre that this is quite as
healthy State as either sylvania or OHIO. S i'll
1t cannot be dcned that the people do sckcN ard die
eUea here. The present is undoubtedly ths most sick
season for many years past, yet have not seen a;
many funerals in this city of nearly five thousand
inhabitants, as have often in the length
# time, in different localities, in country places, in
the older States.
There is yet 'much government land to be pos
sessed, in what here call "rhe back settlements;
Il ough would advise those who have the means, u
buy Improved farms, which be had now, ten and
twenty miles from the cities and larger towns, "a,
FROM eight to fifteen dollars per acre, aud amin
proved at from three TO five dollars psr acre.
To build comfortable dwelling here viii cost sbeu
one-fth or vne-slsth mere tlan ia Olio or Ponnsyl
vani,. There is, think an abundance of timb'r il
the different couaties improve aud f4nce them il
the bost siye bat the Usage Orange hedge wal soor
Gust every rail fenca from StaIsj ana II d. XII
should ever revisit this land. his eys will no b
panned with their ''unsishtiy ziezag, sIrpentn'
wiBdings, but will r,joice TO ''old England re
; oduoibg herself on a religious scale" in this a
wei as in many 9th resp, cts CJsract rs in th
business arc undertaking hedging TO any extent tina
may be desired, for FROM frty to CIT cents per rod
ing tbs IN elves pei feet the lie ige i. three
-four years, 50 as to any kind of ,Ock from ca
toa rhinoceIos; and to wait for their ray until til
thing is tested.
B,tumnous or stone coal abcnads in all the contra
anu southern portions Of the State ami it is suppose
also to be plenty in the ncrth and west.
never saw larger or finer frut-api les aad peGcbe
IN any country; though OF course II is not so abund
ant as in the eastern anu middle States. Winter ap
pies are just selling before my door for IS cts pc
bus le; potatoes, the best saw at Is cents PEI
us 1ei. Sweet potatoes are most Abundant, and O
the finest quality, at so 10 GA csnts per bushe;
and oats, 20 cents; wheat, 90 to so cents; and as 4
bec:s, onions pumlk ana melons, ill hg3crdDe fell
for a description. l bought water melons, 20 inche
long and III inches in diameter, and of the nest pos
sble foy.r, for five cents apice; they sell in to-
streets at 81 25 per wagon load.
Fuel is high-wood, 80 per cord coal, 20 cents pei
bushel though in the country villages is something
over one-tbird cheaper. The high price of fuel II
OWING mainly to the scarcity, and consequent hisl
piicc OF lahor.
Plank roads ard rail reads are being projected ant
constructed oil the State and shall soon hca
the iron herse chaing ard snoring in direction
! Gns glad came 10 lara. j. II. WHITE.
MuscotiRc, iOica, Oct. %, 1853.