The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-09-06
'fresPonoehce OF the Ashia nu QnH
FROM IOWA CITY.
Iowa Cry, August goth, 1854

Il 2 - ~ a OA
f-l 60
Iowa Cry, August 29th, 1854.
Mr.. EDrroR In my last letter, da
ted at st. Paul, Minnesota, I believe ]
promised, upon visiting some other por
ton of the western world, to write yol
something about the country. As Iowa
at this time, is attracting considerable
attention in all the eastern States, ant
more particularly in Ohio, it may NO
be uninterestiDg to some of your readers
to hear a little concerning it. A person
upon visiting a new country must, in or
der to judge of it Alright, throw aside ey.
cry thought of his home land and its
scenes, that are always the dearest and
best, else he compare the old with the
new, and the latter will always lose in
the comparison. cannot say much for
Iowa when placed with Ohio, but with
any of the Western States or Territories
through which [ have passed, it holds
the preference by far. It is true it has
largesREairies, broken, rolling and level,
to saitthe taste of every one, but they
are almost invariably well watered, and
not SO large but that a sufficient quanti-
ty of wood can be got in almost any To-
cality. There is said to be plenty of
Coal in different parts Of the State,
which, in the course of time, will supply
the place of wood. Ihave been through
this country some, and excepting, of
course, Ohio,) L think there is none more
beautiful. Prairie farms, surrounded
with neat board fences, no stumps and
roots to make the plough-boys swear,
the little cottage built upon a pictur-
esque knoll, and, now and then, an Iowa
rose in full bloom, standing within the
trellised door, the corn fields, stretch
ing round nearly as far as the eye can
reach, and many a yellow, waving Sc of
wheat and oats, All combine to make it
the farmers heaven, or fair enough for
a princes home.
No new country, of course, can suit
the taste of every one. An emigrant,
the other day, was telling that he met a
covered wagon with its aPpsndages, re-
turning to the east. He asked them
how it was. The old lady of the wagon,
introducing her head from under the
cover, told him hat "'gin he'd cracked
corn in Iowa as long as they had, he'd
be glad to git back too )"
The greatest drawback upon the Jul
try is, that a large quantity of the land
is owned by spectators. Some pretty
sharp observers Of matters and things,
tell me that they believe secondhand
land will be cheaper here in three years
from this time than at present. For
persons not wishing improved farms,
there is plenty of land at government
price, and perhaps as good land as any
in the Safe. The best selections in this
part of the State, are, 10 doubt all
taken, yet there is a great deal of good
landin this District not yet entered, and,
L am told, by going farther West, as
good land can be found as any in the
State, though not SO convenient to mar
ket.
Iowa City, the Capital of the State,
is situated upon the bank of the Iowa
river, and is as pretty a place as I have
seen in the West. Unlike Minnesota,
country round appears to be keep
ing pace with the miniature cities that
ire every where springing up as if by a
magic power, and in the towns
III kinds of business appears to be pros
The election took place here on the
list inst. The returns are not fully in,
hough enough has been heard from to
nakeit pretty certain that somebody has
aimed a victory over the regular Democ
acy. On the day of the election, there
Tere Temperance tickets, Anti-Nebras-
"a tickets, Peoples tickets and Wing
ickets. all in opposition to the Demo
ratio ticket. AS a natural consequence,
he Democracy have been beaten, and
ach of the opposing factions claim the
1 expect to visit some other parts of
soon, and if I should see anything
of note you may hear from me
gain. W. I