The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-02-17
COMMUNICATIONS.


Iowa Correspondence.
Mr.. CowEN:-Having promised number
of my old Belmont County friends that they
should hear from me through the columns of
the Belmont Chronicle, now proceed to re-
deem that promise. ! have been in ten coun.
ties in this State, and can truly say that it is
a splendid country. All things considered,
give the preference to Henry county. 1t is
in the second tier of counties from the south,
and the second county from the Mississippi.
The county lies high, and is very heolthy.-
1t is composed of timber and prairie lands, all
very rich, and susceptible of the highest state
of cultivation. The inhabitants are indus
trious and intelligent, as much SO as any com
munity you will find in the older States, and
those mistaken persons who expect TO find the
inhabitants of all new countries ssmi-savages,
would probably find on coming amongst us,
that all wisdom will not die with them. The
interests of education are attended to with
great zeal, and the obligations Of religion as
fully acknowledged as in any community with
which am acquainted. At the county seat
(Mountpleasant) we have an excellent dis
trict school, at which about one hundred chill
tren are receiving instruction. We have al
SO an excellent high school, with considera-
bly, over one hundred scholars, and a college
/ with one hundred and thirty students. This
last institution is under the patronage of the
| Methodist f.. Conference of this State, (tho
the tuition is not sectarian) The college
building, though large, is found to be mucl
too small and preparations are making fol
an additional building, one hundred and thirty
by fifty feet About six thousand dollars
have already been subscribed for this purpose
and for the purpose of procuring the bcs
philosophical apparatus that can be obtained
The intention is to have it emphatically
first Class College.
! In Mount pleasant the Methodist E., Pres
byterans, CUngrcgationalists, and Old un
} New school Baptists have good meetin
| houses, and excellent Congregations, an
5 as may be wanted. The population of til
d place is about fifteen hundred, and is increa
ing very rapidly.
u The Railroad from Burlington through tn
3 Place to the west of the State is final
$ located, and it is expected that work will
i commenced upon ii early in the spring. W
# expect this road to be in regular connectit
e with the contemplated road through Mario
:. Mt. Gilead, Mount Vernon, &c. and if yo
/. Wheeling Creek road is made, it will probab
2, be the most direct route that we shall ha
n TO the east.
e Unimproved lands may be had in I'll
It county at from three to five dollars per acI
and pretty good improvements can be had
l. from eight to twelve dollars per acre.
$ Those persons who are willing to UOrk
1t living can do well here, and with much le
l. labor can raise more corn, oats and potato
e than can be raised on the same quantity
e land in eastern Ohio. Wheat does pret
well, and when sowed upon sod, does We
l. well. Horses and cattle are high, in cons
q quencc of the demand for California. B
r, those who would como here expecting
n make fortune without labor, had bett
stay where they are. We are not yet ours
le with the loafer species, and tce don't want
IN be.
es 1t vii! give me pleasure to answer any
x quiries of my old friends, so far as may
v, able; Address me at Mountpeasant, Hen
ct County, Iowa.
~ HORTON J. HOWARD.