Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-02-24

EVts DVU8C..-rIOnSiCT Of iowa.
We learn that company Of snterprising
gentlemen have purchased this Fort, to-
gether with the lands adjoining, and intend
forthwith to lay out town, including the
Fort buildings, which have been built with
= view Of extending when abandoned BY
the government. There are now twenty
three or four fine buildings erected. Very
few Of the interior towns OF our State pre-
sent finer appearance than il now does.
This 10 said to be one Of the most beautiful
sites for town that can be selected in ths|
State. II 10 situated on the east bank Of
the Des Moinss river, opposite the mouth
Of Lizard river, which enters the Dss
Moih.s frsm the west, in Webster county,
eighty miles above Fort Dss Moines.
Maj. Williams, Of this place, IL agent Of
the company. We have obtained from him
the following information in regard to the
country round about Fort Dodge.
Webster IL large county, being absnt
dfty miles from east ts west and about
thirty from north to south, bounded on the
east by Hardin, west by Fox, north BY Hsm.
boldt and Wright, and south by Green,
Boon and Story counties. II now contains
. population Of about Ave hundred, and was
organized last year. Homer ~ the county
seat. This county embraces the territory
formerly Included m the -cosntiss Of Yell
and Rislsy, our lsgislaturs, " its last sss-
sion, having united Yell and Rislsy and
named Il Webster,
The Des Moincs river, one sf the finest
streams in the West, with but little I'm.
provsment in ono Or two mill dams, will he
navigabls mp TO the mouth Of the Lizard,
and above It.
Webster county 10 destined to be ono Of
the most important in the State. II has
every advantage to make il so. To the en-
terprising capitalist, who desires to estab.
lish himself in the milling business. or man.
ufacturing, there IL no interior point pre-.
ssntine more aattsrinx prospects, tho water
power being unlimited. The Des Moines,
Lizard and Boon rivers all unite in this
county. These rivers, with their numsrous
tributaries, dow through It. The water
power on the Lisard and Boon rivers are
equal to any that can bs found in any
country.
No portion Of Iowa 10 moro susceptible
Of heavier settlements, the various streams
being we'll supplied with timber They ap.
proxinats to within ono 70 three miles OF
each other. fringed with belts Of timber,
and present that park.like appearance "a
captivating to the eye Of thu traveller. The
prairiss are generally high, dry and undu.
lating fertile and productive
partaking moro Of sandy admixture tno'
too light, howsvsr) than some Of the east.
ern counties.
This county abounds in fine springs nm
pure streams also, timber, building rock
limestone, stone-eoa!. cement clay, and in
sxhaustibls beds Of gypsum. % (. very su-
parior quality. Sac Owens Rcports.l-
Also, good appearances Of iron ere. tn,
resources Of this county, when fully de.
vslopsd, will be found equal to II nj
greater than any county in our State.
The Des -Moines river il navirahls fol
Dstenmhoats up to = point above Fort Dodge
with hut triaing improvement, the prineipa
obstruction heretofore being one or W,
dams between Fort Des Moinss and Bo.ns.
boro', which are now being 50 improved q
to enable boats to pass. Some six or ssv.,
boats are now in readiness or preparing To-
the trade Of that river the coming season
The River Company has cleared out tn,
river up A. far As Fort Dos MONIES, and tn,
snterprising citizens of the Des Moine
Valley have determined hereafter to shi,
all their supplies direct from st. Louis
Fort Dss Moines HIS heretofore been con
sidsrsd the head Of navigation, bat her On
tsrprising citizens already have bsgsn (.
see their true interests, and begin to sxtsnt
their arms, BY reaching up stream, for sh,
products and trade Of their friends abov,
them.
The Dss Moinss Valley extends up to tn
dividing ridges between the waters Of tn
Dss Moinss, Big Sioux and St. Peters 10
Minnssota) rivers. Polk, Dallas, Boon
Webster, Humboldt, Kossuth, Emmst, ant
Pocahontas equities may be set down
amongst the very best counties in the Val
Icy. It 10 admitted BY ell who have sxplor
led the country, that it improves - you &.
up the Dss Moinss. Very soon heavy set
Elements viii be found oil the way up to th'
State line. shsnes down the tributaries d
the Blue Esrth river e well timbsrsd eoun
try to the 81. Peters Valley, whore there
are already heavy settlements, very larg.
emigration having put into that Valley las
| season.
Fort Dodge, by reference to the map,
will be found situate due west Of Dubuque,
on the direct line from Dubuque to tha
mouth Of the Big Sioux, two very inportan
points, and near the route OF the sontsm.
plated Railroad from Prairie du Chen Il
Council Bluffs. The Nerthsrn Missouri Rail.
road, from st. Louis tor-ths st. Pstses, By
way Of Fort Des Asinss, must pass nsar il
The Ksokuk Railroad, to St. Peters. mus,
ran up the Vslley in that direction. Thu
Museatine, Iowa City and Cedar Rspids
Railroad, reaching for the mouth Of Big
Sioux, must pass near it. II 10 eighty miles
from Fort Dss Moines one hundred and
ssvsnty-thrse miles from McGrsger's land.
ing, or Prairie du Chsin, (bsing surveyed
road laid ont between these points;) about