The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-08-16
For the Express.
Brownsville, NJ T., Aug. 3, 1854.

FRIEND MERRITT -
i Having leisure mo-
ment and knn wing your willingness to sprea'
b-G,re yonr numerous readers any information
in relation to the present rapid progress OF tn
West, have thought that few facts in allu-
sion to the in:p,rance of this point, might be
of some interest.
Brownsville is situated upon the west bank
of the Mississippi river, at a pint heretofore
known as Wild Cat Bluffs, in Houston Co.
Minnesota Territory, about half way between
Dubuque and St. Paul, 80 miles above Lansing
Iowa, and 10 lniles below La Gross, Wis.
consin The advantages ct this point in the
way of trade are superior to nr'ny others about
which much is being said and done to attract
public attention. The natural landing we have
tor steamboats, could not be better, and the
country Immediately west Of us all that could
be- desired. The prairies are rich and rolling
SURF unded with excellent timber and the best
living water in the world This country is now
thickIy settled, considering that it is less than
two years since its beau les were thrown open
to the i.telligent, -nterprisng and respectable
emigrants already comfprtaBiy located therein.
Every good location is fast being selected, and
think It can ,, safe y asserted, that the rush
of emigration to the southern part Of Mime
sofa surpasses anything ever known in the
west
Then sir, the location of the town Of Browns.
vile being by nature intrud-d the gate to
this magnificent country, what is to prevent it
from being place OF much Importance, and
that at no distant day at this place is a natural
gap in the Mississippi Bluffs, forming most
beautiful high and dry valley, through which
runs a S rea m as clear and cnol as eyes ever
beheld. This splendid valley is abundanty
large to build fine city. Though this valley
runs the great ,horoughfare TO the st, and is
now the best natural assen, to the back country
to be fornd on he Mississippi river. Until
this last spring all tn ira De OF back country
went to Lansing Prairie La Cross; but now
portunity in the way of furnishing the demand,
all this immense trade is pointing to KS. There
sir il is bu; natural to conclude that this is des-
tined to be- most CAPITAL pnln, for town, and
persons in search of new place possessing
uausual advantages, we say, let them embark
with us. Here is the point for the capitalist,
the farmer, the mechanic, the merchant, and
ali thar industrious professions TO make
+" spec," all kinds Of business would pay Wen
here. Health may be looked tor aid every
other comfort and convenience Of life. Last
spring Brownsville was born aud christened,
and already contains three stores, one public
hoase, blacksmith and carpenter sh"ps, and
last but not least the U. s. Land Ofice for the
Southern District of this Territory, which is
now in full blast. Sales Of large amount OF
public land take place here on the llth and 25th
of next month. The settlers are generally
we'll supplied with the " "needfu to secure
their homes, and lively time is expe cted here
this fall.
The many steamboats, our great river af-
scarcely one pass that does not leave crowd
"f people seeking a home in this favored re-
gion All seem delighted and either buy lot
in this place and 90 at once to putting up a
store, shop, dwelling &c, up strike out into
! the cpun'ry to make farm. We have good
school well filled with pretty, hearty children.
We have had fine rains all the season, and the
crops and vegetables are as far advanced and
equally as fine as can be found in any country
1t is an excellent country for game and fish
such as deer, grouse, pheasants, w"odcock; and
/ for fish we nave the greatest number of fine
trout streams well filed, and all the finer FISH
of the Mississippi
VINO would ask more thar all these, To- make
him rich and happy No one, surely. We do
not wish MIR. Z Iitor to underrate any other
place, or to ove.ra,e our own hut the mer
chants say, we would be pleased to receive a
' call before purchasing elsewhere A fine
steam mill is TO be erected here this fall for
saving and grinding, and one of ,ha same kind
is now being built some Z miles west Of Us, as
also, sevrra Others on the waters Of Ro VI River,
a few miles north Of this place. Many little
towns are springing into existence west Of us
with good prospects of making smart towns
| But MIR. Editor, am s,rnging out this letter
too long, and for fear the printer might { cuss,
VIII wind it up and perhaps tax y,ur pat ence
again in the future
HOUSTON
|