Demoine courier., 1855-03-29

apparently u~naccountable circumstances
TO many observers. w here the soil is
bare nearly the entire winter, and sub.
jected to- alternate freezing and lhawing.
we may look for a country in which win.
ter wheat lhrives but indifferenhy, and
where tender shrubbery generally is GER
tain 10 suffer.
The Census of 1850 reported The
health Of Iowa to be second TO but one
other State 10 the Union,-the rock
bound, yet vigorous and prosperous Van
kee Stale of Vermont. Were this fact,
not backed by such grave authority, we
should have been backward 70 credit it.
For iris notorious that no people in The
world, moi even the gold diggers of Cal.
%ifornia, expose themselves more to the
vicissiiudes Of the season, and are more
perfectly reckless of personal comforts
and health than The claim-hunting Pic.
neers Of new Western S,aaes. Living
m cabins which admit The rain through
every clap board-with mother earth for
floor andqullts hungeup to exclude uns
welcome storms and cold. no wonder
NAM find az early grave. It's however,
an undoub,ed fact, that localities of all
degrees Of health abound. The dry,
upland prairies are always healthy when
out of the reach of miasma from river
bottoms, aud the hottest days of summe
finds them swert by cool, refreshing
breezes, even when the thermometer in
dica,es an intense degree Of heat. The
rivers bottoms are proverbially unhealthy.
and should be avoided by all persons by
whom that Creates, of all earthly bless
ings. health, is regarded as a desirable
boon. Fever and Ague is the prevailing
disease of the low lands, and the princi.
pal one every where.
Timber is a scarce commodity in Iowa
with States farther East, and
appears 4small nd inferior, which It is.
Ys, there is probably a suficiencv. and
more, tor all purposes. Besides, HE
prairies soon become covered with a
dense growth when they are unswept by
The all prevailing flames which every.
Autumn speed over these great natural
u uHch 'liC WHY'S vi tiiS " Ill.,
Cultivation and common care on the
par! Of settlers soon prevents the annual
rayages OF this destroyer, and in the older
settled parts OF the State a prairie on ile
is almost an unusual sight. The Usage
Orange has proved by, experience, 10
bh well adapted Tor hedging purposes,
much use is being made OF il in various
localities where timber is not conyenieRt-
ly at hand for fencing.
RAIL ROADS These great improve.
mems OF The age, which especially dc
yelope the resources Of every country ir
which they are constructed, and almost
.miraculonsly convert a new unsettled
State into one of old and densely popu
lated. have approached us with raid
and have already tapped our
border at three points, Dubuque,
and Burlington. from all which
they are destined, a, ne distant day to be
extended wes,warCly to the Missouri
and ultimately to The Pacific States.
The character Of the eminent and saga
rious capitalists controlling the three
great railway lines above alluded 10, JUS
titles US in predicting this with the utmost
confidence. While there is not at present
. single mile of railroad in operation
our borders, there will doubtless
be a number before the termination Of the
present year.
The price Of lands varies, of course
with locality. When near a town OF
size, either present or prospective,
very high rates prevail, ranging from FIVE
to three hundred dollars per acre.
From an inspection Of the A AUDITORS Re.
bort for 1854 10 the Legislature, made IN
last, we %ineline to The opin-
that lands are most inflated in price,
at presen, in Central Iowa, and are more
moderate both farther north and farther
Good improved lands can be
bough. in Southern Iowa for ten dollars
per acre, and unimproveG land no, very
far away Tor less than half the money
II would MOI be difficult for a farmer pos.
sessed Of good natural judgment. TO pro-
a farm Of any desirable size, and
improved, at six to len dollars per
acre. Prices, it may be proper to add
are constantly and rapidly on the in
crease, and the quotations of to-day can
scarcely be regarded as any criterion for
10 morrow.
The Fruits indigenous TO the soil are
lbe crab apple, plum, g%ooseberry, grape.
&c.S Nearly all the cu.,iva
ted plants belonging toshe northern States
do well here, and the apple seems partic-
ularly at home. We have never seen this
grow better, nor the treesahemselses
propagate and thrive faster Than in Iowa
Great attention is paid by the people to
.cul,ivating choice varieties, and nurseries
thoughout the. eastern portion of
he State. where fruit trees can be pro
already acclimaied, and at much
rates that farther eastward, owing
10 the facility Of propagation. Other
also do well, but none require sol
lsfSfa ~NoussAn a. panar Shat tsttla ~ nall l