Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-06-20
For tie ReQisier.
10 w A

Ma. COoPER-Dear Sir II promised
in my former communication that | would
say something about Iowa in my next let
ter. have now travelled through a con
siderable portion Of the State, and my Oh
serYatiOns lead me TO the following con-
cIusIon 1t IL destined to be at some fu-
ture day among the tirst States ia the
Union.
Iowa has been but few years in reach,
ing her present eminence an nuLoriety.
L started at KeOkerk. on the Mississippi
River. TO look at this State. found, as
| advanced, large and Furnishing towns
had sprung up, and the country Ihickly
settled. AS travelled on, supposed |
would soon reach the frontier settlements;
but. to my surprise, after having gone
rear 200 miles, it was still settled, and
dotted with villages.
There is large portion Of this State
prairie Of the finest kind. some dead level
while other portions are rolling with soil
from 8 to So inches in depth This suil is
well adapted to the growth Of corn. oats
and potatoes. II is said that spring wheat
also does we'll. II is said. also. that this
climate is suitable for fruit; apples, espe>
cIalIyI out seldom miss.
The winters are very cold for several
months. But to me, the most objection
able feature is, the fierce winds that sweep
over these plains. They are so hard as
TO cause at times a cloud Of dust to A.
through the air, which comes in contact
with the eye, and causes it 10 be com
mon cry Of the citizens. IL have got the
sore eyes" was in one Of these storms
OF dust. and also in a hail storm, and l can
truly say, to me it was terrific.
There is a scarcity Of timber, except
along the water courses, there it is plenty.
This timber is hauled into the plains at
the distance Of one TO eight miles for fuel,
building and fencing. There is some coal
IN the State. The veins are from two u
FIVE feet in thickness.
The water is generally pure. and Of SUI
dcient quantity for stock and other pur
poses, except in the large prairies. There
they have to water their stock from we'll.
which have to be sunk from ten 10 ffty
feet in depth.
This country is considered healthy
There is some fever and ague in certain
localities, but not so common as in some
other States Of the West There is some
cholera also, with other diseases which
are common to ell countries.
There are large portions OF the State
that can still be had at Congress prices,
that is prairie. The principal portions oil
the wood land is taken by spectators, who
live in that section, or by companies which
have been formed for that purpose. They
follow the surveyors and enter the timber
as soon as surveyed. and those who buy
OF them must pay from Eve to fifteen dol
lars per acre.
The Capitol of the State. it is supposed
will soon be moved to Fort Desimoin,
which is on the Desimoin River at the
head of navigation, and about the centre
OF the State. This place is now the cen.
tire of attraction. Spectators from Ohio,
New York, and the New England States,
are coming in By hundreds, and buying
large tracts of land. aud appointing theiI
agents to operate for them, so soon as they
can secure land warrants from different
sections of the Union. Through this place
it is believed the central rail road will
pass, running on to Council Bluffs ON the