Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-04-26
IMPRESSIONS or THE WEST.

might be interesting to some of the readers OF
lyour valuable paper, seat myself to relate nv
experience as q " Western tourist In
born and bred in sglit Of /" Old Alsass
who has often studied the geography 6f
tive State while standing upon its lofty hcsss
with the surrounding country spread out like q
map--may never forget my mountain home, or
its grand old mountains-to one reared among
such scenes, there is much in the great West
new and interesting. Not that the West is
" one vast plain. without tree, hill Or bush
to vary the monoto9y of the scone," as some
travellers have represented. There are few
large prairies for which this description would
answer but Nature has not made an exception
of this country, but has adorned it with that
pleasing variety which everywhere distinguishes
her works from the inventions of man. Along
the Mississippi We find high bluffs, rs they are
called here. A Vermonter would call them big
hills, but they differ very much from the hills
of Vermont. They present a more undulatng
and rolling appearance, and are accessible from
all points except along the banks of the river,
where they are steep and rugged. In many
places they are perpendicular, and often as high
as 200 feet, presenting as grand scene as " old
Mansfield" " itself Few rivers, if any, pass
through such variety Of beautiful scenery as
does the " Father of Waters" and probably in
no part of its course does it present scenes of
such sublimity as from this place to St. Paul.
The banks have the appearance of being worn,
and it is supposed that the bed of the river is
much lower than it was a few centuries ago.
The bluffs are composed of alternate layers oi
limestone, and very soft sandstone. In many
places this sandstone is worn by the action of the
water, which trickles down the crevices, and
made to assume very curious shapes. The river
during this part of its course is very often OBJ
stractcd by islands, which are generally covered
by large timber, and dense underbrush The
surrounding country, generally, is much higher
than the bed Of the river, but occasionally prai
ries are seen nearly on a level with the river
|
iisssta f'raifis arc JlG plihofl, 5a zach 81 Whies
we find young but Aourishing towns. The soil
near the river is not so rich, and the surface ii
quite broken. Farther back we find fine prairies
but not 80 large or SO level in this vicinity as
further south.
Northern Iowa is better watercd than most OF
the western country. Small streams are quite
abundant. Most of the creeks flow swiftly and
many of them have hard bottoms Springs are
quite abundant, and sufficient for stock Thl
water is generally hard. There are a few sof
water creeks and springs in the northern coan
ties, where we also find trout brooks; but have
seen none as far south as Dubuque.
Corn is the great staple production here, an(
it is raised with SO little care and labor that the,
contend they make as much, and sell it at 2:
cents per bushel as we do in Vermont at 81 90
How that is | cannot say from personal expe
ricnce. Wheat does well in Northern Iowa
For few years past, however, winter wheat la
winter-killed, owing, probably, to not hayin;
more snow in winter. Fruit trees do finely
Apple, pear and peach trees seem to flourish
The country is so new that fruit is quite scare
as yet, but great effort is made to raise fruit
and think in few years the State will not b
dependant upon its sister States for fruit Osag
orange is being raised for hedges. and bids fai
to become the fencing material Of the prari
country.
Timber is, in many places, quite scarce, but
think there is sufficient hard timber in the cour
try to supply it with fuel, and for other purpc
ses that hard timber will answer for. But ft
pine it must depend upon the Minnesota an
Wisconsin pineries.
The prevailing diseases are agne and bilior
diseases. The river towns are quite subject
aguo but the high and dry prairies are nearl
, , free from it. The timber is mostly on I'll
streams that have low fat lands on their bank
: and ofcourse most unhealthy. ButtheAa
- are generally settled first. The praN0
, pleasantest in summer, as there isalmost c5l
u stantly cool breeze but in. winter the bree
% grows up to strong cold wind, which, Gu
o testify, from personal experience, is not so plea
ant. But, considering that it is more health
- that the land is more easily brought under Gu
~ tivation, and is II richer soil and that grove
u locust trees can be raised in a few years sni
GENTLY large to keep off the Nor Westers
3 think prairie is preferable to the oak barrens
u land covered with small but scattering timbl
IL The Green Mountain Yankee finds it qui
u dificalt to recognize the seasons as they pas
o Though less than o degree south of snowcapp
IL Mansfield, We are enjoying the south winds al
!, deep mud, which usually accompany tho ope
ID ing of Spring We have had q few weeks of
u severe cold weather as we have in Vermont b
~ these cold snaps are interspersed with sun
~ days, which takes away the little snow we ho
ID been blest with There has not been more til
ef two or three days of sleighing at time, SOL
u of Iowa line. This, however, is remarkaI
ce winter, am told. There is generally mt
II snow.
ne ne The society is made up of Germans, lri
M Norwegans, Swedes; in fact, nearly every COZ
!" try of Europe, and every State in the Union
" represented in Iowa The northern portion
40 principally y'settled by Germans and eastern p
" Pile. l find the Germans sober, industri'
~ ~ and intelligent sort of people. They are soI
~ what given to the use of" lagar beer and wn
= ut are not such yiciously drunken set, +"