The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-03-10
! III = G. 4 Z e DO MAN.
LETTER FRcu IOWA.
ToaIncc Of H. CuIuknidn.

, CoiTfToai,ncc 81 n, (dl,k9iin
GREEN MorHTAIS. Feb. s. 1851.
left my native place, Caledonia County
early in Jan. 1854. to travel in this western
country. and took my route via The passr,mp
SIC, Rutland & Burlington, y. Y. Central
South Shore, and Michigan Southern Raj
Roads, and reached the cit: of Chicago, ILL.,.
on my 18th day from home. Then took lodc.
lngs at the fremont House. will venture
to recommend TO eastern people, travelling
west. and intending TO spend few tiavs in
that city to make the fremont their home, as
it is conducted in eastern style, by Mr.. Gage.
iormcrly Of the city hotel. Boston. Mass. 1t
is one of the most pleasant stopping places in
the West
After spending few days in Chicago, |
tool: a trip upon the Rock Island Il. r.. about
GO miles into the interior of the State. I
then left tie cars and travelled seyera! weeks
by private conveyance upon the great prairie
which extends nearly the whole length of the
State from north to south, and from the cast
ern boundary of the State, to the Illinois Riy-
'r. \ great portion of that prairie is almost
a perfect dead level The soil is from three
to four feet deep. and produces great crops in
dry seasons. The scarcity Of timber and
stock wafer is a serious objection to eastern
people settling in that par. of the state
There is deal of sickness in The eastern
part OF the State occasioncd ly using the
milk Of COWS that run upon thc Prairics. Ii
is supposed they eat weeds of poisonous ma
turr. For these and other reasons a crca,
portion of this section Of the State. will re-
main unsettled fer long time 70 come. Iaf
forwards travelled in the western part Of the
State and found it generally better watercG,
better timbercd, and the land more rolling.
Ahont the l>t Of April following. crossed
The Mississippi River to trayc! in Iowa. and
took a northwc>'erly course which led me by
the way of Iowa City, the present capital Of
III, State
THIS town is situated about so miles from
the Mississippi upon the Iowa Rivera con-
talrs :tout four thousand inhabitants.
Atfer spending short fine in that city. I
continued my course in about the same ,lirec !
'inn Is before, following the Iowa river TO
Marshall County. aleu-. the centre of the
State.
This section Of the State lies ',.h and is
o!Ac"ha rcil;n:- an,l Is wei wa;e~cl with !
:NHnns streams of pure watcr There arc
cool >'onr J-:al,,c>. ~. extensive coal mines
IN various parts Of this county. There az
heavy l9lrS q, tin.ir, in '!:ilrrrn, iart> Of
The comfy. e~:.-rally upon tie bottom land
Or meadows. IL place Of Ii"r, spruce and
IcmIotl. black walnut. cotton wool. la k
h"Ily an! OAK. A., u~c,l for building.
Ills count: has been inhabited by Indians
until within short time. Tcv were re
moved fv the Government about three wears
ago beyond Tie lor,.;r> Of tbs STATE
and troops have since been stationed uoaa o,:r
western frontier, TO guard us arain,t ;l,ir
Entertainments since Which time, the rapi,.iiv
with which this county has been settling. can
scarcely tind lis parallel in the history Of :l,e
of the West.
" an illustration Of the way business Is
lone IN Ills country, give YOU description
.: town. or village. not i've miles .ron! Il,
place where an row writing. The VILLAGE
n question was LAID out about eighteen month,
40. and when | came to THIS comfy. had but
ike buildings OF any description There are !
low two public houses. >:x stores, two b!ack- !
::i;h >hoIs.a whccwrirht shop.one furniture
warehouse. one steam saw mill. one larr"
touring mil upon The Iowa river, rearl, +
Completed. also a foundry and machine shop
n process Of building {
There has been upwards Of one hundred
md fifty thousand acres ofpublic Ianl> taken
u IN tbs county, within the last year. rrin- t
lraly by settlers. and there Is still crca, /
quantity OF vacant land in this vicinity. and
Is my opinion that before another year has 4,
'asscd Uncle Sans lands will be scarce II (,
hc>c parts. and instead otonc dollar twenty a
we cents from : H. to $50 dollars will be the !
rice " II