Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-11-23

itcct, thht were there presented ana
to have awakened in his mind great
many moral rellectious. OF these
there were many diyersiies. There
were some that looked rs IL built with
line and plummet, sometimes turning
at right angles. presenting the appear.
ance Of an immense fort. in the point
Of some high hin, some with con-
cave sides. while others presented
the more general appearance OF ma
lures handiwork.
One Of these natural curiosiiies thai
more particularly drew my attention,
was q half section OF cone. turned bot
tom upward. with a large table rock
projecting from the top, on which
grew a small tree. There were many
others Of various descriptions. but
none so remarkable MS this. Passing
down Fever River. we soon came to
Galcna. This Is place Of considers
BILE business. but IL presents rather a
rugged appearance, being situated on
the side Of n hill. so steep an 10
require citizens make steps to ascend
and descend. | can see no ether
source from whence il derives is vi
iality, but from its lend mines. Jndg.
Ing from It's churches. would sup
pose that the inhabitants were chiefly
Of foreign birth. Tasting on at rail-
road speed. we were sooon IN Du.
buque. Here we tarried over the
Sabbath, and had the opportunity Of
attending church. twice during the
day, and Judging from the congrega-
ton | would suppose that religious
matters does not SO nearly concern
them as land speculations. Just be-
fore we arrived in Dubuque, on Sat.
urday morning an ARRAY took place on
one OF the boats. which resulted IN
the death Of two men. The one who
shot the others. escaping. II Is sup
posed that he was secrcted by the
captain AT this point we learned
that all the land Offices in Iowa, were
closed. and the time Of rc.opening
uncertain. We could therefore do
nothing but pass through the country
and decide MS TO its merits. As TO
the reason why these Offices are clos
cd. there nrc many conjectures. but
no certain reasons. The robbery Of
some City thousand at Dubuque. some
time ego, is by some supposed to be
the reason. and IL may be so. but I
have another reason. which II might
not do to tell publicly. ms il Is only an
opinion. Monday morning we leit
Dubuque, and started through the
country, and now for our opinion con.
corning II. | must say in justice TO
the country. SO FAR ms explored II.
that its surface il the most beautiful
that | ever saw. the prairies are beau
tifully undulating with but very few
ponds Of water. There are, however,
low marshes where the slopes meet.
butin nearly al. ifnot MI cases q drain
would render Il perfectly dry and
these would only be necessary from
one 10 two miles apart As TO the
fertility Of the soil. Judging from rs
appearance. would think that exag-
geralion was impossible. II varies.
however, in this particular some being
more sandy than others, and having
q sand subsoil, other black and lcomy.
having n clay subsoil. The surface
presents n universal sameness in mp.
pearance. as far ~ ! travelled. af,er.
leaving the Mississippi. Stone is
found In many localities. but Is not
very general thing. Limestone il the
building stone Of the country. but
there Is also the largest granite rocks.
scattered over some Of the prairies
that | ever saw.
The water of Iowa is considered.
by many people very good, though
but very little OF II is suited TO my
palate. The streams are generally
narrow. deep and clear. running suG-
GENTLY rapid 10 prevent stagnaiion -
Tho timber Is It's worst objection. be-
ing comparatively very little Of IL. and
that very indifferent. But the people
there seem 10 think that there is sui
cicnt for oil practical purposes. This.
however. is my great objection to it,
l have always been used TO live where
the forests have broken the winter
blasts and afforded summer shade,
and dislike TO give up those old. re-
treats. As to The present and future
Of Iowa; l will say vt present Il is all
speculation. and am inclined to think
that there is a fictitious value placed
on lands. caused by the immense tide
Of migration, and by the spirit Of
ofspeculation. This | think will af.
ter time subsidc. and then there will
be large tracts Of lind which have
been bought by spectators thrown
into market. and the price be reduced.
As 10 the future destiny Of Iowa;
have no doubt it will be one Of the
leading States in the Union. The fer
tilily Of the soil. and advantages for
railroads to the Mississippi, thereby
giving Il the advantages OF u northern
and southern market. will greatly has.
ten this period. It's inland towns
seem TO be improving rapidly. and
town lots command high price,
The health Of the country. judging
from appearances. and the people that
] saw. would think was tolerably
good, though there was some ague,
scattered around in places. Alter
passing through some eight counties.
! returned home. leaving Davenport
on Friday evening. As l passed
through tho northern part Of Illinois.
on Saturday morning. saw snow
some two orthrcc inches deep. on the
ground. but was soon pas, il. and
about 10 o'clock Saturday evening
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