Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-06-25
Letters srs,,, Iowa,

Correspondence OF the Springfield Mass, Republican.
| Burlington, Iowa, May "a.
amin receipt Of frequent letters from Massa-
chusetts, asking for Information concerning this
section ofthe country, and the facilities for reach
/ ing the interior of the state from this point 1t
Is quite apparent that our eastern friends gener-
| ally are not aware of the fact that Burlington
although not the loudest Boosting, is in truth the
largest and most thrifty city in Iowa. She does
not expend her industry upon fabulous census
reports, nor so much as she should upon the
| publication of the statistics other commerce and
| resources, in eastern papers. Beautifully locat-
ed on the bluffs of the majestic Mississippi, at
| the terminus of the Chicago & Burlington rail-
road, 200 miles from Chicago, $50 from st. Louis
200 from Dubuque, and loo from Davenport,
| she Is OF easy access from any part ofthe coun-
try. aud no trip can be more inviting. especially
at this season of the year, than npon either Of
| these routes. The rich and verdant prairies of
Illinois. capable alone Of feeding the people of
| tire whole Union, are now in their glory and
| grandeur, and present to the eve of an eastern
traveller, viewing them for the first time a scene
which will be to him "a JOY forever The ''Fa-
| ther of Waters" always grand and majestic is
just now on his annual "high,n orerfowing the
broad bottoms on either side, the water having
attained higher point than at any former time
since 1861, land fleets of steanlers Of the larg-
est class are making our great "inand sea" vo-
| cal with the hum of busy commerce. Six of
these steamers are lying at our leyee, receiving
and discharglng freight while write
From Burlington the cars ofthe Burlington l.
| Missouri river railroad have commenced running
a distance of sixteen miles westward, and the
laying OF track is going OH with great dispatch
to Mount Pleasant, 2S miles, which will be reach
| ed in all next month. This is few miles farth-
er into the interior than any other railroad has
gone, Mount Pleasant being little west of a d.
rect south line from Iowa City. BY the way, to
illustrate the prevailing lack of information at
the East, touching this region, have just read in
the Republican that one OF the four Iowa rail-
roads included in the recent liberal land grants
| of Congress- is that from Hahington. flor
which read Burlingtom,)t to the mouth of the
Platte river. This grant, and the consequent
closing OF the land offices throughout the state,
will prove great blessing to Iowa. 1t will 5 I'VE
| the small residue of her lands not yet located,
from the greedy grasp of nonresident speculat-
ors, and by fastening the completion of her rail-
roads, will cause a rapid development other un-
surpassed resources, and speed the day of her
| destiny as the empire state of the Union. As it
is not proper for any but Shareholders and their
abettors to talk of letting the Union slide, will
not dwell upon the prc-emirence OF Iowa in the
contingency of a new republic offrec states
1t is estimated that the value Of unmpr owed
lands in Iowa has been doubled by the pa ssage
of the land bill. 1t is certain that holders of GER
tItlcates of entry are more dsinclncd to sell now
than before, except at advanced rates, and am
much mistaken if the advance does not continue,
especially along the vicinity Of the projected
railroads.
The tide Of immigration continues without
abatement, and our streets are tronged with a
continuous fleet of 'prairie schooners" freighted
with the strong arms and fearless hearts that are
soon to oycrspread the board and beautiful prai.
ries of the western world, and make the solitary
places glad with their presence End productive
industry. The southern portion ofthe state has
been filling up more rapidly than any other ex-
ccpt the region bordering on the Mississippi, and
the early completion of the B. & H. River rail-
road will increase this tendency. So humorous
have been the entries of land in this district dur
ing the past year, that this road will reap less
benefit from the bounty of Congress than either
OF the other routes. The road from Davenport
to Iowa City will not be continued any father, this
season, but the Immigrant will probably give it a
start next year.
This western emigration is the wonder of our
age. Where all the people come fromis very
common and natural inquiry. Massachusetts,, as
usual, contributes her quota to the moving tide,
yet her recent census shows that giving does not
impoverish the old commonwealth. Barring any
political illusions, she is the most national"
state Of the confederacy. Her sons and daugh-
tiers are found everywhere, and there is hardly
a settlement in the country, in which YOU might
not rally a number of them. am proud to add
that they mostly retain sentiments of tilial re-
gard for the place of their nativity and of attach
ment to those sturdy principles of patriotism and
freedom in which they have been nurtured
1t is within the memory of many of US, when
the "iar West did not extend beyond Western
New York or Ohio, and tue hazards Il a Journey
to that then distant country sufficient to
call Tor the prayers of church in behalf of adj.
venturous members who were about to attempt
it. But the perpetual rolling and expanding
surge of emigration has long since removed
those out-posts. Tempted by the visions Of
19s "sweetfeds beyond the swelling food"
it has crossed the Mississippi and is now sweep
ing over the plains west OF the Missouri, soon to
dash at the base of the Rocky Nom tans. |
10 any farmer, mechanic or any other laborine |
man who is not suited with his lot at the East,
and prefers the certainty OF pleasant home, and
good livelihood with moderate toll, to the graft |
fcation OF a taste ofadventure and speculation,
Iowa offers peculiar attractions. It's soil is OIL
the richest quality, and no man ready to work,
and possessed with half the ordinary thrift and |
energy of an ordinary New England farmer can
Iaii W aSduiie competence mere III IL lew years.
The denarkatlon of this and other northwest. |
ern States as the great agricultural region of the
country is as obvious as that OF New England |
for the manufacturing portion. Natural. causes |
must inevitably continue these relations. The |
East caa no more fecd7her millions of arti ans !
with the products of her soil, than the Missssip-
pi or the lakes can turn spindles; and this is |
another bond which the schemes and rivalries |
of political factions to the contrary, must ever
bind these sections of our country nan ndsso-
1ublo hrr,t har