Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-01-18

Mn. EDfToR:--Permit me TO talk 10
your readers about that part Of Iowa,
known as the Desmoines Valley. The
advantages Of residence in this coun.
try has enabled me to form something
near an accurate opinion Of the merits
and advantaI Ies fthc principal por-
tons Of the State; and as II Is impor-
tant. for persons who may contemplate
emigratinghcre, to be advised. where
they can do the best, l will give my
opinion OF this, the Desmoines Valley,
as compared with other portions ol
the State. And will say that my
reasons and information have been
gathered and derived from actual Oh.
servation, and from men thoroughly
acquainted with the country. The
Desmoines Valley. as FAR us IL is thick
ly settled is about two hundred and
City miles long. by sixty in breadth,
and comprises the richest body OF land,
Of like extent, in the world. In all
this space, such q thing as waste
lands, is almost unknown. Its sur.
face is gently undulating, and il is well
supplied. with timber. limestone, and
stone-coal' The Desmoines river, Il
now being improved by locks and
dams. from the mouth 10 Fort Des.
moines, a distance Of 200 miles
That part Of the work between this
place, (Ottumwa, and the Mississip-
| pi, is now being pushed rapidly ahead
and will be completed al an early date
The basis upon which this work Is be.
ing done, is grant Of lands from the
United States, lying in alternate sec.
tions, within five miles on each side ol
tie river, amounting to over one mil
lion OF acres. These lands have been
sold to a responsible company. togeth'
err with the tolls and water rents accr,i'
ing from the improvement for period
Of years, for the building ofthe requi.
site locks and dams from the mouth, tc
Raccoon Fork. OF the advantages oI
this work, we need hardly speak
Besides affording navigation for q
greater part Of the year. it will build
up manufacturing interest ol
immense advantage to the country
In short we have advantages, tina,
scarce any other portion Of the s!ate
possesses better timber, better soil,
and undoubtedly far better water
power. We have also. two railroads
located, from this place to the Missis'
sippi, one to Burlington, the other X
Keokuk, of the first, there will be 81
miles finished by the 6rst of June, next
This place is rapidly improving, sew
eral large three.story brick buildings
have been built this season, a mag
nifcent Court House, and greaI
many dwelling houses. We have about
twelve hundred inhabitants, and in ter
or fifteen years. we will have ten thou
sand. No man should buy in this
State until he FIRST tries to get home
in this valley, for it is the Garden O
the far-famed Iowa. els il healthy?'
some of your readers will ask--I ver'
ily believe it it as healthy, as any
portion of the East. Farms can bt
had here cheap, yet, but prices are
raising rapidly. Now is the time, this
is the day of salvation. This is the
Country for me. | am deeply attach
ed to my native Indiana. love hel
hills and valleys, her murmurine
brooks. her majestic forests, and more
than all. l love her people. But
am enabled almost. to forget all. ex'
cept her people, when | look upon the
almost Heavenly beauty of this coun
try. Men and women of old Frank
lin. come to this valley and be happy
NJ. ] WILLIAMS.