The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-07-05
Gettcrs from the 1urst,
correspondence of The Cecil Whlg1
IOWA.

excursion into the interior Of this county
and having just returned ''to town. again,
takes the liberty Of sending you some of his
observations.
By looking at the map you will perceive
that the city of Muscatinc is situated at the
western curve of great bend Of the Missis-
sippi river, and is consequently most favor
able point for shipping and unshippins mer-
chandisc, both from and for the interior OF
the State. The town lies embosomed as 1t
were in the country, and has heretofore been
looked upon as one of the most dc sirable
business points west of the Mississippi and
north Of St. Louis. The age of railroads,
however, has changed the character and
prospects Of many q town throughout our
wide spread country, and though the advent
of the s.iron horse' in Muscatine, has in no
way lessencd the prosperity OF the place, but
on the other hand, enhanced it fifty per cent;
yet it is unquestonablc that much of the
trade in the line ot!srOccrics and nporta,ions
from the east, formerly landed here, now
enter the State, by way Of Davenport, which,
as you know, is opposite the terminus Of the
Chicago and Rock Island Railroad, and from
thence reach the interior by way Of the
Davenport and Missouri river railroad, al
ready completed to Iowa City. Though a
considerable portion of this ''grocery trade"
now passes us, as above, still this place re-
tains its superiority as manufacturing point
and in the trade in all heavy articles. We
are also connected with Iowa City by rail
road, and but thirty miles distant, whereas
Davenport is sixty miles. There are three
large steam Touring mills in Muscatine, equal
to any in the Union; two foundry and
machine shops, two large steam saw mills,
three single nanuta clorics, bedstead and
chair do, two; sash and blind manufactures
three; carriage and wagon manufactures
seven, and all others in proportion. The
city has two splendid public schools, ably
conducted aud well sustained, numbering
twelve hundred scholars; she has also sixteen
churches. The lawyers number seventeen,
doctors twenty and dentists four; population
eighteen thousand. So you see, this is quite
town. to be but seventeen years old.
But intended to write you something
about the surrounding country and have thus
far filled my sheet with other matter. The
country Immediately bordering on the Mis-
sssippi is almost invariably broken and very
rolling, for some miles inland. This is its
clrarahter. gene rally, as far al my olscrvatio
las extended, from a little above the mouth
Of the Ohio to st. Paul in Minnesota. This
belt, or rather strip Of rough country, is only
about four miles broad at Muscatne. After
traversing this, the prairie sets in, and a
landscape is then presented to the view
which no words can picture so as to convey
TO the mind an adequate conceI ton of its
surprising loneliness, in this season Of the
year. 1t is not only beautiful to look at, but
the rich dark soil is of amazing depth and
fertility. l am well acquainted with many
OF tile farmers on the prairie, west of this
town, and do say that know not of any
region of country in the Union, that is at al
comparable to Iowa for agricultural purposes
or for the opportunities that are here allorde I'd
to the man Of limited means, for becoming
in few years, an independent, and even
wealthy farmer.
year ago last Spring, crossed the State
of Iowa, through the tier of counties living
west Of this, and enjoyed the best oppor-
tnnties for observing the country and the
people. After travcrsine the territory Of
Nebraska for some time, rccrossed Iowa
by more northern route tan went, and
the result OF my observations was the con.
viction that Iowa, for two hundred miles from
the Mississippi. is very desirable country
but belt OF about one hundred miles aloue
the Missouri is not quite SO eligible, oil
account of the scarcity Of timber.
We had an exceedingly severe winter here
and all the peach trees in this section ar.
entirely killed. The spring has also beer
backward, ard a good deal Of the corn had
I" be rcplant"d. Wheat looks well, and bid.
fair to be n fine crop.
We have great times in the political world
here now. We have parties of all sizes
colors and platforms. The principal, how
ever, are the two wings Of the Americans
the Fillmore men and the antics. Then W,
have the Black Republicans, who are flirl,
bringing heaven and earth together abou
slavery and Kansas. These three, or rather
two parties are making an awful amount o
"noise and confusion out here; and the
I"cofocos, with the Cincinnati platform il
their hands, expect to carry the State, Will,
their opponents are squabbling about The
Pope and the Shareholders. l don't know
how it is, but it seems to me that patriotism
and politics have no synonymous meaning, i
applied to the conduct Of many of GU
''uo,king politicians" nowadays.
l have observed lately that your cores
pondent "Harold has been away down Soutl
in the "land Of sun and howcrs.'' He doe
not seem to fancy the South as much as some
think, however, he draws rather daIl
picture, for you know, l, too, have been in
the South, l must say was more pleased
with its PEI pie, its manners and its tcrritor.
than Harold seems to be. But tastes vii
differ. Yours, s..
FACT FOR THE Old Wings. 1t is fac
which can never pass out of the recollection
of the admirers of Henry Clay, says the st
Louis Intclligcncer, that James Buchanan