Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-02-14
Winter in the Northwest---Its Soil, &c.

the latter may spz-aly be cited the ease of
asuryeying PARTY in Kansas, in which por-
ton Of the party were found frozen to death
in their tents.
We published a few weeks ago letter
from Mr.. Aug. F Harvey, late Of this city,
written III the southwestern part of Iowa.
where he was employed in making the sur
veys of the Burlington and Missouri river
railroad, showing something of the eharac-
ter of camp life ON the. prairies, with the
mercury, as early as the 9Th of November
| down to IL below zero. A few days later,
while the party were at work, we learn that
their tents took fire aud were consumed
with all their neutrality-suspicious. bedding,
and clothing, save what the members had on
1t appears, however that, notwithstanding
this untoward accident. the party after some
delay succeeded III procuring material, and
rigging up tent, and went on with their
work TO the Missouri river at a point near
Nebraska oity at which time tbe weather.
which had previously become mild. had
changed to severe. causing a suspension OF
their plans for surveys up the Platte river
We are indebted to friend fer the follow
ing letter from Mr. Harvey, giving some in
tcrcatine information relative to the country
generally :-lNatioaat IateHigeacor.
NEAR missouri RIVER, IowA,
Deeemter :, 1855.
presume p has related the various in
cidents of cur campaign These have been
the ordinary ones Of a camp life, with the
usual one Of being burnt out
The chief item of interest connected with
our present camp is the intense cold. 4
torn set in On Monday on Tuesday blow
lng aud snowins haracr and thicker than I
aver experienced on Wednesday it turned
still colder; Thursday colder, until, on Fri
lay, the thermometer read from 50 below
zero in the morning to 500 below at nine
oelock in the evening. Yesterday evening
Saturday it read 23o below zero, and this
evening it reads zero. For the latitude, 20
BOZ north Of Washington, this is very se-
we're ct SO early dag in the winter. The
Elevation is about twelve hundred feet above
the sea.
The counties through which we have pass
ed are along the southern boundary of the
State, aud being somewhat out Of the d.
rect line Of emigration are not so fully set
lied and improved as the two or three tiers
north. They are, however, rapidly filing
Up, and will soon rival in extent of popua-
ton the older settled portions Of the State.
1t seems to me that although the tide Of
emigration has been flowing westward for 50
many years, it has not yet reached anything
like a full current The old notions Of fe-
YER and ague and other diseases. the fever
of speculation, and the demand for produc-
tive labor at the East, have hitherto kept
back large portion of that class Of popula-
ton which most benefits n country the ed
ueated asreulturists The SPECTATORS Chose
who made cities on paper and sold swamps
for dry land) carried their operations to such
extent that none who understood them could
be made TO move. About here the popula-
ton is mostly Of families from Southern In
diana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Northern
Missouri, whose onl ann seems to be 20 own
land, without u thought of future advance
ment, or in fact any thing but present con-
dition. Men Of Intelligence are now, how
ever, coming ill., As the country is opened
and railroads penetrate the farther corners
spectators have to make their cities on tie
ground and in available locations. The Fast
does not require so much of the surplus pop
rlation as formerly, and farmers, manutac-
turers, and merchants are seeking points
where their investments will be remnnera-
tive, with but very few of the chances for
loss by decrease Of demand or cessation or
diversion Of emigration.
The soil throughout the Whole Of the
NJ
nesota, and the larger part of Nebraka--is
capable of withstaniing the heaviest and
most continued drafts. AS a gentleman out
here says, "guano would make it poor. y
Timber is scarce, but enough for building
purposes can be obtained until crops of To-
Gust, chestnut and oak (Which will be cult
waited everywhere come to a servieeable ma
turity For fuel all the wants of the people
will be supplied until the opening of the rail-
roads and the numbers of population make
the working of coal mines safe operations
Coal abounds ell over the State, and, as as-
oertained in few places, at so reasonable a
depth that the cost Of working mines will
not be greater than in the Eastern coal re-
gions
Iowa bids laif to be the real garden State
Enterprise in internal improvements, from
railroads to saw mills. has not been tram
melled, as in Ohio and Pennsylvania, BIZ old
settlements. In those States it was neces-
sary to direct the course Of trade between
the points which We're already in possession
Of the chief traffic of the region, whether
those points were in the natural channels Of
trade or not. But here, where large bus
mess has not yet commenced, q natural di.
reotion will be taken by trade, and the I'M
provements viii keep the same direction,
and keep up with a demand which their be-
ing vigorously carried on will create.
Cereal productions and stock will proba-
bly, be the principal objects of the farming
labor all over the State but there is, be-
sides in the middle coal and in the northern
part lead. and. doubt not, copper and iron.
to attract other capital than that Of the far
mer.
For year Or two yet much attention will
be paid to speculation in Government lands,
aud, owing % The vast amount ef vacant