The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-01-09


they selected none but such as command :
ID wide scope of country, and were easy
Of access then
"Thc broad West was all untrod;"
a vast territory lay unbroken before them;
and in the establishment of their few bust
ness centres, it was necessary to fix upon
thoss points which would supply the great.
eat extent of territory. Tradition informs
US that Prairie du- Chen was the great
mart, where all the adjacent tribes and
even those who inhabited the most remote
branches Of tho Mississippi, annually as
semblcd, bringing with them furs, to dis
pose Of to the traders = and that it fur
nished supplies and enjoyed the traffic far
to the West, as 1.-THE route of the voya-
geurs of that period was from the neigh
borhood Of McGregor's Landing, through
the country Of the Aiowcz. (Iowas) to
the Missouri River" iS 20 1900
eg A glance at the map and knowledge
of the peculiar formation of the country,
will convince any one of the adaptedness
Of this point to the traffic of the aborigi-
ncse, and still more to the commerce and
business of the future for though many
of our business necessities were unknown
to them, everything advantageous then is
still more SO now. There are number
of ridges radiating from Prairie d. Chen,
forming excellent natural highways, but
difficult to cross, from both sides Of the
Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers, these
ridges centre here, like the spokcs of a
cart wheel Over all Of these, the Mis-
~sissippi is easier reached at Prairie du
Chen than at any other point. Around
these a rapidly increasing population is
gathering, not the gold, but what is far
better, the golden grain, and pouring it
into this common centre, as fast as facili-
ties are extended for its exchange. Stu
ated on the banks of a stream whose ton
mage and travel more than doubles every
year-whencc steamers can make semi
weekly trips TO the head of navigation,
and weekly to St. Louis, an advantage, by
, the way, which no. other town on the Up
per Mississippi enjoys-surrounded by
every variety of agricultural reeources,
with abundance of timber and living
springs. and water-powcr without limit
rs there anything required, let me ask, but
proper application of industry and art,
to render Prairie du Chen one of the
principal cities, of the North West, and
the first OIL. the Upper Mississippi.
hat circumstances induce the belief
that this prosperity is at hand-what is
the present doing more than the past, to
Justify these expectations First: Here
terminates the Milwaukee g. Mississippi
Rail Road-a thoroughfare, with it's nu-
merous feeders, and extensive grasp, the
most important in the North West
Every mile that it has progressed has been
a triumph to the foresight of its projec-
tors and while developing the resources
of the country, has created liberal in
come for ITSELF With this road complet-
cd-as it will be in ninety days, citizen
Of Minnesota can reach Chicago Via Prai-
RE du Chen, as soon as he can get to GA
lena by steamboat, and eight hours soon
or than he can get through via Dunlietb.
At Milwaukee will be a pleasant exchang-
of the rail, for Steamers across Lake Michi-
gan, varying the fatiguing nonotony of
travel, and with no loss Of time. From
Grand Haven, will be continuous rail-
road to the east, by far the shortest and
pleasant route. 9a @
When it is recollected that the bulk of
emigration is now bound for Minnesota,
Northern Iowa and Northwestern Wis
consin, it will be perceived that Prairie du
Chen will the toll-gate through which
it must all pass.
The heavy freight also bound for the
same region will take this route, as it now
comes round the Lakes, and time and
distance will be saved by stopping at Mil
waukee. A road thus situated, passing
nearly through the centre of the State,
taking the Capital on its way, and connec-
ting at Milton with the Southern Wiscon-
sin, and its many other important feeders
cannot fail to increase the business of the
towns through which it passes, and par
ticularly at its termini, Milwaukee and
Prairie du Chicn.
"A line OF steamers are also building to
run in connection with the railroad, from
Prairie du Chen to st. Paul. From the
west comes another important tributary,
in the McGregor, St. Peters & Missouri
river hall Road, now IN progress. All
that thickly settled region through which
tits to pass will pour an immense amount
ofbusiness upon our shores
The extension ofthe Railroad to Hud-
son, along the bank of the Mississippi, is
no distant or visionary scheme, but fix
ed fact, and its goodly tribute only ques-
don Of time. Some estimate of what can
reasonably be expected of the future, can
DC. formed by observing what has been and
is being done. Two new brick hotels have
been completed, and two others remod-
died; two steam ferry boats are purchased
toconncct Prairie du CHEN with Iowa; one
new church erected; three splendid brick
blocks; nineteen stores; and about one
hundred dwelling houses, besides the ex-
tensive works Of r. r. Company, Offices,
dc. ksi @ a
Three brick yards, two stone quarries,
two lumber-yards and one saw-mill, have
bsen in adequate to meet the demands for
improvement and much more would have
been done, had the facilities been ut hand.
The population has doubled in n vear ana