The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-05-30


Paper Tswas.
The editor Of the Nebroakidn has lately
taken trip up the Missouri, - far q the
Indian Reservation, at Black Bird Hills, and
thus relates his experience in endeavoring to
get q /" squint " at the charge and growing
cities y that are said to dot the river banks:
A number Of passengers, fresh from the
eastern states, pressed us into service, for
the purpose of designating the different cit
upper Missouri, the names of which being
familiar as household words, while the pre-
else limits and location of them have never
been SO distinctly defined that stranger
could discover them without the aid Of a
search warrant or the assistance of an excel
lent spy-glass.
How many embryo cities we passed, the
names of which have not even TRANSFERRED, we
are unable to say. Certain it is, however,
that with the aid of a powerful glass, kindly
placed at our service by Capt. Throckmor-
ton, we were unable to discover the small
est yestige of the city of Hiawatha. We
could discern no crumbling ruin to mark
the spot where the city once stood, no wall,
nor even stake to define its boundaries
Sad and disheartened at our want of success
in looking for town, the existence of which
we had never doubted, we retired to the
cabin, satisfied that we must have passed it
in the darkness of night, and having prevail
ed upon the Captain to run in future by day.
light only, We resolved to keep a sharp look
out for Missouri City. lots in which, we are
informed, recently sold in New York at
four hundred dollars each. But running by
daylight, and with one man constantly sta
TONED on deck to announce the first view to
be obtained of Missouri City, We were final
~ compelled to abandon the search in de-
spair, and leave its discovery to some more
enterprising traveller than ourself.
Woodsville we discovered without difficult
ty, as the wind compelled US to tie up one
day near two or three houses, and while ly-
ing wind bound, some gentleman came
aboard and informed US that we were at
Woodsville. Upon enquiry we learned that
lots 1--WE do not know what size) on business
streets in Woodsville sell readily at $500 to
5000 each; that the high water had not
reached any portion Of the city; and that
twelve houses which were erected some two
AAohUho CihNSS Aou uCCh win away w plCNCHI
them from going into the river with the
banks, which at one time caved in so badly
as to threaten the destruction Of portion
of the leyee. There is considerable timber
about Woodsville, stone is said to have been
found near the town, which lies very pretti-
ly on the river. Large cities have been built
on more unpromising spots than the site of
Woodsville. There is no telling what little
yankee enterprise will do, so we shall not be
surprised if Woodsville should some day be-
come prosperous town, even if it is situa-
ted on the river bottom several miles below
the probable crossing of the Iowa Central
Railroad.
Central city We discovered by tent-the
only building on the town site. Its location
is similar to that of Woodsville. IS
Decatur, situated at the south line of the
Omaha Reserve, has improved much since
We saw it. last fall. 1t now contains seven
or eight comfortable dwelling houses, and
several more are in process of erection.
We came down by land, in company with
three gentlemen We found at the mission
From Black Bird to DeSoto we found veget-
tatlon further advanced than at this point.
Tekamah, Cunning City, DeSoto, Fort CAL
houn, and Florence are all going ahead fine
ly. From Decatur down to DeSoto, dis
lance of about forty miles, the plateau will
average about eight miles in width from the
bluffto the river. Nature never created
lovelier section thansthis. The entire plat
eau would make the most magnificent town
site in the world, and we can only marvel
that its superior advantages, as city's site,
should have been so long overlooked. 1t is
a great pity that any portion of that fertile
region should be wasted in farm claims, and
we cannot but express our establishment that
people will establish claims. break the prairie
and plant corn in places, where, with prop
er blowing, city lots might be sold at several
hundred dollars. each. To be sure, but
small portion of;that plateau is claimed as
farms, but the farmers obstinately hold them
against the wishes of city .specuiators, who
desire them as additions to the numerous
small cities that exist in that vicinity, To
be sure, that strip of country properly cul-
tlvated, would raise sufficient produce for
the substance of the entire population of
Nebraska for many years to come, but what
is that in comparison with the wants of the
greedy Spectator who would acquire for
tune in Nebraska and return to the east and
south to spend the remainder Of his life in
ease and luxury. We7can import our pro-
visions, and convert the best portions of
the Territory into cities, for the benefit of
the few, at the expense of the many.
-. ea-s
The Valley Of the Mississippi.
We copy the eloquent peroration of Mr., |
Buriingame's lecture before the Mercantile
library Association nf Rost,,, fr.r Il