St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-10-15
Correspondence Of the St. Charles City Intelligence
Howard County.


". timber land, still, with strict
economy and due attention to proven
ting the destructive fires which annu-
ally in autumn sweep over the prai-
ries, and often in a moment annihilate
FIVE and even ten years growth of
timber, this want may soon be over
come, and the county prove a most
desirable one for the farmer.
The traveller, in coming from the
East by way of DEBORAH, passes the
rapidly growing town of New Oregon,
scarcely three years old, but preco-
cious enough to WELD the lever which
moves the whole county. 1t has
steam saw mill in constant operation
and good timber contiguous, on the
banks of the Turkey River. 1t has
four or five stores, lawyers Office
(Burdick's), and some fifty dwelling
houses. The town has really beauti-
full site.
Three miles west from New Oregon
is the town of Vernon Springs, on the
banks of the same river. 1t has cx-
celient water power. The place also
has large saw and Touring mill pro-
PEELED by the water of the Turkey
1t is at present the County Seat. The
site of the town, owing to the irrcgu-
larity of the land, is not so eligible as
that Of New Oregon, but it has one
of the most beautiful spring brooks
to be found in Northern Iowa. Here,
also, is timber of large dimensions,
and fine prairie mile from the vii
lagc.
At Howard Centre, town plat is
laid off Oh the western bank of the
Turkey. This place has tavern,
store, and some dozen houses.
AS you proceed Westward on the
stage road towards Usage, you will
pass a tract of good prairie, but no
timber until you reach Saratoga, dis
tant eight miles. This place, fifteen
months since, contained but two hous-
es. 1t has now nearly dozen. A
town ia also laid out here on the west
bank of Crane Creek. 1t stands a
fair chance of becoming an important
town at no very distant period. 1t is
near the geographical centre of the
county, and will probably become the
county seat. 1t has some timber and
the survey of the DEBORAH branch of
the McGregor railroad passes through
it. The fertility of the soil along the
line l have described is not surpassed
by that Of any other portion of the
State.
Westward four miles is town 90,
range IA Jamestown, having for its
western boundary the head branches
of the Wapsipinicon and the eastern
line of Mitchell county.
The eastern branch of this river il
well stocked with timber on both sides.
The township has no considerable vii
lagc at present but no township in
the county excels it in fertility of soil
! nd all hn f,.,.I.t;,r
To many, its having no village would
seem to give it rank with townships
having some natural deficiency.
In the winter of 1856 James A. Cut
ting, Esq, of Boston, erected a steam
saw mill near the centre of the town
ship. The only reason that smart
village has not sprung up around that
mill is the protracted illness of Mr.
Cutting, caused by his excessive la
bors in bringing on the mill and put
ting it in operation. Visiting Boston
at that time on business, his health
has ever since been too prccarious to
admit Of his return. In May, 1856,
there were only five houses in the
township containing families. Now
there are forty, mostly frame build
ings, thirteen of which are along the
line Of the county road leading from
DEBORAH to Usage, and can all be seen
at one view.
Near the Western border of the
town another steam mill is being cree
ted on the bank of the Wapsipinicon,
and q new town laid out there in the
centre of beautiful grove.
In the northeast section OF the coun-
ty is Forest City, on the Upper Iowa
river, which is rapidly settling up. In
the south, and near the Wapsy, is
Howard. This town has steam mill
designed for propclling both saving
and Touring machinery.
A large proportion of the settlers
of Howard county are natives of New
England and the Middle States, and
are not quite so much addicted to
whiskcy drinking (that bane of the
West. as some of it's sister counties.
And when that monster animal the Iron Horse,
| Comes bounding DER these Vastly plains,
And whirs his pondcrous load attached,
snoring his proud defiance and ncakingIWolycs
Airigltcd seek their LARS: and wondering kline
In sad uncertainty, course through the dclls s.
then Howard county will reap her gol-
den harvest. AGRIcoLA.