The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1857-11-18
From the Express & Herald
A TRIP TO THE COUNTRY.

We had the pleasure OF enjoying a
hurried visit to the counties of Clayton,
Winneshiek and Fayette, few days
since, and cannot avoid referring briefly
to the growth. prosperity and increas
ing wealth everywhere apparent on our
route.
A former visit in 1854. to the same
counties, enables US to judge of the
comparative improvement. and without
attempting to go into minutia. which
our present engagements fobid, we will
remark that three years have produced
a greater change than we could possibly
anticipate, and have presented in every
part of the country travelled over, a
transformation marvellous in every part
of the globe except the great valley of
the Mississippi.
These counties were then but feeble
communities struggling for existence,
many of their citizens burdened with
the debts still due upon their lands, and
as yet scarcely approached by the spirit
of enterprise which has since that time
so rapidly and so finely developed their
native resources, and placed them where
they will ever stand, among the first
counties in Iowa.
We should be pleased to dwell at
length upon each, and the towns and
villages passed through, but the leisure
to do this is denied us by other engage
ments, and we must content ourself with
very briefly referring to few of the
most prominent places passed through.
GUTENBERG, the present county seat,
and if it suits the people Of the county,
we hope it may always remain such, is
a most beautifully situated town. The
plateau on which the town is built, is an
almost level plain, reaching from the
river to the range of bluffs which lie a
quarter of mile back of the village,
affording fine streets graded by nature
better than large expense has accomp.
lished for the streets of other towns.
Nature has done enough for Guten
berg, and it only remains for the enter
prise of her citizens to improve the gifts
bestowed upon them to make their place
one of the most prosperous, as it is one
of the most beautifully located towns OF
the river. '
Here we found friends Drips & Nc.
Bride of the Herald, the pioneer sheet
Of the County, pushing their way stead
lily forward. and still doing, as they have
already done. much for the County ant
their own town. They do not disregard
local matters, but devote consideabI,
attention and space to them, and fne
not only their account in it. but hav'
the satisfaction of seeing the fruits o
their labors around them. Gutenbers
has several good hotels. among which
the American House we found to be
very pleasant one. .sE.
GARNAv1LLo--has improved yer,
much since 1854, and the country arounl
it. Notwithstanding the removal of tn
county seat. 1t looks more bushes
like, and a number of fine buildings
residences and business houses. hav
been erected. The rich farms of tn
vicinity, with their white farm houses
present about as inviting prospect a
greeted us during our ride.
McGnEGoR.-At this northern city
we found Col. Richardson of the Times
pitching in. as the expression has it,an
: doing everything for the town which
fortunate enough to call him either
Without fear Of contradiction, we ur
hesi,atingly say that the prosperity c
the city is greatly due to the vigorou
quill of the indeia,igable editor of tn
Times. and that the Times would fou,
: ish as well without the city as the cit
, possibly could wi,hou, the Times. Tl
Times seems to have had a glorious e
feet on that other "times." yclept Thar
,imes," and by keeping perpetu;
| grin on the faces Of the busy, bustliu
dcnizens of this busy, bustling cit,
has kept up the work of improvement
on every side. Ii tho Col. can onl
keep the wolf from coming nearer tina
:. the tops Of those cloud splitting hill
y around. he will prove blessing to Nj
!, Gregor in more ways than one. Lon
e may he spread. The American Hou:
>, is tho best Hotel in the place.
MoNoNA--1st station on the Me Gre:
or and Missouri River Railroad.
beautifully located appears thrivil
and full of happy, thriving. g. abe,
J. people. The Es bert Hotel is got
one, and though the face Of our old frier
Egbert did not greet US. his shads g,
ss IDENTIFY fingers around to insure the COZ
fort and pleasure Of the guests.