The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-20
IOWA CORRESPONDENTS.

IOWA CORRESPONDENCE. 6.
LIE CLAIRE, Iowa, May 8, 1858.
To the Editor of the Nationa, Era:
Twelve years ago, when the only direct {? J
communication between Iowa and Chicago was
by stage or lumber wagon, over rail bridges
and through seas of black mud, when many
intelligent persons declared that a railroad over
a Western prairie was an impossibility, there
were not wanting philosophers and prophets
who positively asserted-ard they could not be
the only part of Iowa which
would or could be populated was the tier Of
counties bordering on the Mississippi, with per-
haps narrow strip on the Missouri; the in
terror would remain a wilderness Being math.
emsticians as well as prophets, they could easily
demonstrate that the value of q bushel of wheat
raised one hundred miles from the river would
be entirely absorbed by its cost Of transporta-
ton thither.
The fact that the whole interior of the State
is being rapidly filed up with hardy settlers,
and the tide of civilization, enterprise, and
wealth, has passed the imaginary bounds, and
is now flowing steadily on even to the base OF
the Rocky Mountains, is sufficient commentary
on the predictions 90 vauntingly proclaimed
And yet the difficulties which they foresaw have
not yet been removed; on the contrary, they
are increasing with each accession to the popu-
lation. So long as each settler has his prairie
to break and his fields to fence, the question as
TO how his produce is to reach distant market
will not be likely to be very troublesome; nor
does it become at all a practical one until he
is surrs unded by a goodly number, who in their
turn have become producers as we'll as con.
sumers.
A large and rapidy-increasing portion OF
the interior of Iowa has passed this first stage,
and entered on the second hence the question
of to-day with them is how to send away the
grain they do not need, and obtain the cloth
the boots, the sugar, and the coffee, that they
DO need, Thus it is that now, in the midst of
6ixnciai difficulties, the subject of railroads is
being agitated with increasing zeal and interest
The citizens of Burlington are endeavoring
10 secure the completion of their road west
he Mayor presided, it was stated that if B mr..
ington would comply with certain conditions,
The company would engage to open the road to
Agency City, in Wapello county, this season,
and by June l, 1859, to Ottumwa, on the Des
Moines river.
The Mississippi and Missouri railroad, which
has the advantage of being able to cross the
without breaking bulk, which has
long been in successful operation from Daven-
port to Iowa City, and which ought to be the
irst road to reach the Missouri, is now being
pushed on westward, much to the disappoint
ment of all, save those interested in the growth
of Iowa City; they are satisfied These roads
are absolutely indispensable to the growth and
of the districts through which
hey will pass, and their completion cannot be
ong delayed.
Last week, operations were renewed on the
Port Byron and Sterling railroad. On the
first division of FIVE miles, one hundred and fifty
men are at work. cutting down the hills and
illing up the valleys. This road, though To-
Gated in Illinois, will be great advantage to
this part of Iowa; it will give direct commu-
nication between the head of the Upper Rapids
and Chicago.
1t is now beyond doubt that Iowa has its
gold regions. In Clark and Adair counties,
plumbers are at work washing the auriferous
earth; but the reports from the "diggins all
agree in stating that no one has made much at
It yet, the highest yield beirg FIVE dollars per
day. AS yet, the reports have caused no ex
element in other parts of the State, and it is
to be hoped none will abandon the field or the
shop, to search for that which can be more
surely and more advantageously obtained from
mother earth, in the shape of wheat and corn.
Some of our local newspapers are uttering
gloomy forebodings as to the effect of our long.
continued wet weather on the agricultural in.
terests, but as yet there is no cause of alarm.
I am assured by intelligent farmers that wheat
looks very well, and could not be more prom.
ising. The only Inconvenience, thus far, is that
the work of preparation for corn planting can
not be very vigorously prosecuted, and will
make that part of the work backward.
A word on the weather. An unusually warm
March raised hopes and expectations which
have been cooled down by chilly and vet
April. May came upon as weeping, and for
three days refused to show US 9 smiling face !;
now, after one clear warm day, she is again in
the lachrymose mood, and at present writing
the "gentle showers" are steadily descending.
How soon Aquarius will resign his sceptre to
4 more genial power, cannot be told. The ba-
rometer, however, gives no hope of speedy i'm
for more than two weeks its point.
or has varied between the regions of "change"
and "rain," without deigning to make single
visit to " fair"
The river is unusually high for the season !;
freights are low, much to the sat
isfaction of our merchants. The rates now are
thirty cents per hundred from St. Louis to Da-
venpcrt, and the same from the latter place to
St. Paul. E.R.
The "RETIRrD PHYSICIAN" AND HIS "SANDs
OF LIFE."-A letter was received last week by
The Mayor of Jersey City, from citizen of
Onondaga county, in reference to the operations
of "Old Doctor James," The following mode
of operation was explained in detail: "You en-.
close him one shilling, and he viii send the re.
cipe; but after you have got it, you will discov.
or an article in it that you cannot obtain, end
30 you must send to him for the medicine ready
prepared at two dollars bottle" 1t purports
to be an extract of cdnnabis indicG, or prep
arstion not widely different from the hasheesh
Of the East--an article of questionable value in
disease, and certainly not warrant
ing the price charged, except as it may contrib
ute . few more sands" to the depleted cumu-
lus Already on the brink Of exhaustion.
Mayor Westcott promptly replied that there
is no such person az sold Doctor James" in
jersey City, but an old man employed to per-
senate him; and that the whole affair is under
stood to be an imposition.