Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-03-25

For the Spy.
knnrIaern EnNla.


MesSrs. Editors For the information of any
Of your readers who contemplate move to the
Western States, would like to state a few facts
relative to Northern Iowa. 1t may not be i'm =.
proper for me to remark that a residence of If
teen years in that State, near one half of which
time | have been employed in the survey of the
government lands in the different States End ter
rtories, has afforded me more than ordinary ia
cilitie2 for judging of the relative merits Of the
different sections and have been forced to the
conclusion that for all the natural elements of
future greatness and wealth. the North half OF
Iowa is unrivalled, Its general cha acter is that
of high rolling prairie, traversed by numerous
rapid streams. Timber of superior quality, and
in ample quantities, skirt all these streams The
water is pure, and the whole country, being free
from marshes, is exempt from fever and ague, the
scourge of Southern Illinois and Missouri Con.
sumptions rarely originate there. and hundreds
going to Iowa with lung affections are cured BY
such removal. The general health of the State
may be inferred from the fact that the number of
deaths in proportion o the population is only a
trife over one hat what they are in Massachu-
sets.
The climate is mild There is so little snow
kept without shelter. The soil is titled with one
sixth the labor required in the East it produces
the most luxuriant crops of everything cultivated
in Massachusetts, and never requires manure.
No class of our population are getting rich so fast
as the farmers.
The mineral resources of Northern Iowa are
equal to its agricultural The richness and ex.
tent of the Dubuque lead mines is generally
known throughout the country Two thirds OF
the State is one vast coal bed Iron, zinc. gyp.
sum, lime, and marble are abundant. Minnesota
and Wisconsin, both Of which are destitute, must
always buy coal of us, as you do Of Pennsylvania
Land for farming is low, and it is favorable time
to purchase. The assessed value Of farm lands
last year was only 81 Sc an acre on an average
Iowa is free from debt while her neighbors,
Missouri and Illinois, owe each over eighteen
million dollars
The school fund is equal to that of any other
State, and its present educational facilities and
religious privileges will not suffer in comparison
with those Of older States.
The number of criminals sent to the peniten-
tiary in Iowa in 1850 was one in sixty four thou
sand. In Massachusetts, one in one hundred and
thirty nine of their respective populations. The
paupers in the former one IN three thousand
eight hundred and fifty six. In the latter one in
fifty of their whole population
Dubuque is the principal city OF the State. 1t
has now population Of eighteen thousand, and
being great railroad centre and the principal
point for the immense steamboat business of the
upper Mississippi, it will always be the largest
town North of St. Louis and West of Chicago.
An Emigrant Association mas been formed
there for the purpose of encouraging emigration
to thatpart of the State They have an extern
sion Office where plats and prices of all the lands
for sale in that region will be kept and informa-
ton rende ed free of charge. Letters of inquiry
to the secretary will receive prompt attention.
Our population is mostly from the New England
States. and we want large accession this year
from the same Puritan stock. E. s. N.