The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-10-30

This portion Of our beautiful State 10 g
vet but little known, except to the wild
beast and the Spectator. Itcomprises that
region north Of Sioux City and Fort Dodge
and west Of the Des Moines river. General
scarcity of shady woodlands, and its remove
from the great pathways of emigration,
have induced the settler to pass it by, with
out fairly estimating it, fertility and re-
sources. Nature is seldom frugal or lavish
of everything. Her genial climates, exu-
berant soils and wild romantic beauty,
seldom domicile together, paying common
tribute to health and taste and prosperity.
Yet here are offered ~ many Of the adyan-
tapes, and as few of the disadvantages, of a
western home, as can be found anywhere in
our, fair domain. The above region of
country is plentifully intersected by clear
and rapidly flowing streams, pouring their
healthy waters in the Des Moines from the
one slope and into the Missouri from the
other. Numerous lakes are distributed over
its surface, most OF which rest IN unruihed
composure on pebbly beds. Very few of
them are infected with that decaying yege-
table matter which saturates the atmosphere
with the elements of disease. There is an
agreeable diversity Of rough and broken
ranges Of bills and of broad plains, that
seemingly intersect the horizon. Contigu-
Gus to the Missouri, stretching inland for
many miles, also in the region of the Des
Moines, the former prevail; while in those
counties in the vicinity Of the dividc Of these
rivers, are to be found the western mans
ideal of both rolling and Level prairie.
Skirting every stream and fringing every
lake, timber is found, varying in quantity
according to its protection from the fire.
At this season Of the year trees are found
springing up in abundance-the result of
summers growth. Soon the fall burning
will sweep over them, and naught be left
but the scathed and blackened roots-thus
showing that fire, and not the soil, is unfa-
yorable to their production. Besides, culti-
waiting the locusts has in this quarter met
with the most gratifying success.
During recent tour through this region,
we saw the happiest indications of its future
prosperity. Enterprising settlements al
ready extend the entire length Of both Sioux,
the Coon and the Des Moines rivers. Many
farms are enclosed and under successful
cultivation. The song of "Harvest Home"
is no longer an unfamiliar sound in those
valleys. True we saw none of those bant-
lings of speculation that are SO readily
Autographed into outrageous parks and
uproarous avenues, but there are towns
springing up with the demands of the country,
that present a lfe-like appearance, in which
the hustle of patient industry, and the noise
of the mill and the workshop, are more
familiar sounds than the ''going-going-
gone" of corner lot. Especially is this
true of Spirit Lake-notorious for the mas
acre of its inhabitants by the Indians in the
winter of 81. The situation of this place
is delightful. Surrounded by fertile
country, it lies in bend formed by three
lakes, from the largest of which is derived
its name. Large bodies Of timber, ample
for building and farming purposes, are on
either hand, while a magnificent prairie is
sweeping away in every direction. Lumber
is abundant, and the work of building is
being carried on with an energy worthy the
pioneering sons of New York.
Spirit Lake is splendid body of water,
eight by fifteen miles, surrounded by tim
Der, and possessed Of an excellent gravel
beach. Connected with this lake is the
tradition, that one fine morning when the In
dams left their wigwams. they beheld in the
center of the lake a grove, which abounded
in every species of game that the sporting
savage could desire. After jubilee over
this unexpected gift of the Great Spirit,
they set out in their canoes for the happy
hunting ground, when to their great sur
prise, it sunk into the water as suddenly as
it had arisen. This they called the Spirit
grove, and gave the lake the name it now
bears.
1t is more than probable that this was
mirage, a peculiar phenomenon of nature
which it was our privilege to witness while
in that region. The one of which we speak
occurred near the junction of the Ocheedan
and Little Sioux rivers, in the neighborhood
of Spencer, a town just starting, under
favorable auspices. At a distance i wore
the appearance of a lake, covered by a light
fog, which was driven in gentle undulations
before the wind. Approaching nearer,
beautiful forest rose up from the prairie,
distinct in its outline, each shrub perfect in
itself, with every
Tree its leaf, and each its hue peculiar"
The illusion lasted for some time, was per-
feet, and disappeared suddenly, leaving
nothing for the eye to rest upon but waving
grass and placid sky.
We feel confident that no portion of our
country will repay the emigrant more large
ly for personal inspection and attention
than this. The only difficulty in the way of
its free and speedy settlement is its great
preponderance of prairie. But this is only
temporary. Coal has been ,founu in the
vicinity of Fort Dodge, and near Westfeld,
upon the Big Sioux, in quantity and quality
sufficient for plentiful supply of fuel. The
only thing essential to develop the untold
wealth and resources of this region is a
Railroad, giving it access to the lumber of
the North and East, and making a market
for its produce. Until then, settlements
will flourish only in the neighborhood of
timber and towns, and the fertile ranges of
the elk and buffalo be undsturbed by human
form or sound. 1t is as inviting now for
the settler as was Illinois quarter of a
century ago, and by the favor of the same
agencies that prospered the latter, would
soon become what Illinois is to- ay-the
richest agricultural portion of our Union
stirring with energy and engaging in intelli-
gence.