Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-12-28
Iowa County.


Iowa County
There appears to be impression in tile
minds of men who unecqualmted with the
country throughout the mining region. ihat. be-
cause mineral Is abundant, the country can he
worth but little for ocher purposes. This. how
ever. Is not the fact. Outstanding The
abundance Of mineral, We have no hesitation in
saying there is not a county IN the State better
adapted to agriculture, stock raising. dairy bu-
slness. etc, than is the county of Iowa, TIE ex-
perience Of every man acquainted with the soil
and general features Of the county will bear Us
cat in thus statement.
GENERAL FEATURES or THE COUNTY.
Is whole, the surface may be characterized
a rolling. broken into moderate swelIs, not suf-
fciently abrupt to retaFd cultivation, bat Just
about enough to drain il well. Ia some few To-
calities its Uneyenness may render it better
adapted to pasturare than to the pillow while,
other places. there may be small patches far
better for meadows than for the growth of wheat.
This. however. cannot be said of any large por-
tioa Of the county. Scarcely 4 quarter section
of land can be found in the county that does
not contain sufficient arabic land for good farm
CHARACTER OF THE SOIL.
Nearly the whole county is 4 liInestone for
nation. In tile northern portion. on the Wis
coRsin river bottoms, the soil is quite sandy.
while. in the southern portion. and on the high
grounds, clay loan predomluates. The COM
position OF the soil Is such as not univ to secure
large crops when first put under cultivation.
but It is easily kept in suitable condition for
crops. \ tolerable degree of care on the part
Of the farmer viii keep up its fertility 10 the
end Of time. 1t IS not soil easily exhausted,
aud the man who exhaus:s such a soil IS unfit
IL be farmer
TIMBER AND STONE.
The timber throughout the county is mostly
in groves, though in some of the northern towns
il Is quite hea~y. Oak is Inc predo,niuatiug va
riety, though. in some places hickory. sugar
maple. black and white walnut. I.un etc. are
quite common. Though the timber is not as
equally distnbuted>as in some localities, there
quite sufficient, with proper care, to supply
the wants of the inhabitants in nearly every To-
cali;y
Some of the best quarres Of stone Tor build
ing purposes, we'll y for lime and other uses.
found in the West. are in this county, though.
a general thing but little Of this material is
found upon the surface.
AeaIcvrrJesL rao1rcrs.
The soil is peculiarly adapted TO 1he growth
OF grains and grasses " heat corn, oats bariev
rye, buckwheat. POTATOES. tgrnips, carrots. ami.
in short, almost any kind of veee ah,e5 grown In
amy Northern climate. Produced in abuud-
ance. and with but little trouble. The amount
produced per acre varies Of course. with he
-f-s
a large as are produced IN countries generally
where such crops abound. 1t is 20 uncommon
thing tor farmers to get from twenty-five to
thirty bushels to the acre. md other crops are
equally abundant w believe there are few
countries wheee an abundant harvest may be
relied upoa with more certainty than in this
county.
vATEG- POWERS.
The streams Of water are generally small
though there are several of sufficient magnitude
for almost any machinery. The different
branches Of the Picatonica. Blue River Otter
Creek. and other streams. afford s4al mill sites.
and are occupied prof.ably Tor such purposes
POPULATION. VILLAGES. ZIG.
The population 81 the county 10 1850 was bat
10 1879 which has steadily Increased until it has
reached near ., coo. and become much more per
manent than when mining vas the principal &C
cupation. 4 very large portion Of the present
number are engaged in agricultural pursuits and
find it paying business.
The city OF Mineral Point Is the largest place
in the eouaty having from 1890 to 1000 inhab-
Itants. and possesses the adyau taee OF a railroad
connection with the principal cities IN the West,
Last and South,
Dodgeville, the next place in point Of popu
lation lies eight miles north and has from >, on
70 5000 inhabitants. Besides these places, the
villages of Highland. Linden. Miffiin. Avoca.
Arena, Helena, Wyoming. anil several others,
show thriving condition. aud bid fair 10 be-
some important locations. though the length Of
shis article prevents more extended notice Of
them at this time.
MARKETS
The large number Of persons engaged in the
mining business creates home market for
large portion of the agricultural products, while
the Mineral Point Railroad. connecting the
southern PARTON of ~. county with the Chicago
aud Galena Road, and the Milwaukee and Mis-
,i.sippi Road. running through the northern
zier OF towns. affords ready market at prices
lut a fraction below those of Milwaukee and
Chicago for any article the farmer may have TO
dispose q.
Iowa County is one of the first grazing coun-
tries in the world. Her broad prairies and rich
bottom lands are cover'd with aiuxuriant growth
Of fine grass for Pasturags or hay. which renders
i most excellent country for dairy purposes
The neat stock is Of an excellent quality. easily
r4iseel and produces he finest beefia the Union-
HEALraFUL>Ess.
The healthfulness Of the climate can hardly