The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1858-09-25


The Rivers Of Iowu.
The Dubuque Herald is furnished by a
correspondent with the following inter
esting article concerning the rivers Of our
State:
The Mississippi river borders the whole
eastern limits Of Iowa, and many other
rivers, with numerous ranches, run near.
ly the whole length Of the State, whiie
the Missouri river borders nesiiy three
fourths Of the whole Of tie western limits.
Numerous streams Aow south and south
westerly, aud all the larger rivers of the
interior Aow south -easterly into the Mis-.
sissippi. The largest of these, the De
Moine, rises in the western part of Min
nesota, runs diagonally across the State,
to its southeast corner, flowing through
fifteen counties, a distance, by the course
Of the river, Of over three hundred
miles. Skunk river also empties into the
Mississippi, thirty miles above the mouth
of the De Moine, and waters, with it's
branches, the principal part of ten coun-
ties.
The next river of importance proceed
ing northward, is the Iowa, two hundred
miles long, flowing through or near thir-
teen counties, and empties into the Mis-
sissipi about midway between Burlington
and Muscatine.
The Red Cedar river, with several long
branches, for long distance nearly paraI.
lei to the main river, and like it nearly
parallel TO the Iowa and Wapsipinicon,
running twenty to thirty miles from it,
flows from the line of Minnesota nearly
two hundred and Fifty miles, principally
watering fourteen counties, and empties
into the Iowa about fifteen miles in d.
rect line from the Mississippi.
Wapsipinicon rises in Minnesota, is
over two hundred miles long, partly wa
ters ten counties, and reaches the Missis-
sippi about thirty miles above Daven-
port.
The Maquoketa is about . hundred
miles long, runs through FIVE or six coun-
ties and empties into the Mississippi
ten miles below Bellevue.
Turkey river, with its numerous trib-
utaries, i about ninety miles loug, flows
through Eve counties, and reaches the
Mississippi thirty miles above Dubuque
The Upper Iowa river partly waters two
counties, and empties into the Mississippi
at the N. L. corner of the State.
A large portion of the southern part Of
the State is we'll watered by branches Of
the Fox, Grand, Nodaway and Nishna-
botany rivers, flowing into the State of
Missouri. Little Sioux, Floye and Big
Sioux rivers reach the Missouri within
the limits of Iowa. Many streams not
enumerated, from twenty to fifty miles
long, reach the great rivers that border
the State on the east and west, and many
of the branches of the rivers named arc
moro than fifty miles long
Nearly al the rivers Of Iowa have
rapid current, affording numerous mill
sites, especially those in the north half
Of the State Many of them have rocky
or pebbly bottom throughout their whole
extent, and are well supplied with excel
lent fish.
The strong current Of the Upper Mis-
sissippi (from St. Paul to st. Louis) is
we'll known, and the fact that three
fcurths Of Iowa is drained by that part
Of its river system tributary to the "Fa-
ther Of Waters" proves such descent
towards the south us would prevent the
occurrence Of any sluggish streams. The
Missouri is not less rapid in its course,
and the Western part Of the State is
therefore equally well drained. The ra-
pidity Of rivers in = country destitute of
mountains like Iowa, may generally be
inferred from their direct course. Some
of these rivers do not vary from direct
line more than ten miles in hundred.
There is no. poorly watsred county
in the whole State, not . township but
has some stream Aowing through ii, and
few sections Of deprecated value for
want Of proximity TO water. The strata
Of rock generally dip to the south or
south -west, and in the few spots that may
be found not sufficiently supplied with
good springs, Is upon some Of the prai.
ries, wells sunk to the FIRST stratum of
rock, usually from ten to twenty-five feet,
afford equally good water. An examina-
tion Of the map will show that there is
not State in the Union better watercd
than Iowa.