Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-09
STATE TIE MN.

WISNEsHIEx.-CouSTY.-The edit
or of the Cedar Valley Times, who is
on tour in the State gives the follow
ing description of W nneshiek county
and its resources
The officers of Winneshiek county
most Of whom we have met here at
DEBORAH, are l.. II. Griswold, Judge;
L. w. Paul, Clerk; Nelson Burdick.
Treasurer and Recorder; J. +. Smith,
Sheriff; IL. Bulls, Superintendent Of
Common Schools; J. K. Simpson, Sur
veyor; Amos Hoag, Coroner. They
have very fine offices in the new and
elegant Court House, which stands
upon q rise of ground, and is seen
from afar. It's foundation and steps
are of hewn limestone, and the walls
are Of brick. 1t cost about eighteen
thousand dollars, and is not eclipsed
except, perhaps at Waterloo, by any
Court House, we believe, in Northern
Iowa.
Winneshiek county was organized in
1850, and taxes were levied the follow
ing year. Not uuch settlement was
made in the county until 1854, since
which time people have rushed In and
secured good homes. The population
Of the county in 1858 was l2,O0O;-
the number Of voters, 1910; the as
sessed valuation Of land, 1891 $50.
Taxes are low, the entire tax for eve
thing, being but seven and half mills.
The credit of the county has always
stood we'll. The heaviest discount on
county orders has never exceeded ten
per cent. At the present time county
orders arc worth one hundred per
cent. The outstanding warrants
amount to about four thousand dollars;
the otisctts, eight thousand.
The principal rivers Of Winneshiek
county are the Turkey, the Upper
Iowa, and the Canoe. These, with
dozen creeks or more, afford An i'm
mense quantity Of water, well dlstrib-
uted, and large amount Of water
power. The county is blessed with
multitudes Of fine springs some Of
them having an immense volume Of
water.
Aside from the county seat, are the
little villages Of Franklnville, (already
described } Freeport, Fort Atkinson,
Burr Oak, Bluffton, Plymouth Rock
and Hcspar.
Frecport, two miles and half east
of DEBORAH, has two hundred and fifty
inhabitants, and less than half Of them
are about starting for Pixies Peak.
Fort Atkinson, on the Turkey, has
two hundred inhabitants or less, saw
mill and some reminiscnce of military
lfe, minus its glory.
Burr Oak, BIntiton, Plymouth Rock
and Hesper are in the Northern mole
ty of the country. Burr Oak has some
thing like two hundred and fifty peo-
pie, and is lively spot. BIuffton and
Plymouth Rock have fewer people, but
a good stock of the other animals
Hesper is on Looking Glass prairie,
which is lovable to all eyes, and espec-
tally pleasing to the hearts of Quakers
by whom it is settled. Its surface is
gently rolling; it is interspersed with
small groves, and surrounded with tim
Der.
Franklin Prairie Is few miles north
Of Dccoral,, and is another lovable lit
tie garden, though not Of "dcsert."
On it is the famous farm owned by j.
w. Taylor Of Dubuque-one of the
best farms in the county.
All the prar,cs in Winnesheik coun-
ty are small, and are generally sur
rounded by timber. The soil is great
ly diversified, most Of it being deep
and exceedingly fertile. The county
is on the northern tier, and is the Sec
ond from the Mississippi. 1t is young
and its agricultural wealth is partially
developed. 1t is destined to outstrlp
most of the interior counties in North
ern Iowa.
DEsMoINEs NAvIGArIoN.-The Des
Moines Statesman says The Des
Moines river is now in good navigable
condition excepting the drawback Of
ice and the Id improvements
The Chas. Rogers has already made a
trip to Eddyville, We hear that the
lock and dam at Bentonsport has been
swept away by the running ice.
BY the way, when are our Boons-
boro friends going to tear away our
bridges andremains Of Halls milldam |!
We should like to see boats running
up to Fort Dodge this Spring.
PrkE's PEAK EM1aRAr1os.--The
Statesman also says lis daily pour
ing through this city. Iother routes
Of travel are crowded in proportion as
ours seems to be thus early in the
season, then the total Of gold seekers
will be counted by scores Of thousands
by midsummer.
The FRUlTs OF GAMBLINs.-The Lou;sv;lle
Courier says young gentleman from Mont.