St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-12-20
MisteIlann.
THE WEST.

Iowa occupies an important posi-
ton in the Mississippi Valley. With
an area Of 1924 square miles, she
contains population of about ESQ, 900
or about Is inhabitants to the square
mile. There is room for one hundred
and fifty or two hundred more to the
square mile. Iowa can give a good
support to at least two hundred pco-
pie to each square mile of her surface,
which will give her population of
over l0,000,00O. Emigration will
soon bring in the requisite number
She will fill up the faster in view of
the unfortunate condition in which
the drouth has placed some Of the
otherwise favorable regions, where
emigration has to a great extent, hith-
erto tended. Kansas has for some
time been the guiding star of the cm-
igrant. But now that star is dimmcd.
Its light, for while, at least, is OBJ
scured ; and the emigrant determined
to "go west" must cast about for
some more inviting location. Men
generally make up their mind to go
"wcst,' but not to any particular part
of it. Having thus determined III
their minds, they look about to asccr-
tain what particular portion of the
west they had better settle in.
Consequently the want and dcstitu-
tion in portions Of the country south
and west of rs will n,t delay emigra-
ton. They will only turn it into a
different channel aud direct it into a
different field. Emigration may be
varied somewhat in its course, but it
connot be stopped. Westward it
must go. If one section becomes bar,
rcn and uninhabtablc, it turns its
steps towards another. While Kan
sas, Missouri and Texas invite to such
inh0swtaWe homes, Iowa presents
smiling surface. She invites to abund-
ancc. Her ovcrfowing granarics are
an earnest that the labor of tic hus-
handman will be amply rewarded.
Her healthy aud salubrious climate
promises an absence Of sickness, and
vigorous bodies to the inhabitants of
her broad prairics and waving groves.
The nncquaIlcd quantity Of raw ma
tcrial, of almost every description i'm
bcddcd in her bosom ensures wealth
to the manufacturer, while her over
flowing rivers and surrounding rail-
roads, infusc life aud prosperity into
commerce. These advantages which
Iowa possesses at this time, must
IL Il
tide" within her borders. Her eX.
panded prairics must fill up, and
when they do, who can estimate the
influence which she will exert in that
government which must have its scat
in the Mississippi Valley. When the
power of the government centcred in
New England, Massachusetts exercised |
almost as much real power as all the |
western states put together, and now |
with her bleak hills, stony surface and
soil. she sustains a popula-
tion Of over 1870 to the square mile.
Iowa is her superior in every par
ticular, and will ultimately occupy the
same relation to the other states of
the valley, that the little Bay State"
did to the other eastern states. She
is, as the census shows. gaining rap
idly on Michigan, Illinois and Wiscon-
sin, the leading states of the valley,
and must soon take her place at the /
head of the column. Another decade /
of years and Iowa will lead the states
between the Allcghany and Rocky
Mountains, in agriculture, manufac
lures, commerce and political power.
Her extent, resources, position, and
natural advantages will ensure a com
manding inhuence.--MtcheN Gazette.