The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-01-04
WHOLE NO. 1853.

WHOLE NU. LOO.
have convcrscd with the farmers and busi-
ness men-and with what have learned
from them, together with my own observa-
ton, I can with truth say, that I have never
seen any portion Of country that possessed
in greater abundance, all of the natural re-
sources for agricultural and manufacturing
purposes than this county. There is tim
Der in abundance, and of the finest quality;
on the ridges between the streams, and on
the west side of the county, there is large
amount of prairie land and oak openings,
as beautiful as the sun e'er shone on, and
in fertility unsurpassed. ..'"
The grain crop was good, this year
rather more than an average. The corn
crop was injured some in the valleys, with
the frost, but on the ridges and prairies it
ripenei well-much better than on the
large prairies south of this county. The
corn crop being good, the people of this
county have raised the heaviest and best
fatted pork that has been in market. find
that the farmers generally Of this county
are turning their attention to stock-raising,
much more than formerly; this is step in
the right direction, and it would be well for
those west Of here to follow the example.
1t don't pay, to haul grain so far to market
with teams; it costs too much Let those
who have Railroads and markets at their
doors, raise the grain. The people of North
ern Iowa would do much better to raise that
which can be got to a market with but little
expense. ..
Allamakee county is eminently adapted
to the raising of stock of all kinds Tame
grasses grow abundantly, and nearly every
farm is supplied with springs, or streams Of
the purest water There are some of the
largest springs in this county that ever
saw-many Of them being large enough to
be used for mill purposes. . -.
Of water power, there is enough within
her borders, if all should be improved, to
do all the manufacturing for the whole Of
Northern Iowa; the Upper Iowa River runs
across the county on the north side, and has
several very heavy water powers. Yellow
River, near the south side, has mill seat
for nearly every half mile from the west
, side Of the county to the Mississippi. The
same is true Of Village and Paint Greeks
I besides several smaller streams that have
!, excellent powers; many of them are already
improved with saw and Touring mills. Ii
o short, with soil that for richness and fer
t tility has no superior, with greater amount
: of timber and water power well distributed
than any other county in the State Of tht
: same territory, it is easy to conjecture thu
future of Allamakee county. 1t is nov
improving much faster than those bordcrin,
: on it, either south or west Hitherto it
y progress has been much slower, though thi
!, can easily be accounted for McGregor ha
teen the principal starting point of emf
grants seeking homes in the Northern low
and Southern Minnesota main thor
oughfare west was south of this county, $
= that nearly all have passed by and settle'
y farther west, while many of them nigh
, have found home here as cheap rs ther,
and enjoyed far superior advantages.
There are several smart towns in th
county. Waukon, the county-scat,
, ';some;' for enterprise and thrift it beat
=, , them all. 1t is astonishing to see he
y "spread," considering the stringency of tn
~ times. There are several public building
!. going ahead. They have the foundation
n fifteen thousand dollar courthouse con
plcted, and the work will be pushed ahea
,s with vigor in the spring. The subscriptio
r list is nearly filled, for the construction
IN a High School building that is to cost fro1
y $4,000 to $4,000. By the way, there is
nj project on foot to start Branch of IL
State Bank of Iowa at this place, and the
is quite large amount subscribed for tn
is scribed stock seem to entertain the id,
ct that the Bank can commence issuing with
en- subscribed capital of 100000, and one-ha
= that amount paid in, and that after the Bar
'n commences issuing they can withdraw on
ce half Of what they have paid in. (Quer,
Who put such an idea into their heads
ne Think they havn't read the banking law
er this State lately. Docs the McGreg
I'd Branch propose to start in this way?
:" It seems to me that bank of issue
hardly needed here at present, for the re
- son that McGregor is within short d
:" lance of Waukon; it has abundance
" capital, will soon have its bank of issue
- operation, and consequently will furnish
" the paper currency that will be needed her
besides, McGregor furnishes the best ma
- ket in Iowa, and as the best portion Of
~ county lies south and west of here, the tiI
- is not far distant when the greater porti'
of its immense trade will seek an outlet
your point The court house is needed hel
the High School is much needed, and ma
other improvements are more necessa
" than bank Of issue then why not bui
:, them first? And if the farmers arou
here would employ their capital in stocki
and improving their farms, they would fl
themselves much ii, her three years hen
too many banks don't pay.
-, notice that the attention Of the busin,
~ men of McGregor is being turned more
wards Allamakee county, of late. 1t "
pay them to do so, for there is mu