The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-12-29


direction. There is large quantity 81 hrss
class land on the Soldier and ito branchs.
1. il inferisr to the Maple emily because II =
narrower but u tie country east from the
Maple assumes more the character OF roiiing
prairie, and there are numerous broad creek
and canon bottoms which can pro6sabiy %
cut up into farms, the Soldier Is capable OF
sustaining heavy population. oeiieve
there are not more than bali dozen fsf"s
open on the Soldier valley. Timber - scarce.
The last valley, the Boyer, runs across the
corner Of the county. The whole Boyer
Valley is well knownto beasuperior farming
district. Besides the bottom and slope lands
there is plenty of good rolling prairie
Eight or ten farms opened-simber plenty.
W. have now crossed the county, ~ miles.
|. is a miles north and south. When the
high bottom Of the Ashton Ridge, the bot
tom and slope of the Sioux, Maple, Soldier
and Bower vallies-besides the slopes OF nu-
merous creeks not men,ionod-ars consid-
cred, it will be seen that Monona has large
quantity of superior farm land. We have
SO much that our settlers turn up their noses
at such land as many farmers till IN the
counties below US. As for the fertility OF
the soil, it is rich enough to raise anything
that will grow and there is hardly any limit
to the depth of its richness on the bsstoms
and slopes. A man that would complain OF
the soil of Monsna, would get up in the night
purposely to bite his grandmother.
All the common farm products of the West
are raised here with complete success. Our
county is teo new to deal in specialities,
but such experiments as have been tried,
serve to prove that we can successfully raise
anything that Hourishes elsewhere in Iowa.
We know that all kinds of berries thrive
finely, and peanuts, sweet potatoes, winter
grain and Catawba grapes have been grown
without difficulty.
It's generally conceded that stock raising
IS the most profitable business for western
farmers. Believing this to be true, l wish
to show why it is particularly profitable in
Monona County. Our bottom lands furnish
an unlimited quantity of good hay, which
only costs the gathering; that is, one
dollar per tun. Superior pasturage is free
as air to everything. Springs and creeks
abound in all parts. The eastern half or
bluff portion of the county, is especially we'll
adapted to sheep raising Our winters are
usually mild, rendering the time for fssdns
cattle comparatively short. In fine, our
/ facilities are such that We raise stock at
very small cost and, when taken into &C
count that the prices paid it, for wool and
dairy products, are invariably good, with a
tendency to be better in the future, could
scarcely hold forth any greater inducement
to the emigrant DESTROYS of engaging in the
raising of stock.
Monona has between 500 and 900 inhabi.
tan.s. A goodly sprinklng of them are
Yankees. The county has been we'll gov
erned, there being no debt to weigh upon
the shoulders of the people. On the con-
trary, it has large Swamp Land Fund re-
ceived from the General Government, which
the people have the privilege of disposing
of at the best advantage. A portion of it is
now being expended to drain the scamp
lands that are tret, (Uncle Sans definition
of s,ramp is very indefinitely and build roads
and bridges. No county of its age can boast
a better system of bridged roads, if as good.
The swamp land fund is great benefit to
the county. School-houses have been erect
ed in every township where needed, and
there is q general inclination to improve as
fast as conditions will allow. There is only
one ire town in the county, and that is
Onawa. The others broke down when the
impending crisis crushed the West. Con-
sidering that Onawa is close to the west
side of the county on the bottom, it would
hardly be reasonable to suppose that our
people will be long satisfied with only one
city! As the signs Of the times betoken
prosperity, some lucky Spectator may ere
long make his "tarnal fortin" by starting
q rival to the present county seat somewhere
near the centre Of the county. Comm on
laborers &c. from SIG to $40 per month and
boarded. Lumber sells for ten and twelve
dollars per thousand feet. All kinds Of
goods can be bought at Onawa. Our great
est need is class of enterprising farmers,
for it is we'll known that in proportion as
our farmers increase in number, and thrive,
shall we stand in need of and demand the
services Of mechanics, city builders, millers,
professional men, &c. There are some
pieces Of good Government land loft, most
~ small and scattering; the most of it is
bought up or taken for the railroad grant.
Good unimproved land can be bought for
s2s to 50! per acre, and there is plenty of
it for sale. Improved farms sell at from 81
to 50 per acre, according to location, aver.
aging about S.. Prices vary according to
location, being highest in the western half
of the county where it is best settled. Land
is yet held low in Monona County, and those
who desire to purchase farms, should secure
them soon, before the price begin to tend
upward and rise above the reach of persons
of limited means.
Good brick can bs made in ell parts Of the
county-one yard now opened.
A few words now as to the mode Of reach.
ing Us. There is a good direct road from
Cedar Rapids to Monona ria Dennison, in
Crawford County. This is the best route
for all travellers from the North and East.
A weekly mail runs over this road from the
East to Decatur in Nebrasks, opposite